P
Pastor Eric
Guest
Shalom,
2Cr 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
2Cr 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--
2Cr 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
2Cr 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NASB
Sometimes I am simply astounded by how much can be found in so few verses! WOW!
As probably most of you know, John Calvin wrote a work known as, "Eternal Security of the Believer". This one work has divided the Church more than any other work that I can recall offhand. The basic argument within the church is whether one can be saved once and for always (OSAS) or whether one can lose their salvation (backslide). These verses above should be included as part of that discussion.
Before I go to that point let me go to another point made in these verses. These verses have often been misquoted to state that when we die we will instantly be with the LORD or in HIS presence. This is not however the case as we examine other scriptures in comparison to these.
In Luke 16:22-31 we have the story of the beggar named Lazarus and a rich man. In it the rich man is found in Hell (vs 23) while Lazarus is found in Abraham's bosom (aka - Paradise; Lk 23:43). Both are in what we will call a holding place until CHRIST returns.
NOTE: Some people teach that in this place these people can get another chance to choose to accept Y'SHUA. There is no proof for this. Before a person is assigned to one place or the other it appears that he will have made his choice. If this is the case then it should follow that before they are assigned they must also be given the opportunity to accept or reject Y'SHUA as their MESSIAH; their SALVATION.
The proof that these two sides cannot change and thus prayer for these after death is futile is given to us in verse 26 where we read;
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence. KJV
"Fixed"; this gulf is fixed. It is set in a way that cannot be moved or plurred! It cannot be transended even by prayer!
Another point that we need to see in this is that YHVH is NOT here! Not in any form. Paul stated in 2 Cr 5:8 of our text that he would "prefer rather" to be in the presence of Y'SHUA. It did not state as is often quoted that to be absent from the body "IS" to be in the presence of Y'SHUA. It is his preference; his hope.
If we understand that as "believers" we are not yet "saved" then we can follow this thought through the scriptures.
1) Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. KJV
2) Hbr 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. KJV
What this verse means is a little more clearly stated in the Greek and the NASB helps us to see this as well when it states;
Hbr 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without {reference to} sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
At this point we should be able to see that we are not saved until after we have died and yet we should still see that there is more to come.
3) 1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. KJV
Paul is here attempting to make it clear that there exist a difference between those who he is writing to and those who have passed from this earth. Those who have passed he refers to as being asleep. The next point you should clearly see from this is that Y'SHUA is not with those who are asllep until such a time as HE returns for HIS Body; HIS Church at the time we refer to as "the Rapture".
Final confirmation for this is found in the Book of Revelation where Y'SHUA HIMself says;
4) Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
When Y'SHUA comes, HIS "believers" will become "saved"! This is the reward we have in CHRIST, Y'SHUA. When HE comes then shall they be with HIM not when they "die" as we call it for Biblically they are but asleep until HE returns.
But what of those who are with the 'rich man" in Hell? For those we have to look to a few other scriptures and see;
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
With all of this said we must once again look to our text verses and read;
2Cr 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
2Cr 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--
2Cr 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
2Cr 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NASB
When Y'SHUA comes we will ALL appear before HIM and then be judged for eternity. The judgement will not be "ONLY" as to whether we accepted HIM or not but also according to what we did with it!
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
What did CHRIST "DO" when HE walked the face of the earth?
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Is HE the same today as HE was then?
Hbr 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Is HE alive in you? Has HE been resurrected in you?
Jhn 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Are you HIS BODY?
1Cr 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Then what is HE doing today through you?
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
When you appear before HIM for what will you be recompensed?
When CHRIST returns will this be what HE has to say about you?
Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.
Will you have confessed HIM with your mouth but that is all? Will you have accepted what HE did for you and yet have done nothing for HIM? Or will we hear said of you;
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, WELL DONE(emph mine), [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
What have you done?
2Cr 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
2Cr 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--
2Cr 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
2Cr 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NASB
Sometimes I am simply astounded by how much can be found in so few verses! WOW!
As probably most of you know, John Calvin wrote a work known as, "Eternal Security of the Believer". This one work has divided the Church more than any other work that I can recall offhand. The basic argument within the church is whether one can be saved once and for always (OSAS) or whether one can lose their salvation (backslide). These verses above should be included as part of that discussion.
Before I go to that point let me go to another point made in these verses. These verses have often been misquoted to state that when we die we will instantly be with the LORD or in HIS presence. This is not however the case as we examine other scriptures in comparison to these.
In Luke 16:22-31 we have the story of the beggar named Lazarus and a rich man. In it the rich man is found in Hell (vs 23) while Lazarus is found in Abraham's bosom (aka - Paradise; Lk 23:43). Both are in what we will call a holding place until CHRIST returns.
NOTE: Some people teach that in this place these people can get another chance to choose to accept Y'SHUA. There is no proof for this. Before a person is assigned to one place or the other it appears that he will have made his choice. If this is the case then it should follow that before they are assigned they must also be given the opportunity to accept or reject Y'SHUA as their MESSIAH; their SALVATION.
The proof that these two sides cannot change and thus prayer for these after death is futile is given to us in verse 26 where we read;
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence. KJV
"Fixed"; this gulf is fixed. It is set in a way that cannot be moved or plurred! It cannot be transended even by prayer!
Another point that we need to see in this is that YHVH is NOT here! Not in any form. Paul stated in 2 Cr 5:8 of our text that he would "prefer rather" to be in the presence of Y'SHUA. It did not state as is often quoted that to be absent from the body "IS" to be in the presence of Y'SHUA. It is his preference; his hope.
If we understand that as "believers" we are not yet "saved" then we can follow this thought through the scriptures.
1) Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. KJV
2) Hbr 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. KJV
What this verse means is a little more clearly stated in the Greek and the NASB helps us to see this as well when it states;
Hbr 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without {reference to} sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
At this point we should be able to see that we are not saved until after we have died and yet we should still see that there is more to come.
3) 1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. KJV
Paul is here attempting to make it clear that there exist a difference between those who he is writing to and those who have passed from this earth. Those who have passed he refers to as being asleep. The next point you should clearly see from this is that Y'SHUA is not with those who are asllep until such a time as HE returns for HIS Body; HIS Church at the time we refer to as "the Rapture".
Final confirmation for this is found in the Book of Revelation where Y'SHUA HIMself says;
4) Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
When Y'SHUA comes, HIS "believers" will become "saved"! This is the reward we have in CHRIST, Y'SHUA. When HE comes then shall they be with HIM not when they "die" as we call it for Biblically they are but asleep until HE returns.
But what of those who are with the 'rich man" in Hell? For those we have to look to a few other scriptures and see;
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
With all of this said we must once again look to our text verses and read;
2Cr 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
2Cr 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--
2Cr 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
2Cr 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NASB
When Y'SHUA comes we will ALL appear before HIM and then be judged for eternity. The judgement will not be "ONLY" as to whether we accepted HIM or not but also according to what we did with it!
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
What did CHRIST "DO" when HE walked the face of the earth?
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Is HE the same today as HE was then?
Hbr 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Is HE alive in you? Has HE been resurrected in you?
Jhn 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Are you HIS BODY?
1Cr 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Then what is HE doing today through you?
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
When you appear before HIM for what will you be recompensed?
When CHRIST returns will this be what HE has to say about you?
Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.
Will you have confessed HIM with your mouth but that is all? Will you have accepted what HE did for you and yet have done nothing for HIM? Or will we hear said of you;
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, WELL DONE(emph mine), [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
What have you done?