| << | Contents | >> |
The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. God the Father has ordained a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,[1] to whom he has given all power and judgment.[2] In that day not only will the apostate angels be judged, but all the people who have lived on earth will appear before the court of Christ to give an account of their thoughts, words, and actions, and be judged according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.[3]
[3] 1 Cor 6:3, Jude 6, 2 Pt 2:4, 2 Cor 5:10, Eccl 12:14, Rom 2:16, 14:10,12, Mt 12:36-37, 1 Cor 3:13-15.
2. God's purpose in arranging for this day is to show forth the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect[4] and the glory of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient.[5] At that time the righteous will go into everlasting life and receive that fullness of joy and refreshment which will come from the presence of the Lord.[6] But the wicked, who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be thrown into eternal torment and punished with everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power.[7]
[4] Rom 9:23, Mt 25:21, Eph 2:4-7.
[5] Rom 2:5-6, 2 Thes 1:7-8, Rom 9:22.
[6] Mt 25:31-34, Acts 3:19, 2 Thes 1:7, Ps 16:11.
[7] Mt 25:41,46, 2 Thes 1:9, Is 66:24, Mk 9:47-48.
3. Christ wants us to be completely convinced that there is going to be a day of judgment, as a deterrent to sin for everyone and as an added consolation for the godly in their suffering.[8] He has also made sure that no one knows when that day will be, so that we may never rest secure in our worldly surroundings, but, not knowing what hour the Lord will come, we must always be alert and may always be ready to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."[9] Amen.
[8] 2 Pt 3:11,14, 2 Cor 5:10-11, 2 Thes 1:5-7, Lk 21:27-28, Rom 8:23-25.
[9] Mt 24:36, 42-44, Mk 13:35-37, Lk 12:35-36, Rv 22:20.
Search Comments
This page has been visited 0013 times.
| << | Contents | >> |
10 per page