Day 15 – The Word Judges
(Joh 12:48 ) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. I love this photograph. As I look at it, it reminds me that God’s Word is sure and firm, like the mountains. The trees may be hidden on the mountain by the fog, but they are still there nonetheless. God’s Word is the same. Jesus spoke in parables because He knew that intellectual Pharisees, Sadducee’s and Scribes would not be able to understand what He was saying. (1 Cor 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The Apostle Paul also wrote that they shared the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery which was ordained by God before the world! (1 Cor 2:6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (1 Cor 2:7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: The born-again believer has access to God’s Word (our daily manna) and can understand things that are hidden to the unbeliever. (Rev 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. I can remember reading the Bible prior to salvation and I was bored to tears! The reading was dry as dust and I did not walk away with anything. However, after my salvation, God’s Holy Spirit opened my eyes and I was able to understand what I was reading.
Is it any wonder that the Word is corrupted so much by the world? They simply cannot understand it because they do not possess the Holy Spirit of God, who wrote it! God will judge them according to His Word despite their misinterpretations – despite the fact that they have changed the Word of God – despite the fact that they have taken words out or added words – all because they were duped into believing that God’s Word could not be preserved and, therefore, man’s interpretation of “what is left of the Word” is sufficient! (Joh 12:48 ) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (emphasis mine) You cannot get around this verse, my friend! You will not be able to tell God that you did not know about this verse because you have just read it!
It is quite clear. God will judge us by His Word– the Holy Bible. He will not judge us by the laws and teachings of the catholic church, Joseph Smith or the Qur’an. They do not possess the true Word of God. Again, Rev. 2:17 states that God will give us to eat of the hidden manna! Can it be any clearer? His Word is hidden to those who do not believe. It is a mystery to them but to us, it is hidden manna that has been given to us by God Himself! He gives us the interpretation through His Holy Spirit!
God’s Word revolves around Him – His righteousness – His provision for salvation through Jesus Christ. It is not by our own righteousness that we can be saved. (Isa 64:6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Therefore, we must come to God through Jesus Christ and His righteousness alone. (Rom 10:3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (emphasis mine) Oh my friend, do you see it? God says that because you are ignorant of God’s own righteousness, you are try to establish your own righteousness through keeping certain laws or teachings of your church. There is nothing you can do on your own that will gain you one smidgen of righteousness. Nothing!
It is only by being born-again that we can take on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (emphasis mine) It’s Christ’s righteousness that we need to gain entry into Heaven – not the catholic church or Allah! The Word is pure and tried and we can depend on it to guide us to that very righteousness. (Psa 12:6) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psa 12:7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (emphasis mine) Because God’s Word is pure and He says it is preserved forever, we can be assured that we will be judged according to His Word.
God is the One who will judge us according to John 12:48. Our Judge has provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is God who forgives us because it is His to forgive through the sacrifice of His Son. (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We no longer are condemned if we accept Christ as our one and only Saviour. We are no longer going to be judged because Christ’s blood now covers us.
The unbeliever will be judged because he thought that salvation was through his church and not through Jesus Christ alone. Paul was very clear when he wrote about “working our way to heaven” in the following verses: (Rom 4:2-5) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (2) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (3) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (4) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (5)So if you believe that keeping the sacraments, saying the rosary, praying countless prayers, doing penance, attending church daily, etc. will count as righteousness to you, you are sadly mistaken. Your works is the reward of debt. However, the one who realizes that the work of salvation is only through the work of Christ’s shed blood on the cross receives the grace of God and it is counted to him as righteousness – Christ’s righteousness.
My friend, upon your death, you will stand before the Judge and He will judge you according to His Word. John 12:48 states it – so what will you do with this? You now have read it – you now have heard. You can’t say that no one told you because I just told you so. Someone once said that to me and those words led me to the Cross of Calvary and I accepted Christ as my Saviour and the only way to Heaven. You will be held accountable. Mary will not be able to help you on the day of judgment. She will not go to the Father because she has some special power with Him. That is not taught in the Word but is found in the teachings of a church that is leading its people to hell. Joseph Smith will not be able to help you. Nor will Allah will not be able to help you. All these cults lead to destruction – they lead to hell because they do not adhere to the Word of God. You will be judged according to God’s Word. How will you measure up? You won’t be able to – not unless you have accepted Christ as Saviour. He is the only way. (Joh 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Leave a Reply