Angelic Conflict part 346: Future work of Christ [Bema seat]

Title: Angelic Conflict part 346: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] – Col 3; Gal 6:6-10; 2Ti 3:1-5.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Col 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.

Col 3:20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Col 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children [being too exacting], that they may not lose heart.

Col 3:22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity [singleness as opposed to duality] of heart, fearing the Lord.

Sincerity means singleness, meaning that you have the same heart no matter what the circumstances.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do [all production in life], do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;

Heartily [ek psuche] is literally "out of life," or "out of soul," and refers to vitality.

God gave us the details of life in all areas so that we could exercise vitality as expressions of God through ourselves, being busy with production all our days.

Pro 19:15

Laziness casts into a deep sleep,

And an idle man will suffer hunger.

1Ti 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

1Ti 5:13-14

And at the same time they [young widows being supported] also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach [a reason for abusive speech or vile gossip]

Interpreted in the historical context, young widows and all young women were not in the workforce as they are today. The point of this is for young people [Paul says under 60] need to be busy with production in the details of life so that they are not idle. Idleness gives the enemy an occasion for reproach.

Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance [people responding to your fruit is not necessary]. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Col 3:25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Verse 25 is the law of volitional responsibility. God has made us in His image and our personalities will thrive in His system or experiences the consequences of Satan's cosmic system or our flesh. This law is natural and therefore applies to all mankind equally. We all reap whatever it is that we sow.

Suffering under the law of volitional responsibility is a lifestyle that is not walking by the Spirit but a mind set on the things of the flesh. If this is a constant lifestyle then how can there be the production of divine good fruit? Doing wrong, by God's standards, is attempting to live life without God's gracious gifts of the word and the Spirit.

Joh 4:23-24

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Bema Seat of Christ will either be a time of momentary embarrassment or of tremendous joy.

1Jo 2:28

And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

Commentators vary, but there is no way of knowing if this occurs only for the Rapture generation when Christ appears, who on earth recognize their failure to abide in Christ during their Christian lives, or the shame does occur at the Bema seat. In both cases it would be momentary, but what is important is to realize abiding in Him in life will bring tremendous joy rather than any shame.

1Pe 4:13

but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.

Col 4:1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Review Col 3:

Paul himself had never been at Colosse; but one Epaphras, who was at that time a prisoner with him in Rome, had preached the gospel there with good success; and from him he learned that certain false teachers had endeavored to corrupt the minds of the Christians in that city. In opposition to this, and to secure the converts ni their faith, he wrote his Epistle to the Colossians, wherein he beautifully sets forth the Messiah, and all the benefits that will be bestowed on such as believe in him, as being the image of His Father, the Redeemer of all mankind, the reconciler of all things to God, and the Head of the Church, which gives life and vigor to all its members. He commends the doctrine preached to them by Epaphras, and exhorts them not to be led away by the reasoning's of human philosophy; and concludes with giving them a list of many chief and principal duties of a Christian life, especially such as respect the relations of husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants.