On Sin, Good Deeds, and Judgement
Submitted by gephartr on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 9:36pm
Originally posted at gephartr.blogspot.com
I haven't been able to put as much thought into this as I would like yet, but felt it worth posting for possible discussion. Relating to the nature of the final judgement, what is it based on?
I've started reading Leviticus, and beyond there been portions of it that just seem totally irrelevant anymore (as Jesus has made the once-for-all atoning sacrifice) it does give what I think is a clue. The first 13-14 chapters deal with sacrifices for sin that must be made once we recognize we did it. The sin is still sin even if we do not know that it was at the time and judgement is due for that sin.
On the contrary, in the New Testament it speaks of our sins being paid for at Calvary - and that of all mankind. It also speaks of sin as being more individually based (to him that believes it to be sin it is sin). It also speaks of how we, as being in Christ, are called to do the good deeds of Christ. Then in Revelation and in Matthew (and probably others) it speaks of how we will be judged for what we did and didn't do. But in light of how we are called to do the good deeds of Christ, it seems to me that this judgement of deeds is a judgement of what good deeds we did and did not do. But in the OT, that it be of the sins that we did and did not do.
Is this in fact one of the great changes, if not the greatest change that was implemented thru Jesus' life and sacrifice?
Comments
As there has not been any
As there has not been any conversation yet, here are some comments from other forums of this post. I'm interested in anything that anyone would like to say. Thanks!
Person A:
[In revelations it says that all that were judged by there works are condemned. Only if you were exclude from judgement by having your name written in the book of life are you saved. Yes, the sacrifice of Jesus covers all mankind, but only if you choose to accept it. The book of life is the list of those that accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and are forgiven.]
Person B:
[Interesting thing about the book of life. David asks the Lord to not blot his name from it. Would that mean we're all in it? Could our names be expunged? How? Why?
I think [Person A] has gotten some good fundamental teaching.]
Me:
[Re 20:11-15 (New Living Translation)
"And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave* gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire."
I'm not claiming to know the answers, but it appears that in Revelations it says that "all were judged according to their deeds." Meaning those in the book of life and those not - all judged according to their deeds. Which again raises my question as to whether instead of that referring to sin - as those of us in Jesus will not be judged by our sin which has been washed whiter than snow - maybe the deeds refer to the good deeds that we are called to do.
Again, I have no answers. But I am interested in what people think. This is both an intellectual exercise to me, and it is also life. "Seek first the kingdom of God..."]
For a growing discussion of
For a growing discussion of this topic, please visit: http://tribes.tribe.net/unplugged/thread/890f903f-f44e-40e6-8491-655f6fd...