Our relationship with God Our response to God and the responsibilities this brings

Outline What God demands of man Man Mortal / Immortal What the Bible means by Responsibility Responsibility and Resurrection from the dead Judgement Summarise

God’s Demand (1) John 17 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. God demands of man that he have a knowledge of and belief in His existence and purpose in order to receive eternal life.

God’s Demand (2) Hebrew 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:1 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Immortality is conditional 2 Timothy 1:9-10 John 3:16 John 6:40 Revelation 2:7 James 1:12 Romans 6:23 When born human beings do not possess immortality it is a quality brought within reach through Christ by the Gospel It will only be attained on condition of both believing & obeying the Divine commandments

Future bestowal of immortality(1) 1 John 2 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 2 Timothy 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, You don’t promise something to someone, if you have already given it them Immortality is not now possessed, but is a matter of promise for future bestowal at Christ’s return

Future bestowal of immortality(2) Titus 1 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 3 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Immortality is a matter of hope You don’t hope for something that you already have

Future bestowal of immortality(3) Matthew And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Luke 18:18 Luke 18:30 To be inherited when Christ comes You only inherit something that belongs to someone else, not something that is yours already

Future bestowal of immortality(4) Mathew 18:9 Jude 21 Galatians 6:8 To be entered into To be looked for To be reaped

How immortality will be received 1 Corinthians 15: Corinthians 5:1-4 Phillipians 3:20-21 Luke 20:35,36 Immortality of the Bible, is to be manifested as a result of a change of body at the resurrection

Responsibility Explained Mental Capacity Babes and the mentally deranged are incapable of understanding the gospel and therefore are not responsible for their actions Circumstances Some may be capable of understanding the gospel but have never heard it and so will not be judged by Christ

Knowledge – basis of Responsibility John 3:19 Luke 12:47-48 Luke 19:22-23 James 4:17 Romans 5:13 Knowledge of the Truth, whether believed or rejected, makes one responsible to God for actions done. Privilege brings responsibility. In similar way “earthly” parents hold children responsible for their behaviour once adequately instructed.

Israel – Nationally Responsible Amos 3 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Deuteronomy But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Israel has been punished more severely for her sins than other nations. This has resulted from her special relationship to God. Being God’s people Israel was instructed in His Law and purpose. Greater enlightenment brought greater responsibility.

Christ’s Appearing Increased Responsibility John 15:22-24 John 9:39-41 Acts 17:30-31 Hebrews 2:1-3 Hebrews 10:28-29 Since Jesus Christ has been manifested, God has held men more responsible. This is because the glory of God shone more brightly from him than it ever had before from any other person.

Responsibility Determines who shall be raised from the dead Isaiah 26:14 Ephesians 2:1, 12 Ephesians 4:18 Psalm 49:20 Jeremiah 51:39, 57 Obadiah 16 Psalm 37:10,20,34,38 Psalm 104:35 Only those responsible will be present at the Judgement Seat. Those not responsible die and pass out of memory as if they had never been. They will not be resurrected

Judgement 2 Corinthians 5:10 Romans 14:10-12 John 5: Timothy 4:1 Time, place and judge have been appointed for judgement. There will be a Judgement Seat set up at Christ’s return and he has been appointed by God to execute the judgement

Only God Can Judge Responsibility Matthew And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. John 12:47-50 Only God knows the capacity and circumstances of each individual

Two Groups Responsible Who will appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ whether righteous or unrighteous Those not responsible Who will not appear before him to answer

Summary We are mortal Have a capacity to hear + understand the Gospel Hear the Gospel Responsible Resurrection Judgement –Obedience of God’s commandments –Baptism Immortality Philippians 3: John 3:2 Revelation 5:9-10 Luke 13:28 Daniel 12:2 Revelation 2:11