“I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak” (Matt.12:36 – CSB).
“For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed. And nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light” (Luke 8:17 – CSB).
These are my least favorite verses in the New Testament. They are the words of Jesus. Am I to believe them? Are they true? Will all I have said and all I have done be revealed openly on the day of judgment?
I hope not. According to Jesus, it is only a matter of time when all that is knowable about you and me will be out in the open.
Some, however, are getting found out these days in advance of the judgment. It seems that almost weekly some high-profile Christian is being accused of some sort of wrong-doing, often of a sexual nature. Some people as I write are biting their nails that what is knowable will be revealed in this life. According to Jesus, sooner or later all will be exposed.
Many of us would die a thousand deaths were all that is knowable about us be revealed and reported.
I want to pose a question: is there a theological correlation between one’s doctrinal beliefs and lifestyle? Am I less likely to fall into sin if I am a charismatic (one who believes that the gifts of the Spirit and miracles described in the New Testament are available today)? Am I less likely to fall if I am a cessationist (one who believes that the miraculous gifts “ceased” in the first century of the church)? Is an Arminian (one who believes in free will and that one can lose their salvation after they backslide) more likely to live a holy life than a Calvinist (one who believes that those born again cannot lose their salvation)? Are Anglicans more spiritual than Catholics? Do Pentecostals have a better record than Baptists when it comes to sexual purity? Is one who prays in tongues more likely to have stronger will power than one who does not believe in the gifts of the Spirit? Is a person with a genuine prophetic gift more likely to exemplify godliness and integrity than one who does not have any of the spiritual gifts?
I don’t know if there has been a serious study on the theology of fallen Christians and their corresponding beliefs. I only know of the many reports that are in the public domain.
Here is another question: will our open sins and secret sins be revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ? I have believed all my life that all of our sins are “buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness”, a phrase loosely connected to the Authorized Version translation of Micah 7:19 but not actually in the Bible. I still hope that this interpretation is utterly and absolutely true. I am counting on this. But if it is completely and totally true that God forgets all my sins, how could my idle words be brought to light at the judgment? I think I would drop dead on the spot If my sins would be reported now – not to mention at the judgment. But what about Jesus’ words that “nothing will be concealed” at some stage? Furthermore, if all my sins are buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness, why should Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Joab, Uzziah or Hezekiah and countless others have their shortcomings revealed in Holy Scripture? In other words, why should I get away with my failures and these people be openly found out in their lifetime? These sins also include being hot-tempered, lying, having lack of self-control, failure as a parent, jealousy, unforgiveness and a thousand others.
The Apostle Paul believed he would be vindicated at the Final Judgment. His followers in Corinth began to doubt his integrity and apostleship. He replied:
“It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each from God” (1 Cor.4:3-5).
In other words, Paul was counting on the truth coming out at the Judgment Seat of Christ. He decided to wait until then. I have taken this to mean that I too should wait until the Last Day for the truth of any of my own controversies to come out. God has said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay” (Rom.12:19). The Bible is clear that we should never vindicate ourselves. This is what God does. When I try to vindicate myself, things invariably get worse. I have learned the hard way to let God do it, but the problem is: we may have to wait a long time!
When I was the pastor of a church in America over fifty years ago, I had some deacons who gave me a lot of trouble. It was an awful time. I was discouraged. I turned to a verse that gave me great comfort. It was about the “persecutions and afflictions” that one was enduring. Paul said, “It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted”. Oh good. Yes! Thank you, Lord. I loved it. But something told me to keep reading. Oh dear. My joy was short-lived. “This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thess.1:5-8).
In a word: vindication can be postponed take a long time. That is, if it is external vindication we yearn for. Paul said that Jesus was vindicated by the Spirit (1 Thess.3:16). That was an internal vindication; knowing that God approved. Most of us want external vindication, when everybody is forced to see our innocence. Most of us have a story to tell – how we have been hurt, betrayed or let down. But vindication seldom comes soon, even if we have vindication coming. The problem is, some of us take vindication always to be warranted in our case! At any rate, Paul counted on the truth to come out at the judgment seat of Christ.
I have taken 1 Corinthians 4:5 – when the truth will come out – to be the standard by which one should live: wait on God to vindicate. It will come at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
My point is this. Paul seems to take the view that, although our sins are forgiven, there will nonetheless be a judgment that will show how Jesus’ words will be applied. Our idle words will be exposed. So will our injustices, cruelties and misdeeds. This should have a definite effect on our lives now. But does it?
I was brought up in a church that believed you could lose your salvation if you give into sin. What always surprised me was that it did not have much effect on lives! I can never forget a man who in my old church in Kentucky who greatly admired a former pastor. When the pastor resigned and went to another church, my friend went into the world and forgot living a life of holiness. But when word got out that his old pastor was coming back to preach, he came to church and sat on the front seat with unashamed confidence. Then when the pastor left town, he went back to his sinful habits. The teaching that he would lose his salvation did not seem to bother him the slightest.
But I also knew a man who believed “once saved, always saved” and who took full advantage of his teaching and lived without much regard toward sexual purity. He would say, “I am saved, I cannot be lost no matter what I do”. He had also been taught that a truly saved person would not live like that. That however did not seem to matter to him.
In a word: above are at least two examples of people who held to opposite theological beliefs but lived in a manner that was clearly against the biblical teaching of holiness. Paul said, “For this is God’s will, your sanctification that you keep away from sexual immorality” (1 Thess.4:3). He added, “the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses” (v.6). This means that those who indulge in sexual immorality and who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ will, sooner or later, be found out and judged. For some it happens in this life. For others, it will come later.
We may imagine that nothing could be worse than being exposed and judged in this life. I would not want to be in the shoes of those who have been found out. I feel for them. But, although I cannot prove this, being exposed on that Day of days will be worse.
I truly don’t want to moralize the reader — I am fully aware my own weaknesses, it seems to me that a lack of the fear of God is what is at bottom of sexual promiscuity. I don’t think theological purity – whether one is charismatic, cessationist, Arminian or Calvinist – will make the difference in one’s character. I believe it will be the fear of God.
I am sure of this. The sin of adultery is displeasing to God. I have wondered if God is rolling up his leaves these days to deal with this issue. I don’t know how to get this over to the reader, but, if I could, I would lovingly urge you to let this article be a wake-up call for you.