[ ] 2/8/2009 #814

REACHING THE LOST FOR CHRIST:

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE LOST?

1 Peter 4:17-18

INTRODUCTION: Where will your lost loved ones spend eternity? What will they experience in eternity? Peter reminds us that judgment will begin at the “house of God.” God will judge His own people. If God judges His own people, what will be His judgment on the lost? In Second Thessalonians 1:8 Paul wrote: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” We shall look at three facts the sinner who dies without Christ will face.

I. THE SINNER WILL STAND BEFORE GOD.

A. PLACE OF JUDGMENT. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Every lost person will stand before the “great white throne” judgment of Christ. The place of this judgment is in heaven.

B. PURPOSE OF JUDGMENT. The purpose of this judgment is not to determine if these people are saved or lost. They are already condemned. (John 3:17) They will be judged by their works to determine the degree of punishment they will receive.

C. PERSON WHO JUDGES. Jesus is the Judge. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” John 5:22

II. THE SINNER WILL BE SENTENCED BY GOD.

A. RECORDS OF CHRIST. (Revelation 20:12)

1. Books of deeds. (record of words, works, thoughts, and actions)

“But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37)

2. Book of the Bible.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)

3. Book of life. (having never been born again their names are blotted out)

B. RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.

The Bible teaches that God will judge the world in righteousness. (Ps. 9:8; 96:13) The very nature of a holy and just God demands He will judge righteously. The lost will be judged “according to their works.” Their deeds will determine the degree of their punishment. (Luke 12:47-48)

John MacArthur: “The absolute, unerring accuracy of God’s judgment will ensure that unbelievers’ punishment in hell fits their iniquity.”

III. THE SINNER WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD.

The worse punishment for the lost will be his separation from God. “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thes. 1:9 The word “destruction” does not mean annihilation but ruin. A life of hopelessness, emptiness, and meaninglessness.

A. DESCRIPTION OF PUNISHMENT.

1. Tormented by fire.

a. Everlasting fire. (Matthew 25:41)

b. Furnace of fire. (Matthew 13:42, 50)

c. Fire and brimstone. (Rev. 14:10-11)

d. Unquenchable fire. (Matt. 3:12)

e. Lake of fire. (Rev. 20:14, 15)

2. Consciousness during torment. (Luke 16:23)

B. DURATION OF PUNISHMENT.

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46)

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. Hell has a wide entrance with no exit. You cannot make a u-turn.

2. Hell is a place of complete abandonment from God. The rejection of Christ on earth assures one’s separation from God for all eternity.

3. The lost are facing a horrible future. We must do all we can to rescue the perishing. Our praying must be more fervent and our witnessing must be bolder.

4. If you are lost, people are praying for you now. Are you willing to turn from your old life of sin and trust Christ as your Savior and Lord?