Resurrection - Then What?

What happens after Jesus returns and raises me from the dead?

"...forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead...in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ...for all of us must be manifested in front of the dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Then what?

"...each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

Note the judging is for handing out rewards, not punishment. OK, so how should I live now knowing this?

"...I am entreating you, then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit with the tie of peace...be ambitious to be quiet, and to be engaged in your own affairs, and to be working with your hands, according as we charge you, that you may be walking respectably toward those outside and you may have need of nothing." (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Believing God

The Reconciliation of all:

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19)

"and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)

Faith and Justification:

“Abraham believed God (had Faith), and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6;Romans 4:3;Galatians 3:6)

"...having been justified by faith (believing God), we have peace with God" (Romans 5:1)

Rewards:

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)

"For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Either we believe God or we make up some argument that He does not really mean what He says. What He says is that ALL will be reconciled to God and we are JUSTIFIED and have PEACE when we believe God will RECONCILE all things to Himself.  We will be REWARDED (or not) based on our FAITH in what God says.

Saved by Grace - Rewarded for Faith

“…join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:8-14)

Paul was suffering for teaching the good news that…

1. God has saved us, not because of anything we have done, but because of his own "purpose and grace".

2. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus "before the beginning of time".

3. The truth of this salvation was hidden until Jesus came, died and then destroyed death by his resurrection.

4. Paul was appointed to tell this previously hidden good news.

5. Paul encouraged Timothy to "guard" this sound teaching, with faith and love.

In Chapter 2 Paul admonishes Timothy that those who do not “guard” this good news and "endure" any suffering for doing so will have some negative consequences if he were to “disown" what God and the Lord Jesus have done…

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus...I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

Paul has assured us that salvation is a result of the grace of God alone and does not depend on our faithfulness, but on the faithfulness of Christ Jesus. However, our faithfulness will be rewarded and will determine what we do in the ages following our death and resurrection. It seems to me that the faithful will REIGN with Christ and all others will be reigned over in the two ages which follow this present age. Paul tells Timothy…

1. Be Strong in the GRACE that is ours in Christ Jesus.

2. Entrust the gospel to those who also will be strong to teach the truth about God's Grace.

3. Suffer for this truth if necessary.

4. He who endures the suffering and "remains faithful" will REIGN with Christ.  

5. Disowning him by being "faithless" with regard to the truth, will result in being denied the reward of REIGNING with Christ. (during the next two ages).  Note that it is a loss of REWARD, not a loss of salvation..

Adolph E. Knoch said it better than I in his Concordant Commentary on 2 Timothy…

“This faithful (trustworthy) saying shows that our life and all that comes to us by His grace is immutable (salvation)—it depends on His faithfulness. Service, however, has two sides, reward and loss. Endurance will be recognized by a place of authority in His celestial realm. If we disown Him we cannot expect Him to give us a public place of power in the future. This does not infringe in the least degree on our salvation or life or anything which is ours by His grace.”

Paul makes it clear that it is loss of REWARD, not SALVATION, when he wrote to those in Corinth...

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a REWARD. If it is burned up, the builder will SUFFER LOSS BUT YET WILL BE SAVED..." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Building on a sure Foundation

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

This was written almost 2000 years ago by the Apostle Paul. Several years ago I decided to learn from Paul’s letters exactly what he, the wise master builder, had laid upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Then compare it to the doctrines of Christianity, both Catholic and Protestant. The result was surprising and disappointing and I had to “renew my mind” and rid it of much false doctrine which the church had built upon Jesus Christ. In my opinion there are five such doctrines, two of which are the worst of the “wood, hay and stubble” that need to be deleted from the mind in the renewal process. For in my view they will bring the most “loss” of “reward” in “the Day” when the truth of what we believed are “revealed with fire”. 

1.  Eternal conscious torment in hell

2.  Self-determination (free will) with regard to the salvation of mankind. 

The above are doctrines of men which have been built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Jesus, nor Paul the “wise master builder”, taught any such doctrines. These institutions of men which have built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ with this "wood, hay and stubble" will be consumed in the flame in my opinion. 

The "rock" and “sure foundation” of our faith is obvious…

"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily…He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved…Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builder, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 62:6; Acts 4:10-12)

So is Jesus your savior or is your free will choice your savior?

Will the rock of your salvation assign those who do not join your institution to eternal conscious torment, or will he save ALL sinners?

Are you going to build upon this ROCK with the "wood, hay and stubble" of men, or with precious "gold, silver and costly stones" of God and exalt the Savior of all mankind?

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior wills ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for All, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle, I am telling the truth, I am not lying, as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth...it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially of believers. Prescribe and TEACH THESE THINGS.” (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:3-7; 4:9-11) 


I have renewed my mind and placed the destiny of all those I love in the hands of the ROCK, the "sure foundation" and "Savior of ALL mankind" - and it has set me free!

“If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will…" (John 8:31-32; Romans 12:2)

What's Your Motive

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) 

“each will receive their praise from God” - Each will receive praise from God based on "motives of the heart".

We are not to judge others motives, but God does and will praise all whose motives are pure.

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions...For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God...each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:1-2)

I have actually heard Christians say that if we are saved we will go directly to heaven and we will not have to give an account for our opinions or anything else. Most Christians apparently believe this.  Of course in saying that they have denied the above clear teaching in the Word of God, and they will, nonetheless, "give an account" to God for that opinion, among other things…assuming the Bible is true.

But as hard as it is for me, I am not to pass judgment on their opinions for it is at the judgment seat of God that opinions will be judged. I am OK and care deeply about being judged BY GOD for those opinions that I have as a result of my personal study of the Bible. And I am in the process of ridding myself of any opinions which I borrowed from others. But I also realize that most people form their opinions by listening to others so in posting my views I pray that what I have determined to be Truth is, in fact, the Truth and will not fuel the fire in that day I account to God...

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Today is my 64th birthday and I asked myself what I have learned after 64 years of life, 40 of which was spent reading and studying the Bible? I am not talking about going to Sunday school and church but actually making a conscious effort to read and study the bible, every word of it, over and over for 40 years...here is part of what I have learned:

God has spoken to mankind in various ways, but especially through His only Son, Christ Jesus. Mankind responds to God in only one of two ways...they either believe Him or they do not believe Him.

God through Christ Jesus is the Creator and Savior of the world which includes all mankind. So both believers and unbelievers are saved. The only question is the “means” that God uses to bring people to the KNOWLEDGE of their salvation.

Some come to the knowledge of their salvation by the GRACE of God through the gift of FAITH in his present age. For most people, however, the means God uses to give them the knowledge of their salvation is the indisputable visible EVIDENCE which will be presented them after their resurrection. Both of these “means” or “channels” by which people come to the KNOWLEDGE of Salvation are GIFTS from God....this knowledge does not come from works or decisions men make.

Believers and unbelievers alike come into JUDGMENT with regard to their motives, decisions and words. Those motives, decisions and works will be shown to be either good or bad at that time. Good deeds are rewarded in a subsequent age...bad deeds will be the source of shame in subsequent ages.

But there is to be an END to the ages...the consummation of God's purpose for those ages. At that point in time both friends and enemies, believers and unbelievers will have been reconciled to God and glorified in the completed image of God who will then be ALL in ALL. God will have won the voluntary love and acclamation of all of His creation...then follows the really good stuff of immortal, eternal life....

“...as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)

It is unfortunate that most bible teachers seem to interpret and teach the above in a context of “heaven and hell”. Paul knows of no such mythological “hell”, nor does any other author in the Bible.

Paul is making a simple observation about life in this present evil age. Those who labor and strive in the “flesh” for what material possessions they can get should remember that it is all temporary. All material things will be left behind when we die…we leave it all behind. 

On the other hand, those who live their lives “sowing” spiritual things…good things that are the fruit of the spirit such as “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) will be rewarded for such when resurrected to eternal life where the above spiritual virtues will be the norm. So….

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” (Galatians 6:9)

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

All sane people understand the simple truth that if they live, they will also one day die. That is also biblical truth and is verified by experience so every sane person believes it whether they believe in God or not. But those who believe God also believe that after a man or woman dies there is another life “eternal in the heavens”. This helps us live righteously.

”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…he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, 15)

Even though all mankind has this eternal house in the heavens guaranteed to them, there is also going to be a day of reckoning when we receive that new “house”. All will give an account to Christ for the things done in this life and be shown whether it is good or bad. 

If people were aware and believed that fact, then it would take care of our daily walk and relationships in this life. But most just do not believe they will have to give an account…even Christians have this insane idea that because they have made some “wise decision” to “accept” Christ they will be exempt from this examination.

“…all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Chris…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation…For he hath made him to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

The good news is that although ALL will give account, God was in Christ at the cross reconciling the whole world to himself and is not imputing the bad things we do against us in terms of punishment beyond death.  He wants us to tell people this...that is a believer’s "ministry". Christianity and all other religions fail miserably in this regard because they simply do not believe God. Sin will not prevent us from being "saved" and receiving our “house…eternal in the heavens”, but we may gain or lose “reward” based on our actions.

”Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

The good works mankind does will be rewarded. As for the bad works, they will not be rewarded and we will be "ashamed" of them, even though the person “shall be saved”.

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)