ONE FAMILY PLAN
Judgment: No Pain, No Gain
So what is the judgment? What happens? Where do we go? Who goes through it? How does it happen? Will we suffer? Yes. It is here - in this, the Lake of Fire, the Furnace of Affliction. It is Hell, the Realm of the Dead... prisoners of the planet Earth... and it is happening right now
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER with Him, that we may be also glorified together." (Rom. 8:17)
Will we be afflicted? Yes. We are afflicted.
"That no man should be moved by these AFFLICTIONS: for yourselves know that we are APPOINTED thereunto." (I Thes. 3:3)
It is "...God, Who is TESTING our hearts." (I Thes. 2:1-4, CLT)
We are persecuted, afflicted, and suffering…
"...all your PERSECUTIONS and the AFFLICTIONS with which you are bearing... which you are SUFFERING... you who are being AFFLICTED..." (I Thes. 1:5-7)
"Yea, and ALL [in every era] that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION." (II Tim. 3:12)
Through HIS wisdom, this is HIS plan.
"Who works ALL things after the counsel of His Own WILL." (Eph 1:11)
There will be tribulations. It is the righteous judgment of God...
"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in ALL YOUR PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS that ye endure; Which is a manifest token [display] ...OF the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT [Gk: 'just judging'] OF GOD" !!
All these things must occur "...that ye may be counted WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, for which ye also SUFFER." (2 Thes. 1:4-5)
Above ALL others...
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is NOT WORTHY of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is NOT WORTHY of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, IS NOT WORTHY OF ME." (Matt. 10:36-38)
The "real" gospel is good news! EVERYONE will see the salvation of our God!
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publish peace; that brings GOOD TIDINGS [that means gospel] of GOOD [not evil tidings of a Lord who administers infinite acts of eternal terrorism], that publishes SALVATION [not DAMNATION] ... The LORD hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of ALL THE NATIONS, and ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH [that's everyone] SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD." (Isa. 52:7 & 10)
Both Judgment and grace are chastening (disciplining) for our good, because He loves us:
"...when we are judged, we are chastened (chasten, Greek: "paideuo" #3811) of the Lord" (I Cor. 11:32)
"For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men , teaching (chasten, Greek: "paideuo" #3811) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world [eon or age]" (Titus 2:11-12)
"Judging" and "Gracing" are doing the same thing! It is the same word! Both are chastening, teaching, refining!
"For whom the Lord loves He CHASTENS, and [AND] ...SCOURGES every son whom He receives [or is assenting]" (Heb. 12:6)
Consider the family:
"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are you bastards, and NOT sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection into the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for OUR PROFIT, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but GRIEVOUS: nevertheless afterward it yields the PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12:7--11).
We are to rejoice at the judgments of God…
"Wherein ye GREATLY REJOICE, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS." (I Peter 1:6)
We will ALL be perfect:
"He [God] chooses us in Him [Christ] before the disruption [foundation] of the world, we to be HOLY and FLAWLESS [PERFECT] in His sight..." (Eph. 1:4)
"You, then, shall be PERFECT as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mat. 5:48).
"I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made PERFECT in ONE; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent me, and hast loved Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me."(John 17:23)
"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus." (Col 1:28)
We are made "perfect" through "suffering."
"For it became HIM, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many [that's us and the rest of the world] sons unto glory, to make the CAPTAIN of their salvation PERFECT [how?] Through SUFFERING." (Heb. 2:10)
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:12)
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS..."(Eph. 4:11-12)
"Herein is our love made PERFECT, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in the world." (I Jn. 4:17)
"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted ME, they will also persecute YOU; if they have kept MY saying, they will keep YOURS also." (John 15:20)
It begins at the house of God
"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the TIME IS COME that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD..." (I Pet. 4:16-17)
The Fire Trial
"Beloved, think it NOT STRANGE concerning THE FIERY TRIAL which IS to try you, as though some STRANGE thing happened unto you" (I Pet. 4:12).
"I indeed baptize you with water unto REPENTANCE: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, AND WITH FIRE." (Matt. 3:11)
"For EVERY ONE [sinner and saint] shall be salted with FIRE." (Mark 9:49)
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it [your faith] be TRIED IN THE FIRE, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (I Pet. 1:7)
"Every man's work [including believers] shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed BY FIRE, and the FIRE shall try every man’s work of what sort it is." (I Cor. 3:13)
The same "fire" judges ALL. We are ALL revealed, tried, salted, and baptized in "fire."
"And I saw a great white throne ... And I saw the dead... and the dead were JUDGED... according to their WORKS... and they were judged EVERY MAN according to their WORKS." (Rev. 20:11-13)
The "...fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars..." are judged "...In the lake WHICH BURNS WITH FIRE..." (Rev. 21:8)!
The same word for "fire" is used concerning judgment of the believer and the unbeliever.
Fire is symbolic of God's purification process
"And the words of the LORD are flawless, LIKE SILVER purified in a crucible, LIKE GOLD REFINED SEVEN TIMES." (Psalm 12:6) "See, I have refined you, though NOT AS SILVER; I HAVE TESTED YOU IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION." (Isaiah 48:10) "THE CRUCIBLE FOR SILVER AND THE FURNACE FOR GOLD, BUT THE LORD TESTS THE HEART." (Prov 17:3)
"For HIS ACHIEVEMENT are we, being created in Christ Jesus..." (Eph. 2:10)
We are HIS "achievement!" HE will "perfect" us!!
"Now what have you which you did not OBTAIN? Now if you OBTAINED it also [from GOD] why are you boasting as though [you are] not obtaining [it from God]?" (I Cor. 4:7 Concordant Literal)
It is ALL GOD!
"All is of God." (II Cor 5:18)
"The One Who is operating ALL in accord with the counsel of HIS will." (Eph 1:11)
"And He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and by Him ALL THINGS CONSIST. And He is the HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH: Who is the beginning, the firstborn form the dead, that in ALL THINGS HE MIGHT HAVE THE PREEMINENCE. For it pleased the Father that IN HIM SHOULD ALL FULLNESS DWELL. And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to RECONCILE ALL UNTO HIMSELF; by Him, I say, whether in earth or in heaven." (Col 1:12:20)
"For the creation was MADE SUBJECT TO VANITY, NOT WILLING, but by reason of Him WHO HAS SUBJECTED THE SAME IN HOPE, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of CORRUPTION..." (Rom. 8:20-21)
"For what is your LIFE? It is even a VAPOUR, that appears for a little time, and then VANISHES AWAY." (James 4:14)
"Because you say that I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and NAKED." (Rev. 3:17)
Again, the "judgment" IS the "FIRE" of God refining us!!
"For behold, the Lord will come IN FIRE, and His chariots will be like the stormy wind, to render His anger with fierceness, and HIS REBUKE WITH FLAMES OF FIRE. For BY FIRE AND BY HIS SWORD will the Lord execute judgment upon all flesh, and the slain of the Lord will be many." (Isaiah 66:15-16)
"And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and WITH THE FLAME OF A DEVOURING FIRE, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones." (Isaiah 30:30)
According to your works
"EVERY MAN'S WORK shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be REVEALED BY FIRE, and the FIRE shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
(I Cor. 3:13)
What works? ALL works! Works of the HEART!
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)
Guilty! ALL of US!
"Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer..." (1 John 3:15)
Guilty! ALL of US!
"Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, 'Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?'" (Matthew 9:4)
"JUDGE NOT, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1)
The same measure we have dealt in our judgments [we ALL pass judgment!] WILL be dealt back at us
"...HE WILL BRING TO LIGHT WHAT IS HIDDEN IN DARKNESS AND WILL EXPOSE THE MOTIVES OF THE HEART. At that time each will receive their praise from God." (1 Cor 4:5)
And there will be hell to pay
"FOR IN THE SAME WAY YOU JUDGE OTHERS, YOU WILL BE JUDGED, and WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU."
(Matthew 7:2)
We have judged the Law of Freedom!
"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by THE LAW THAT GIVES FREEDOM, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT." (James 2:12-13, NIV)
How did Paul judge?
"Now Saul [Paul], yet breathing out THREATENINGS and SLAUGHTER against the disciples of the Lord..." (Acts 9:1)
"And I [Paul] persecuted this way unto THE DEATH, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women." (Acts 22:4)
"And I PUNISHED them OFT in EVERY synagogue, and compelling them To BLASPHEME; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them unto strange cities." (Acts 26:11)
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF." (I Tim. 1:15)
And what did Paul have to endure?
"...suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth..." (Acts 9:3-4)
"And he TREMBLING AND ASTONISHED, said, 'LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO?...'" (Acts 9:6)
This is the PATTERN for ALL of US!
"But therefore was I shown mercy, that in me, THE FOREMOST [the worst sinner ever], Jesus Christ should be DISPLAYING ALL HIS PATIENCE [with the worst of sinners], FOR A PATTERN of those who are about to be believing on Him for life eonian." (1 Timothy 1:16, CLT)
Examine the pattern
"...I have worked much harder, been IN PRISON more frequently, been FLOGGED more severely, and been EXPOSED TO DEATH again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty LASHES minus one. Three times I was BEATEN WITH RODS, once I was PELTED WITH STONES, three times I was SHIPWRECKED, I spent A NIGHT AND A DAY IN THE OPEN SEA, I have been CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE. I have been IN DANGER FROM RIVERS, in DANGER FROM BANDITS, in DANGER FROM MY FELLOW JEWS, in DANGER FROM GENTILES; in DANGER IN THE CITY, in DANGER IN THE COUNTRY, in DANGER AT SEA; and in DANGER FROM FALSE BELIEVERS. I have LABORED AND TOILED and have often gone WITHOUT SLEEP; I have known HUNGER AND THIRST and have often gone without food; I have been COLD AND NAKED." (2 Cor 11:23-27, NIV)
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ UNTO ALL and UPON ALL them that believe: for THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE: For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:22-23)
We have an appointment with AFFLICTION!!
"That no man should be moved by these AFFLICTIONS: for yourselves know that WE ARE APPOINTED thereunto." (I Thes. 3:3)
"The Noble Truth of Suffering (Dukkha) is this: Birth is suffering; aging is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering; association with the unpleasant is suffering; dissociation from the pleasant is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering-in brief, the five aggregates of attachment are suffering." (Buddhism, Samyutta Nikaya 1vi.11: Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth)
"Farid, I thought I alone had sorrow; Sorrow is spread all over the world. From my roof-top I saw every home engulfed in sorrow's flames."(Sikhism, Adi Granth, Shalok, Farid, p. 1382)
