TOPICS LIST: http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/topics.htm EMAIL: bibletalks@eztech.com Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Bible Talks about JUDGMENT AFTER DEATH. A BELIEVER DIES ONLY ONCE, THEN COMES JUDGMENT. (See BT#2, Sin, death and salvation). HEBREWS 9:27 "... And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,..." WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS JUDGMENT TIME? (Judgment after death is not for the purpose of determining whether a person will spend eternity with God in joy and bliss or in darkness and torment. THIS FACT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BEFORE DEATH. BELIEVERS ARE NOT CONDEMNED AND ENTER EAVEN WHILE UNBELIEVERS ARE ALREADY CONDEMNED BEFORE THEY DIE. THE BELIEVER: JOHN 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; ..." JOHN 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." THE UNBELIEVER: JOHN 3:18 ".... but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." JOHN 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. SINCE BELIEVERS ARE NOT CONDEMNED AND ASSURED OF HEAVEN AND UNBELIEVERS ARE ALREADY CONDEMNED BEFORE DEATH, WHAT IS A TIME OF JUDGMENT FOR? Judgment time is a time of determining rewards and punishments. Each person will have to account for all that was done and said in his/her lifetime and this will determine the rewards and punishments. In addition, judgment time will verify the salvation or condemnation already settled upon before death.. ECCLESIASTIES 12: "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil." MATTHEW 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." MATTHEW 16:27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 "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." COLOSSIANS he who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong which he has done, and there is no partiality." DO NOT BE MISLED. BECAUSE JUDGMENT TIME IS A TIME OF ACCOUNTING FOR THINGS SAID AND DONE IN YOUR LIFETIME, DO NOT GET THE IDEA THAT SALVATION CAN BE EARNED BY GOOD WORKS. REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS ARE BEING DISCUSSED HERE, NOT SALVATION. SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT TO THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN JESUS CHRIST. ACTS 16:31 "So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 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 of works, lest anyone should boast.". TITUS 3:5 "....not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,...." ROMANS 10:9 ".... that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." YOU HAVE SALVATION NOW. WORK FOR THE LORD. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:15 "....and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again". COLOSSIANS 3:23, 24 "....And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." (Review BT # 2, "Sin, death and salvation.") In order to receive a particular Bible Talks,go to: http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/topics.htm to select a Bible Talks by topic. Click on the topic you want and print or read on the screen.