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Will believers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak? And what will this look like?
Will there be any rebukes or scoldings of believers at the Last Judgment?
Matthew 12:26.
I Corinthians 3
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Ephesians 5
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
When the Scripture say's we will give an account for every idle word and you ask the question, "Will beleivers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak?", I feel as if I have been dragged into the world of idle words.
When the Scripture say's we will give an account for every idle word and you ask the question, "Will beleivers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak?", I feel as if I have been dragged into the world of idle words.
It does seem as though "Will believers indeed give account for every word" in the face of the Scripture which clearly says in several places that believers and unbelievers alike will give account... I feel as though I'm hearing "Yea, hath God said?" yet again.
Yes it applies to believers; Romans 14:12 is clear that we will all give account. Christ is showing that even words uttered carelessly one moment and forgotten the next will be included in this judgment and in fact they are much more important than we usually give credit to because they show our true nature.
God can rebuke and scold us now, why not at the last judgment? Even though for those in Christ the judgment will be not guilty - the same crime cannot be punished twice - I see no reason why there wouldn't be a preamble - "you did well in this but that was disappointing". I expect to gain the long-sought-for 100% awareness of our sin so that Christ's work and merit is seen in all its glory, to the praise of His name.
When the Scripture say's we will give an account for every idle word and you ask the question, "Will beleivers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak?", I feel as if I have been dragged into the world of idle words.
I do believe that we will and here's why I believe so: when God says that He doesn't remember our sins anymore I believe what that means is that He doesn't remember them for condemnation's sake. I do believe He remembers them for Christ's glory sake. Meaning God will say Sarah did lied but Christ lived without lying and then imputed His perfect record of not lying onto Sarah and also died and paid for Sarah's lie. I believe He will do that for every sin we've committed at judgment day in order for Christ to receive glory. We won't feel guilt or shame but instead overwhelming and perfect gratitude and love towards our Savior.
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Oh, and I believe that our good works which He worked through us will be mentioned and He will be given the glory for those too bc it was His righteousness worked in us by the Holy Spirit.
Will believers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak? And what will this look like?
Will there be any rebukes or scoldings of believers at the Last Judgment?
Matthew 12:26.
when will this account take place? after we die or at the final day?
When the Scripture say's we will give an account for every idle word and you ask the question, "Will beleivers, too, give an account for every idle word we speak?", I feel as if I have been dragged into the world of idle words.
It does seem as though "Will believers indeed give account for every word" in the face of the Scripture which clearly says in several places that believers and unbelievers alike will give account... I feel as though I'm hearing "Yea, hath God said?" yet again.
If you're hearing "yea hath God said" AGAIN, it certainly isn't from me that you suppose that you hear this. Questioning opinions of divines or man-made confessions is not the same as saying "yea, hath God said."
It does seem as though "Will believers indeed give account for every word" in the face of the Scripture which clearly says in several places that believers and unbelievers alike will give account... I feel as though I'm hearing "Yea, hath God said?" yet again.
If you're hearing "yea hath God said" AGAIN, it certainly isn't from me that you suppose that you hear this. Questioning opinions of divines or man-made confessions is not the same as saying "yea, hath God said."
Perhaps I misheard you. I thought you were questioning whether believers would give an account for every word.... and Scripture (not man-made confessions or divines) says so very directly. I guess I missed your point, then.
Didn't Jesus already give an account for all of our sins? He bore the Father's judgment and wrath in our stead 2000 years ago. Why would they be brought up again? I thought that God removes our sins from us as far as east is from west.
I was thinking the same as regener8ed. Why would 'works' suddenly pop up when only Christ saves us? Why would we have that in our faces after Christ has imputed His righteousness upon us?
Yes it applies to believers; Romans 14:12 is clear that we will all give account. Christ is showing that even words uttered carelessly one moment and forgotten the next will be included in this judgment and in fact they are much more important than we usually give credit to because they show our true nature.
God can rebuke and scold us now, why not at the last judgment? Even though for those in Christ the judgment will be not guilty - the same crime cannot be punished twice - I see no reason why there wouldn't be a preamble - "you did well in this but that was disappointing". I expect to gain the long-sought-for 100% awareness of our sin so that Christ's work and merit is seen in all its glory, to the praise of His name.
So, it appears that I am advocating inequality in heaven, but I am advocating differing degrees of reward for works. And those in hell will have differing degrees of torment.
2 Esdras 7:88-101 said:88"Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body. 89During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour so that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly. 90Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 92The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought that was formed with them, so that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander and the punishment that awaits them. 94The third order, they see the witness that he who formed them bears concerning them, that throughout their life they kept the law with which they were entrusted. 95The fourth order, they understand the rest that they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory waiting for them in the last days. 96The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty that they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. 97The sixth order, when it is shown them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they press forward to see the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified. 99This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced; and the previously mentioned are the ways of torment that those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter."
100Then I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?"
101He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations."
So, it appears that all do not agree.
Here are my propositions:
(1) All will be judged for every idle word, even believers
(2) While we are saved by grace, works will come into play at the Last Judgment
(3) In hell, some will be beaten with more stripes than others
(4) The saints will also differ in their reward.
(5) Somehow at the Last Judgment this will all be sorted out, but I am not sure if this is a temporal thing, a mental thing, etc, as to when and how the saints willl be judged for every idle word.
We are saved by grace and not by works, yes:
Romans 4:5, "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast,"
But the Bible also speaks of our works as important:
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5-10).
"... and each one will receive His own reward according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8)
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone ACCORDING TO HIS WORK." (Revelation 22:12)
So Jesus answered them and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brother or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or land, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a HUNDREDFOLD now in this time ... and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)
Of course, these rewards do not deny grace, as the Heidelberg teaches us below:
Heidelberg Catechism:
60. Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.[1] Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's commandments, have never kept any of them,[2] and am still inclined to all evil,[3] yet God, without any merit of my own,[4] out of mere grace,[5] imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ.[6] He grants these to me as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me,[7] if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.[8]
[1] Rom. 3:21-28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Phil. 3:8-11. [2] Rom. 3:9, 10. [3] Rom. 7:23. [4] Deut. 9:6; Ezek. 36:22; Tit. 3:4, 5. [5] Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8. [6] Rom. 4:3-5; II Cor. 5:17-19; I John 2:1, 2. [7] Rom. 4:24, 25; II Cor. 5:21. [8] John 3:18; Acts 16:30, 31; Rom. 3:22.
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61. Q. Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?
A. Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, for only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God.[1] I can receive this righteousness and make it mine my own by faith only.[2]
[1] I Cor. 1:30, 31; 2:2. [2] Rom. 10:10; I John 5:10-12.
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62. Q. But why can our good works not be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of it?
A. Because the righteousness which can stand before God's judgment must be absolutely perfect and in complete agreement with the law of God,[1] whereas even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.[2]
[1] Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10. [2] Is. 64:6.
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63. Q. But do our good works earn nothing, even though God promises to reward them in this life and the next?
A. This reward is not earned[1]; it is a gift of grace.[2]
[1] Matt. 5:12; Heb. 11:6. [2] Luke 17:10; II Tim. 4:7, 8.
I Corinthians 6:1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you to try in trivial cases?
What do you make of these verses in light of this discussion?