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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: COURT (02/24/22)
Going to one's mailbox can be an eye-opening experience, when in the mix there appears to be an official looking envelope marked SUMMONS enclosed.

There will be no summons in the mail, but there is a scheduled (Heb. 9: 27) hearing for every Church Age believer to appear in the Court of Heaven.

At his appointed time, every Church Age believer will be required to give an individual account of himself in the Court of Heaven (Rom. 14: 12).

With Romans 8: 1 in mind, you might be thinking, if there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, what’s this Court appearance all about.

Romans 8: 1 is speaking about eternal security, in that no born again (Church Age) believer will be sent to the lake of fire. His sin debt has been stamped “paid in full” by the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever divine discipline (Heb. 12: 6) that a Church Age believer receives for post (after) salvation sin is experienced HERE on Earth.

The Heb. 9: 27 judgement and 1Cor. 3: 12-15 evaluation has got nothing to do with sin.

The purpose for this hearing is for the evaluation of the individual believer’s production (Matt. 13: 23/Matt. 5: 19) during the course of his post salvation spiritual life.

The outcome of this hearing results in receiving or forfeiting eternal (1Cor. 3: 14, 15) reward and (Rev. 2 & 3) privileges.

Church Age believers do not serve God in order to be rewarded, but God has made it clear that He intends to reward and privilege in eternity, the ones who serve Him here on Earth.

Receiving or forfeiting these rewards and privileges do NOT change where a Church Age (born-again) believer will spend all of eternity, but greatly determines HOW he or she will experience Heaven.

Will it be one with, or without, reward and privileges? That’s up to every born-again to determine by the decisions he or she makes on a daily basis.

This hearing in the Court of Heaven for born-again (Church Age) believers, must be distinguished from another hearing scheduled in the Court of Heaven for all unbelievers.

All departed unbelievers throughout the course of human history are being held in the Torments of Hades. At the appointed time, all such unbelievers will be summoned to the Court of Heaven (Rev. 20: 13).

By divine design, the past, present, and future sins (with the exception of the unpardonable sin of disbelief (John 3: 18), of the ENTIRE human race were atoned for on the cross (1John 2: 2).

God received full payment for the entire world’s sin debt (with the exception of the sin of disbelief – John 3: 18) during the one time shedding of the blood of Jesus on the cross (Heb.10: 10).

Having been paid in full, divine justice can not then impose further payments or requirements beyond faith in the payment that has already been made.

This leaves only the unpardonable sin of disbelief to be addressed in the Court of Heaven when the unbelievers are summoned to appear (John 3: 18).

Note: Eternal salvation is not a license to sin. There are still EARTHLY consequences (e.g., Acts 5) for post salvation sin.

As of the Church Age, an “unbeliever” is a soul that chooses to reject the Person of Jesus as being God the Son (John 8: 24), and His atoning Work (John 1: 29), He finished (John 19: 30) on the cross.

In conclusion, we ALL have a hearing scheduled in the Court of Heaven.

Rather or not we will be among summoned to appear in the capacity of a Church Age (born-again) believer, or in the capacity of a un-believer, is self-determined by our chosen response to the unadulterated Gospel Message.

Believers, summoned to appear in the Court of Heaven, will give an account of their production (Matt. 13: 23) as disciples, during the course of what had been his or her post salvation spiritual life here on Earth.

As a result, they remain saved, but will either receive or forfeit heavenly reward and privileges that every born-again believer could have received.

Pastor-teachers, “…will incur a stricter judgement (James 3: 1 NASB),” giving an account of the quantity and the accuracy of the doctrine they promoted.

Unbelievers, summoned to appear Rev. 20: 13) to the Court of Heaven will later be tossed into the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15).
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Philippa Geaney
03/04/22
I thought this to be very well thought out, and of course, truth.
Some of the arresting statements may have been repeated a few tines which seemed to lessen the impact for me, but everyone is an individual responder. The sentence most clearly expressed I feel was:
Eternal salvation is not a license to sin. There are still EARTHLY consequences (e.g., Acts 5) for post salvation sin.
That is such a key.
Thank you.