(tm) Christ is the Judge.
Back to The First and Second Resurrection
If He decides that any individual has repented of his sins, has left the world, and has placed his whole love on Jesus, He will reward that person accordingly. He shall be counted as an overcomer. The good he has done by following Jesus is of such merit in the Kingdom of God that he will inherit all things.
If he continues to live on the earth he may suffer for a season as the Lord purifies him. When the Lord comes, this individual’s sins will not be mentioned (Ezekiel 18:22). He has been judged according to his behavior. He has been found to have overcome the world by placing all his love on Christ. His reward is to inherit all things (Revelation 21:7).
It is important to distinguish between immaturity, and walking with defiled garments.
If any person, young or old in the Christian faith, forsakes the world and centers all his heart on Christ, he is an overcomer immediately. He has overcome the world. He has worked the works that are the true sign of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
He may suffer much throughout the days of his discipleship on the earth. Such suffering is a judgment on him so he may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God (II Thessalonians 1:4,5; I Peter 4:16-19).
All true disciples, whether their discipleship on earth lasts for one day or sixty years, will rise in the first resurrection. Whoever is found worthy to be called forth by Christ at His appearing, whoever is feeding on and living by His body and blood, whoever is filled with the "oil" of the Holy Spirit, will be delivered by the Lord at that moment.
The vestiges of sin and self-seeking, the imperfections of spirit, soul, and body—all will flee from the personalities of the members of the Body of Christ at the command of the righteous Judge. This is an eternal judgment.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
This is the Day of Redemption to which all true saints have been sealed.
Which is the earnest [pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
If any person believes in the name of Christ, is baptized in water, and then does not forsake the world, does not center all his love, hope, and trust in Christ, does not forsake the flesh, he is living in death. He will not be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord when He appears. He has not worked the righteous works that always proceed from true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul, as described in Philippians 3:11, was pressing forward to full redemption (except, of course, for his physical body, which will be raised at the last trumpet), and was inviting us to do the same. He was seeking to accomplish as much as possible of judgment and spiritual deliverance now—in this present life. Perhaps it is true for most of us that some spiritual redemption will have to take place at the coming of the Lord.
It is possible to be "blameless" in spirit and soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23). This is the final result of sanctification. One wonders what it would be like to arrive at the first resurrection now, to be living wholly in the resurrection power of Christ, to have our adamic nature nailed completely to the cross.
We can be eligible for the first resurrection even though we have not as yet attained to the mark of perfection. But we must be found "worthy." It is our works in Christ that determine our worthiness; for every person will be rewarded according to his or her works.
What are the works in Christ that are the basis for the first resurrection from the dead? First, we are to be seeking righteousness, to know Christ, to be found in Him. We are not to be creating a righteousness of our own but the righteousness that comes as we enter the Person and will of Christ.
Christian works consist of: righteousness, which is upright and merciful dealing with people; holiness, which is oneness with God in our person and our behavior; and obedience to God, which is sternly and joyously obeying the Lord every day of our life.
All such works take place as we pursue Christ with all the concentration of our personality.
It is impossible to grow in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God until we lay down our life, our own ambitions, our own plans, and take up our cross of self-denial. We then are to follow Christ wherever He goes. We do not strive to persuade Christ to do what we desire, as so many are advocating today.
If any person on the earth, including the Christian, walks in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God, he or she will be rewarded accordingly.
If any person on the earth, including the Christian, walks in unrighteousness, moral filthiness, and disobedience to God, he or she will be rewarded accordingly. Such a person is in jeopardy of the Lake of Fire and cannot enter through the gates into the holy city of God.
The victorious saints have the guarantee in writing that they "shall not be hurt of [be harmed by] the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that the "second death hath no power" over them (Revelation 20:6).
Through faith in Christ, the victorious saints have conquered the lust of the world, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They are walking in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God. Therefore the Lake of Fire cannot injure them. Because they, through God’s grace, no longer are practicing the works that have been assigned to the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8), they no longer come under the authority of the Lake of Fire.
The believer who is overcome by the lust of the world, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, possesses no such assurance.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (II Peter 2:20)
Is it faith that enables us to escape the second death?
Yes, for no human being can please God apart from faith. Only faith in Christ is the "victory that overcometh the world" (I John 5:4). John goes on to state, "he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" 5:18).
Is it righteous works that enable us to escape the second death?
Yes, for we "see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).