361 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 1 - Part 1 - Book 31 - Our Sins have Already been Forgiven

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 1 * PART 1 * BOOK 31 OUR SINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORGIVEN We are currently in Paul's Epistles, in II Corinthians Chapter 5. In our last lesson we left off in verse 9 where Paul has just been dealing with the fact that as soon as a believer dies, their soul and spirit leave the body, and goes immediately into the presence of the Lord. II Corinthians 5:9 Matthew 19:27,28 28. And Jesus said unto them, `Verily I say unto you. Paul's not dealing with our salvation here, but rather with rewards. II Corinthians 5:10a because all believers must) appear before the judgment seat of Christ;..." The Greek word for this judgment is "Bema," and we must all appear before the Bema Seat. So looking at it from an Olympic sports event scenario we must all appear before the Bema Seat, not to be judged for our sins, but rather for our rewards. Well the first thing I ask those people is this. "Are you a believer? Are you a child of God?" Turn to Ephesians 4:32: Also remember that the Epistles of Paul are progressive. tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath(past tense, already) forgiven you." You don't forgive one another so you can be forgiven. In those Scriptures you have to forgive everybody before you can be forgiven. Matthew 6:15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Paul says to be ready to forgive your neighbor because you have already been forgiven. Now reading verse 32 again: II Corinthians 4:32 "And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath (already) forgiven you." God calls that faith. Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins (in our pre-salvation existence) and the uncircumcision of your flesh, (regarding pagan Gentiles) hath he (God of verse 12) quickened together with him, (when Christ died, we died, when He arose from the dead, we arose to newness of life) having forgiven you all trespasses;" He has forgiven every last sin that we have committed, are committing, and will commit. These sins are already forgiven. Make people realize that their sin debt is paid in full, but God can't activate that payment until they believe the Gospel. Now let's look at Colossians Chapter 3:13 and again it's that same concept that we are forgiven. Colossians 3:13 "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." If so then it will count for rewards. Now reading on in verse 10: II Corinthians 5:10,11 So let's look at this whole concept of working for rewards. Turn to I Corinthians Chapter 3, and we find the same idea. Verse 12: I Corinthians 3:12,13a "Now if any man (remember Paul only writes to believers) build upon this foundation (Christ up in verse 11) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13. Every man's work shall be made manifest:..." I Corinthians 3:13 "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day (what day? That day when we stand before the Bema Seat. Fire! Revelation 19:12 So as Christ's eyes penetrate the works record of every believer, the stuff that was hay, wood, and stubble will just disappear. II Corinthians 3:14a "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward...." Absolutely we're going to receive a reward. Israel is promised the earth, and we're going to give them that, but the believer of the Church Age, the Body of Christ, we are going to rule in the heavenlies. Remember you don't work for salvation, that is a gift. Let's look at that for a moment in Romans Chapter 6. Romans 6:23 "For the wages (something that you earn) of sin is death; (spiritual death) but (the flip side) the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You can't work for something and then call it a gift, because as soon as you work for it, it is no longer a gift. Now we go to work and work for rewards. Now another thing I don't want you to confuse rewards with and that is the crowns. Now I don't think the crowns have anything to do with the rewards that we receive from the Bema Seat. Now we know when we studied the Book of Romans when Paul listed the gifts to men that He gave to the Church; not everybody has that same gift. They're not all going to work in that same area for the rewards, but every believer has something. I Corinthians 9:24,25a So run, that ye may obtain. (Not salvation, but rather the prize, the reward.) I know here Paul is alluding to the Olympic athletics. I Corinthians 9:25b A crown that will never end. In other words once the Lord establishes our place of responsibility in the heavenlies for eternity that will never end. Eternity is without end and whatever reward we have earned we are going to enjoy for all eternity. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible