New Salem Baptist Church

Judgment and Eternal Redemption

Oct. 6, 2024

Read Hebrews 9:11-12; 22-24; 26b-28.

In the first ten verses of chapter nine the divinely inspired author shows that the Levitical institutions are ineffective to deal with sin and that forgiveness can only be found in Christ.

Throughout the whole chapter the readers are encouraged to fully realize the redemption that is found in Christ. When the author gets to verse 27 he is still referring to Christ and mentions only incidentally that all people die one time and then they face judgment. Even though he writes this just in passing it is, of course, true and bears upon the redemption that is the subject of this chapter.

Because redemption logically follows judgment, we will begin with judgment and then reveal redemption.

 ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,^[1]

When one first reads this verse one could be left with the impression that, once we die, we are immediately judged by God or by Christ. The verse does not say that. It only says that judgment will happen some time after we die. But, I know that I had that impression as a young Christian.

Other passages of Scripture make it more explicit as to when Judgment will happen. Let’s look into this very important matter.

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:^[2]

Paul says that Jesus Christ will be the one who will judge. Jesus came the first time for salvation. He is coming the second time for judgment. The verse reads, “…and by His appearing.” The implication is that Jesus will judge the living and the dead when he appears. But, it doesn’t exactly say that. It just says, “and his appearing,” not “at his appearing.” So, we need to keep looking. From this verse, though, we can be certain that every person will be judged – the living and the dead.

⁵ Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. ^[3]

This verse reveals plainly when the judgment by the Lord will take place. It is when the Lord comes. When Jesus returns he will judge both the living and the dead.

When Jesus returns he will judge all those living on the earth at that time. This is fully revealed in Matthew 25:31-46. [READ]

Here we see the results of the Judgment. The results are eternal. That is an aspect of Judgment with which many people have difficulty. They might think that never-ending punishment is too extreme. They might think that God would never punish anyone without end.

Yes, people do think that. But our thinking has been proven to be wrong time and time again, hasn’t it? Haven’t we been wrong, both as individuals and as societies throughout the ages (and now). over and over?

Ought we to trust our feelings or should we trust the plain words of the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus taught that both life in the kingdom that awaits after judgment is eternal and that punishment is eternal. We must subsume our thinking to match what God has revealed through Christ and never expect that God will conform to our errant thinking.

The New Testament further reveals that all the dead will be judged, also at the Lord’s return. The ones who have been born anew, both from the Old Testament era[4] and under the New Testament, will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ for the purpose of rewards -- at the Lord’s return to the earth. Then, finally, all the others who have died will be judged after the Millennium. (Thus, the NT reveals three judgment days: one for the church [and OT saints], one for those alive on the earth, and one for all other people who have died.)[5]

Now, eternal judgment is one of the basic principles from which we are to move on. But, since the author brings it up here in chapter nine, we are addressing it. It’s possible that some are not clear about it.

Seeing that the results of Judgment have eternal consequences, every person must take the Day of Judgment in all gravity. The standard of judgment will be conformity to God’s law. We saw last week that every person has God’s law written upon their hearts in the sense that they know what is right and what is wrong. The ten commandments make some of these laws explicit. Such as:

• We must honor and worship only the true God.
• We must not use God’s name in a careless way, especially, we must never use his name as an expletive when things happen to us that we don’t like.
• We must honor and obey our father and mother. Isn’t it true that this command is almost universally disobeyed?
• We must not take the life of another person. When Jesus taught on this commandment, he explained that it even extends to our heart. That is, even to be angry at someone simply because they did something that you didn’t like is a violation of this command and is a sin.
• Sex outside of marriage is a sin.
• Lustful thoughts outside of marriage are sin.
• Taking what does not belong to us is wrong and everyone already knows this.
• Lying is wrong.

When we do any of these things. Indeed, when we fail to love others, as we saw in our Lord’s condemnation of the goats, we have not simply made mistakes. We have rejected God Himself since He is the one who gave these commands.

If we should die with any sin then God will and must reject us. Hence, we need forgiveness. We need redemption.

What is redemption?

Redemption is deliverance from some bondage by the payment of a price or ransom.

In the ancient world slaves could be redeemed by paying a ransom. In modern times, rebels in various countries will kidnap people and demand ransom. There are rebels in the Philippines. One such group is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. This group detonated a bomb at the Davao International Airport in 2003, the 3^rd largest airport in the Philippines.  Twenty-one people were killed and over 100 injuries. I have been to that airport twice.

This group and others like it often kidnap people and then demand large ransoms. There are kidnappings almost every year. In the two year period, 2015-2016, there were four kidnappings of foreigners and millions of dollars in ransoms were paid to save them from murder and gain their freedom.  For example, in 2015 two Canadians were kidnapped, Robert Hall and John Ridsdel. Sixteen million dollars was demanded by the terrorists. It wasn’t paid and they were both beheaded on film. Other kidnappings resulted in the redemption of the hostages once the ransom was paid.

Every person on earth comes into bondage. We are in bondage to the wrath of God. As we just saw, because of our sin the wrath of God is coming upon every individual because all have sinned.

We are also in bondage to sin. That is, we are under the powerful drawing power of sin. Because we are fallen, we are compelled to sin. This is a bondage.

We are in bondage to death. Physical death awaits every person (unless we happen to be alive when the Lord returns to this world). This fear of death held us captive.

¹² he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.^[6]

The ransom that was paid for those who follow Christ was his blood. His blood has secured eternal redemption for his people!

²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.^[7]

Through the sacrifice of Christ and faith in it our sins are put away! Once our sins are taken away we are no longer in bondage to the wrath of God. God’s wrath is propitiated. That means he is no longer angry with us because our sins are gone. This is marvelous and wonderful!

There is no other ransom that will satisfy God. Imagine if rebels kidnapped you and demanded one million dollars ransom. Instead of paying that your parents, or maybe your spouse, sent the rebels three truckloads of apples with a note that said, “We do not have the money, but please accept these beautiful, delicious apples as ransom instead.” Would they accept those apples? You are going to be beheaded!

This is why there is no other way to peace with God except through Christ. Following Mohammad will not satisfy God. Buddhism, Hinduism, no system of religion will satisfy God, including the Jewish faith grounded in the Old Testament. The reason is made plain:

²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. ^[8]

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness! This is why there is no other way except through Christ. 

We read in verse 12 that this redemption is eternal. Once we have redemption it lasts forever. Our sins will not be brought up at the final judgment. This is one of the most comforting thoughts that the mind can conceive. That, despite our shortcomings, failures, disappointments, and sins, our redemption is everlasting!

At the end of this chapter the author brings up for the second time that the Lord Jesus is interceding for us:

²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.^[9]

His sacrifice was 2,000 years ago. But he is appearing in God’s presence is now. Now! Therefore, this is in reference to his speaking to the Father on our behalf. When you fail, when you stumble, Jesus defends you to the Father! This makes me cry tears of joy! The apostle mentions it twice, so it must be important for us to remember.

Finally, the last verse of the chapter reminds the reader that Christ is returning to save us. Our spirits were saved when we repented. Our souls are saved through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, working in our lives day by day, month by month, throughout our lifetime. And, our bodies will be saved at the Lord’s return.

 [Application]

How ought we to apply this? If we have not yet been redeemed then we should not put it off. Place your faith in Christ and his sacrifice. Repent of your sins. If you need help with this, please talk to me or Kris today.

If you already follow Christ then there is no action to be taken, as is often recommended at the culmination of a sermon. Yet, you can be grateful for both what Christ has done and what he is doing in the heavens right now.

Thank him and be bold in your journey, knowing that your redemption is eternal.

“Lord, we thank you for taking our sins. And, we thank you for interceding for us. Grant us boldness now to live for you. Amen.”