Once Saved

"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or [bad-worthless]." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

You may or may not have figured this out already - I am not a graduate of a seminary, but I am a student of the Word, as I trust you are as well. I have been blessed with the opportunity to sit under the teaching of some great teachers and preachers of the Word - but it is the greatest teacher - the Holy Spirit that affirms spiritual truth through the teaching of others and my reading of the Word of God.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I [Jesus] have said to you." - John 14:26

There have been many times when I heard something taught and it came as a revelation to me. Meaning I had not understood something from God's Word in a particular way and then the Spirit affirmed in my heart that what I had just heard or read was indeed a spiritual revelation - God's Truth revealed. Of course we must always be careful that we are not swayed by words that appeal to our flesh and are encouraged to embrace what makes sense to our natural way of thinking as spiritual truth. Many have traveled that dangerous path. Instead, we are to be like the Bereans.

"Now these [Berean] Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." - Acts 17:11

That was a long lead-in to my point. This is it. I was listening to a teaching on 2 Corinthians 5 which illuminated my understanding. That  there are two eternal judgements, the judgement seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgement. The first for Christians - those who are saved from condemnation - the judgement seat of Christ. And the second is for those who are not Christians - the Great White Throne Judgement. (Revelation 20).

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" - Romans 8:1-4

Perhaps you already knew that but I have heard eternal judgement described in that past as all mankind standing before the Great White Throne judgement where Christians would be acquitted because Jesus died for us. Study it for yourself. That judgement examines the works of the "goats" - both what they consider their good deeds as defined by mankind and bad in the light of a Holy God. But both fall short of God's glory.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ..... remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." - Ephesians 2:8-12

There is a term called "double jeopardy" which means that you cannot be tried for the same offense twice.  Jesus paid it all - all to Him we owe. The penalty for our past, present and future sins has been paid, by Jesus. That does not mean that to continue to sin is OK. We must keep them in perspective. Jesus went to the Cross because of them. We are to living testimonies of God's grace and one day we, Christians, will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. And if you already understood this, then receive my words as a reminder to rejoice and be thankful.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone