Repaid according to our deeds
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Rev 2:21-23-NIV)
One of the main Christian teachings of our day is that no Christian will suffer at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is a terribly destructive doctrine because it removes the fear of God from the churches.
Look at the passage above.
To whom is Jesus speaking? To the angel of the church in Thyatira.
There was immorality in the church in Thyatira, probably a strong spirit of partying.
Now, why did the Lord speak so harshly to these believers when they all were "standing in grace?" Maybe Christ was just going after the angel. Perhaps it was the angel who was living in immorality and Christ's words do not apply to the believers. Could this be the explanation?
Jesus is calling for repentance. Do you know the Spirit of God is calling for repentance in the United States of America? Do you know what else? We have no doctrinal basis for repentance. God sees us only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. To repent is to cast aspersions on the perfect work of God. Of what is there to repent? Christ's own righteousness that clothes us?
Obviously something is amiss because we all can feel the call to repentance.
How much more fruitful would be the Spirit's call to repentance if our doctrine were not confusing everyone!
Concerning the spirit of immorality and partying, Jesus did not say, " Not to worry Honey, good ol' Jesus will cover you with His robe of righteousness. Go ahead. Have fun in the Son. Have a good time on Me!"
What did our gentle Lord say?
"I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead.
Wow! Kind of harsh words for the gentle Jesus! Maybe Jesus is not as gentle as we thought! If American preachers talked like Jesus we would have the greatest backdoor revival in history.
Then Jesus said something else that blows apart the contemporary preaching.
"All the churches will know I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Since we know the Lord will never repay a believer according to his deeds, we must go to the Greek to discover what Jesus actually said.
If you will look at the pluperfect, past redundant, by golly participle of the word "repay" you will discover Jesus actually was saying He will overlook everything bad we have done. The use of this Greek term by the Babylonians proves beyond doubt that all believers stand in grace and Jesus has waved away their immorality, slander, covetousness, and dishonesty. Now they will govern all nations with a rod of iron while lying in bed in their mansion.