COV LIFE BLOG

Obadiah 15-21 – The Coming Day of the Lord

“Thus says the word of the Lord, — “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; so that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.” To the saints the judgment of the things done shall be according to righteousness, for these things shall be taken in evidence that they were indeed reconciled to God. The Judge will say, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from before the foundations of the world.” And then shall come the evidence: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food; thirsty, and you gave me a drink,” and so on. These fruits shall be the evidence that they were in Christ, the evidence of their being justified by faith; while on the other hand the sour and bitter fruit of the ungodly shall be the evidence that they were not planted by the Lord: “I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; sick and in prison, and you did not minister to me.” We need have no fear of the judgment to come when we know that we are in Christ, for who fears to enter a just court when he knows that by the highest authority he has already been cleared? How complete is the Christian’s safety! For there will be no accuser. So bright will be the righteousness of a saint through faith that no accuser will appear. Listen, the herald sounds out the challenge! “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” All through the court it rings; and God is there — the faithful and all-seeing God. Does he lay anything to their charge? Far from it. “It is God who justifies.” Outside of the court the voice demands, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” They hear it in heaven, and angels who have watched the race of every believer, and seen how he has been running towards the goal, are silent concerning any accusation. The challenge is heard in hell, where demons hate the godly, but they dare not forge a lie against them. Happy is he who can also say, “There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the righteous Judge shall give to me at that day.” Notice, he will give it as Judge, and on that day; how can some among you say that there is no judgment for the saints? Who, then, need fear to enter the court when every accusation is silenced and a reward is expected?”

Charles Spuregon

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SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read Obadiah 15-21 and notice what will occur on the day of Lord? How is this encouraging on the one hand and challenging on the other? What difference does it make to walk in these two perspectives?

SONG FOR THE WEEK
How Deep the Father’s Love For Us by Stuart Townend