“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…(14)For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if One died for all, then were all dead; (15) and He died for all, that they which live should not, henceforth, live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them — and rose again!” [2Co.5:9-11;14-15]
It is a natural characteristic of having been quickened, or regenerated, by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for the new “born-from-above” true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to be eager and earnest — throughout this life — to desire to do something for the furtherance of the eternal Kingdom of Christ their Savior and Lord. This is what is being communicated to us from the Holy Spirit’s use of the word, labor, in the opening statement of our scripture that is referenced above. And, it becomes our ambition to be of service to Him in a way that is in full agreement and complete acceptance with that which the Word of God describes and declares concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our eternal Redeemer.
This scripture reference also states that it is inevitable that all of fallen mankind will eventually, and personally, appear before the judgment seat of Christ where we will justly receive from Him that which is justly due to us according to our life and the way that we have lived in this fallen and sinful body; “whether it be good or bad”. This means that we will experience being righteously judged for all the things we have thought; we have said; and, we have done. What a fearful and foreboding event that will be! It is no wonder that the Holy Spirit says: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!”
We put forth our most persuasive arguments from God’s Word — not for fallen and sinful men and women to convert themselves, or to make themselves, to be ready to appear before the judgment seat of Christ — for that is not something any of us can do for ourselves — no — we need the grace of the Savior for that accomplishment. But, it is the earnest desire of true godly ministers to convince fallen men that they are in an eternally dangerous state and condition as they continue to walk in their sinful ways that most certainly will lead them to no other place, but hell!
The true gospel ministers, that are yet in this world, are constrained, or literally controlled, by the love of Christ because they genuinely discern the truth of the efficacy of Christ’s sacrificial death as the only sovereign Savior substitute that there ever was, is, or ever will be. They see and understand that they which live by virtue of His death, “should not, henceforth, live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again!” Praise His all glorious and great Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
