JUDGMENT OR HEAVEN

OBEY GOD OR FACE THE JUDGMENT

Deuteronomy 29:1-29:30




STATING THE SCRIPTURES (Deuteronomy 29:1-29)


These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.

Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.

When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them. We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, together with your children and your wives, and the aliens living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God but also with those who are not here today.

You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here. You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold. Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.

When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, "I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way." This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The LORD will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man. All the curses written in this book will fall upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. The LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.

Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger. All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?" And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. In furious anger and in great wrath the LORD uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now."

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

SETTING THE STAGE

Only a few days ago I saw a video of the Bradford City fire disaster, as part of a fire training exercise at work. I was eight years old when it happened, and had heard about it, but I had never seen the footage, that was captured live, by a shocked camera crew who just kept filming.

On Saturday 11th May 1985, 11,000 football fan had gathered to watch a football match between Bradford City and Lincoln city. At 15:40 hours that day a small fire was noticed at the back of the Sunwin Stand. The play was continuing, but the fire was also spreading. The commentator mentioned the fire but then resumed commentary on the match, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. People were simply being moved away from the area of the fire, and fire fighting equipment was requested, but everything else seemed calm. About 30 seconds later the fire was growing and the people at the end of the stand where the blaze was had started to move onto the pitch and so the game was stopped. The people at the other end of the stand simply sat where they were, unaffected by what was happening.

Within a short time the roof of the stadium had combusted into flames and the people at the other end of the stand suddenly began to panick. People were unable to get onto the safety of the pitch in time, 56 people lost their lives and 265 were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Many of the dead were the young and elderly, crushed in the stampede to get to safety. Others died in the flames.

This video is so shocking and upsetting, that it is only used for fire safety exercises and is banned from view to the general public. When I watched it, I was horrified at how unnecessary the deaths were. If only people had reacted when they first saw the fire, and made their way onto the pitch, nobody would have been killed. Even though the footage is almost 20 years old, and I knew the result, as I watched, I still found myself urging people to do something when the flames could first be seen.

There were a number of upsetting factors of the video. An elderly man, who like the rest, hadn’t initially thought that he was in danger, could be seen desperately trying to climb over the seats to the front of the stand and on to the pitch. When he got about half way his clothes had begun to catch fire. He suddenly realised that he wasn’t going to make it. He just gave up, and waited to die.

Another upsetting feature was that, as many people were dying, or about to die, the rest of the crowd who were on the pitch didn’t realise this. They were still singing and chanting football songs, and many were jumping in front of the cameras, trying to get there faces on television. That rejoicing soon went quiet, as reality dawned.

One thing that struck me however was the efforts of one police officer. He had been near to the area of the fire and had realised the seriousness of the situation. He could be seen near to the start of the incident, frantically trying to wave people towards the pitch, towards safety. However, people didn’t seem to be listening to him, it was as if they felt safe in the crowd that they were in. However a number did listen, they went towards the pitch, and they were saved.

When I was reading Isaiah chapter 6, it struck me that police officer’s job was not dissimilar to Isaiah’s. Just like Isaiah he had seen the danger and the coming destruction if the people didn’t act, was desperately trying to guide the people to safety. But just like in Isaiahs day, they thought that they were safe in the crowd and only a few listened. Because of this, unnecessary destruction was to follow.

An investigation into the fire suggested that it was probably caused by the accidental dropping of a match or a cigarette stubbed out into a polystyrene cup. The resulting fire was then fuelled by rubbish that had collected underneath the wooden stand. This fire was a disaster waiting to happen.

In the same way rubbish has been allowed to collect in this area and this nation. Pornography, sexual immorality, greed and idolatry are just a few of the pieces of rubbish that are waiting to fuel the fire of judgement that will come upon this land. In that day there will be many who don’t respond until its too late. There will be the sound of rejoicing, unaware of the situation. We are called to be like Isaiah or that police officer, warning the people and trying to lead them to safety. There will be many that won’t listen, but we are still called to do it for the sake of those that will. We need to realise the seriousness of the situation. God is going to judge this land.

The Lord is asking the same question today, as He did to Isaiah..."Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

Will you stand before God today and reply, "Here am I. Send me."

INTRODUCTION

This is the hour of decision, the hour for salvation and the rededication of our lives to God. Our commitment and covenant with God need to be renewed. People within the church have come short of what they should be, and sin and evil are sweeping throughout our communities. Lawlessness and violence are engulfing our states and nations. People everywhere are living unholy and ungodly lives, committing all forms of sin and wickedness. There is the abuse of children and spouses, incest, forced labor, prostitution, homosexuality, premarital sex, adultery, humanism, intoxication and drunkeness, anger, hostility, greed, hatred and covetousness.

There is no end to the list of our shortcomings and failures before the face of God’s holiness. If there has ever been a day when repentance was needed, it is today. This is the day for rededication, the day when we must renew our commitment and covenant with God.

This was exactly what Moses was facing: a stubborn, stiff-necked, hard-hearted people. Israel stood before him as he was preaching and doing all he could to prepare them to march victoriously into the promised land. They had failed so often in the past throughout the wilderness wanderings. But here they stood: in the plains of Moab, close by the Jordan River, almost ready to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land. They were soon to lay claim to the inheritance given them by God. What could Moses do to prepare them, to make sure that the hand of God remained upon them, blessed them, and kept them in the promised land? There was only one thing Moses could do: challenge the people to rededicate their lives to God, to renew their commitment and covenant with God. This Moses did.

OPENING THE TEXT

Our passage opens by revealing the first term of the covenant, which spelled out the parties who were to agree to the contract. There were three parties involved in renewing the covenant: God Himself, the people (Israelites), and Moses--the mediator who stood between God and the people

The Lord appointed Moses to share the terms of the covenant with the Israelites. As the mediator of the covenant of the law, Moses is a clear type of Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant of grace.

The covenant being renewed in the plains of Moab was now to be enlarged. Additional terms were to be added to the covenant made at Mt. Sinai. A new revelation, more information about the covenant, was now to be revealed by God. What was the new information, the added terms? The restoration of Israel. This is what is called by some commentators the Palestinian Covenant.

The utter failure of Israel and their dispersion or scattering the people among the nations of the world had just been predicted. Now the additional information about the restoration of Israel was to be revealed. The restoration involved some future repentance and their return to the promised land.

It should be noted that some commentators refer to Deut. 29-30 as the Palestinian covenant; whereas other commentators prefer to look upon these chapters as a renewal and reaffirmation of the covenant given at Mt. Sinai. Whatever the case, the new information about the restoration of Israel is definitely a new revelation, a new promise to be added to the covenant given to God’s people.

Moses was the mediator who stood between God and man. He preached the covenant of the law to man, the fact that man must obey the commandments of God to receive the great promises of God. As the mediator between God and man, Moses is a type of Jesus Christ, the Mediator who represents us before God. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the covenant of grace. He brought the gospel of grace to man, proclaimed the fact that we are saved by the grace of God through faith.

SCRIPTURES TO PONDER

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephes. 2:8-9).

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:3-5).

"Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:14-15).

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:12-15).

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).

The covenant spelled out the basis or the reasons for the covenant. Moses declared that there were five basic reasons why the covenant between God and man was needed, five reasons why the people must renew their commitment, their covenant with God.

The covenant was needed because of the salvation and works of God (Deut. 29:2-3). The people had actually seen and experienced the saving power of God from the slavery of Egypt. Remember, Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is a symbol of the believer being saved from the enslavements of the world. God had done so much for the Israelite believers. Moses reviewed the wonderful salvation of God, knowing that the goodness of God would help stir the people to rededicate their lives, to renew their covenant with God.

Not every person standing in front of Moses had actually been in Egypt, but many had. At the time of the Exodus, many were 18 years of age or younger, which means that they were now around 40 to 58 years old. These were the ones who had actually seen and witnessed the saving power of God from Egyptian slavery. Everyone else had been born in the desert, but they knew one evident fact: if God had not saved their parents from Egypt, they would have been born in slavery. Thus the preaching of Moses was correct: every Israelite had been delivered from Egyptian slavery by the hand of God. It was the wonderful salvation of God that had saved them. This was the first basis of the covenant, the first reason why the people should renew their commitment, their covenant with God. Their salvation should stir them to rededicate their lives to God, to renew their covenant to obey God.

The covenant was needed because of the hard hearts of the people (Deut. 29:4). They wanted to do their own thing and live as they wanted, not as God said. Consequently, they disobeyed and rebelled against God. They closed their minds, eyes, and ears against God. They did not seek to understand the salvation and works of God. They refused to look and see the hand of God at work in nature and in the lives of people. They refused to listen to the commandments and Word of God. Because of the hardness of their hearts, the Lord was not able to open their minds, eyes, and ears so that they could understand His commandments and Word—all because the people had become hard, stiff-necked, and stubborn against God. This was a second reason why the people needed to renew their commitment, their covenant with God. They needed to repent of their stubborn, hard hearts and heed the Word of God.

The covenant was needed because the people needed the guidance and provision of God (Deut. 29:5-6). God had led His people day by day through the wilderness wanderings, taking care of their every need. This included all the necessities of life: clothes, food, and water. Note that God miraculously kept their clothes and sandals from wearing out. The clothing lasted as long as it was needed. The reason why God used miracles to provide for His people is clearly stated: to demonstrate that He and He alone is "the Lord your God." Moses declared that this fact—the miraculous guidance and provision of God—should stir the people to renew their covenant with God. God would be with His people—guide and provide for them—only if they obeyed the covenant, kept His commandments. Rededication and recommitment to God—renewing one’s life to the covenant—was therefore an absolute essential.

The covenant was needed because the people needed to be victorious over all their enemies (Deut. 29:7). The Lord had given a great victory over two strong kings who had opposed the Israelites, King Sihon and King Og. Victory over enemies—living a victorious life, a life that conquers—is the reason why God’s people need to make a covenant with God. The only way God’s people can secure victory over their enemies is to keep their covenant with God. For this reason, Moses declares that the people of God must renew their covenant with God. They must honor their part of the contract agreement: they must obey God, keep His commandments.

The covenant was needed because of the hope of the promised land (Deut. 29:8). Note that the conquered land of the two kings had been given as an inheritance to several of the tribes. None of the other tribes had received their inheritance. The promised land still lay out in the future for them. But they were soon to cross the Jordan River and enter the promised land, laying claim to their inheritance. Standing there preaching to the people, Moses knew that the hope of the promised land was alive in the hearts of the people. Therefore, he reminded the people that only a few of the tribes had received their inheritance; the other tribes still had to conquer theirs. It was, therefore, absolutely necessary to renew their covenant with God.

The covenant was needed because of the necessity for obedience (Deut. 29:9). The people must obey God, follow all the terms of the covenant. Obedience is absolutely necessary in order to prosper throughout life. Therefore, the people must rededicate their lives to God. They must renew their commitment to obey God, renew their covenant with God.

The purpose of the covenant was spelled out. Standing before the Israelites preaching to them, the heart of Moses was tender toward the people. Yet, his heart was burning with zeal, longing for the people to rededicate their lives to the Lord, to renew their covenant and commitment with God.

The covenant embraced every person who stood in the presence of the Lord (Deut. 29:10-12). All of the Israelites stood before God as Moses proclaimed the terms of the covenant to them. Standing there were the leaders, elders, officers, men, children, wives, and foreigners (Deut. 29:10-11).

Note that this is a formal ceremony. It is a very special worship service where all the people are renewing their covenant with God. Just picture the scene: all the leaders, elders, officers, and armed forces of the government are standing there with all the citizens of the nation—the men, women, children, and foreigners—all three million plus stretched out across the valley floor tribe by tribe. They stand there together to renew their commitment, their covenant with God. What a sight! What a dynamic example and lesson for the peoples of the world! There the people stood to renew their covenant with God, to renew it with an oath. And note the urgency stressed by Moses: it was necessary to renew their commitment and covenant "this day" (Deut. 29:12). The word today is stressed five times in these six verses.

Moses declared that the covenant had one purpose and one purpose only: to establish that the believers—those who truly followed God—were God’s people and that He was their God (Deut. 29:13). This is the core, the essence, the summary statement of the covenant. The people were to confirm that they were God’s people, that God had chosen and raised them up to be a people for Himself. In the covenant, God was taking an oath that He was choosing the Israelites to be His people and His witnesses upon the earth. They were to be His missionary force to the world, declaring that there is only one living and true God. In response, the people were to declare that the Lord was their God. They were to promise that they would follow and obey the Lord and bear strong testimony to the truth of His Holy Word.

Note how both God and the people were undertaking obligations to one another. The people were responsible to obey God, and God was responsible to accept the true believer, the obedient person. God was to make him His treasured possession and witness upon the earth. This is clearly stated in this verse (Deut. 29:13), but it is spelled out in more detail at Mt. Sinai where God first shared the covenant: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:5-6).

Note the wonderful assurance given by God: He promises to fulfill His part of the covenant. God will not fail in His obligations to the people. He will do exactly as He promises. Just as He swore to the forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so He swears to the Israelites standing there this day. He will not fail. He will fulfill His promise, His part of the covenant. But this was not all: the covenant included future generations as well (Deut. 29:14-15). The covenant with its oath was being made with the Israelites there in the formal ceremony of rededication and renewal. But the covenant was also being confirmed with all future generations of believers, even those who had not yet been born.

There are three meaningful lessons for us in this point. First, God will keep His promises to us. Every promise He has made will be fulfilled. God is faithful; God will not fail us. Second, we must be faithful to keep our promises to God. When we first accepted Christ as our Savior, we made a covenant with God, a covenant to follow and obey Him. We must do just what we promised: obey—follow and walk after Him. Lastly, the genuine believer—the person who truly believes and follows after Christ—is accepted by God and becomes one of God’s people. The genuine believer—the person who truly believes and follows after Christ—becomes a very special person to God: His treasured possession.

Note that the covenant included future generations as well as those who were standing before Moses. Over three million Israelites were standing there being challenged to renew their commitment and covenant with God. The decision they made would affect the future of the nation, affect the destiny of all future generations.

The terms of the covenant included a strong warning against breaking the covenant and against hypocrisy. The warning is personal, very personal, and very descriptive: Zeal, fervor, urgency, and a burning passion were ablaze in the heart of Moses as he warned the people. He cried out: "You must remember the false gods and false worship of the world." The people had lived among the idols and false worship of the Egyptians when they were enslaved by Egypt. Moreover, they had seen the detestable worship of idolatry and false worship among the nations throughout their wilderness wanderings (Deut. 29:16-17).

Moses shouted out: "You must make sure—absolutely sure—that you do not turn away from the Lord. You must not worship the false gods of the world, must not engage in the false worship of your neighbors" (Deut. 29:18). Note how personal the warning is: no man or woman, family or tribe, must ever turn away from the Lord and engage in false worship.

Note the fruit of idolatry and false worship: it is a root that bears bitter and poisonous fruit (wormwood). The picture is that of a flowing, permeating evil that will contaminate and grow. No person is "an island to himself." He influences other people. Therefore, if he turns away from God and engages in false worship, he will influence and lead others to rebel and forsake God. One individual can poison the whole community, even become a stumblingblock to a nation. The poison of his sin and evil can ruin the whole tree.

A person must make sure—absolutely sure—that he is not a hypocrite, feeling that he is safe and immune from God’s judgment (Deut. 29:19). Again, note how personal Moses makes this point: an individual must make sure that he does not think, "I will be safe and experience peace of heart and security, even though I do my own thing and live as I want." This person will bring disaster upon himself and everyone else and even upon the land.

There are two clear warnings in this passage applicable to us: The warning against idolatry and false worship. Also, the warning against feeling that we are safe and immune from God’s judgment. Few people actually think they will ever have to bear God’s judgment. Most people think they are good enough to be acceptable to God, that God would never reject them. They feel they do not do enough bad or evil to be kept out of heaven, out of God’s presence. They feel safe and secure, immune from God’s judgment. They feel that they can, for the most part, do their own thing and live life as they wish, even if they do break the commandments of God. But the warning of God is clear: we must make sure—absolutely sure—that we do not live hypocritical lives. We must not profess to follow God and then not follow Him. If we say that we follow God, then we must follow Him. We must obey Him, keep His commandments. The warning is clear: we must not break our commitment and covenant with God; we must not live lives of hypocrisy.

The judgment for breaking the covenant is spelled out in descriptive terms. The person who turns away to false gods and false worship will suffer the awesome weight of terrifying judgment. Note the graphic description in the Scripture: The Lord will severely judge the violator, the idolater and false worshipper (Deut. 29:20-21). If a person lives a hypocritical life, feeling that he is safe and secure, immune from God’s judgment—that person will bear the awesome weight of God’s terrifying judgment. Note what Moses declared: The Lord will never forgive him and will blot his name out from under heaven (Deut. 29:20). The Lord’s wrath and jealousy will burn against that person.

The Lord will separate him for very special judgment (Deut. 29:21). The Lord will pour out upon him all the curses written in the Book of the Law, the Word of God.

Why so severe a judgment against the hypocrite, the idolater and false worshipper? The answer is given above: because the person turned away from the Lord, turned away to false worship, to worship the gods of this world. By so turning away, he misled others to turn away from God and to engage in false worship. He became a hypocrite, claiming to follow God, while all the time he was following a false, lifeless, and senseless god. Following the false god, he felt safe and secure, immune from the holy judgment of the only living and true God. But the judgment of God is sure: this person will suffer all the curses of God’s judgment.

Moses declares that the nation of Israel will become a spectacle (Deut. 29:22-23). Note that this is a prediction of what will happen to Israel in the future. The people will be chastised as a nation because they allowed idolatry to infiltrate and permeate the nation, because they allowed so many to be swept away by the hypocrites, swept away into false worship. The judgment upon the nation will be severe: The land will suffer calamity after calamity and disease after disease (Deut. 29:22). The land will be a burning waste with no vegetation growing. The land will suffer the same destruction that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim (Deut. 29:23).

The judgment will be so fierce and catastrophic that people will question why (Deut. 29:24-28). Very simply, the answer will be because the people broke the covenant of the Lord God. The people broke the promise they made to God when He saved them from Egypt (Deut. 29:25). Remember, this is a symbol of the believer being saved from the enslavement of the world. The Israelites broke their promise, turning away from the Lord to false gods and false worship. Tragically, they abandoned their commitment and covenant with the Lord.

The result of their apostasy would be catastrophic and tragic: the Lord’s anger would burn against them and devastate the land itself. In furious anger and wrath, the Lord would allow a nation to conquer and uproot them. They would be transported into a foreign nation. The people of Israel would be conquered and taken as slaves into the foreign nation (Deut. 29:28).

The prediction of these things are said to be "secret things" (Deut. 29:29). They belong to the Lord and are known only by Him. The hypocritical spirit and apostasy of the Israelites would happen just as God reveals in Holy Scripture. The judgment upon Israel would also happen just as God predicted and history has now shown. But when the events were revealed for the first time here in Scripture—back in the days of Deuteronomy—they were secret things. The fact that they would actually happen, especially to those standing there before Moses, was incomprehensible. But today, history has shown that they did happen.

Now note this fact: Moses declares that the things revealed in God’s Holy Word belong to us. But God has revealed them to us for a very specific purpose: that we may follow His Holy Word, keep His commandments.

CONCLUSION

The judgment of God will fall upon any person who lives a hypocritical life. No matter what a person professes, if he does not live for Christ, following and obeying Him, he will suffer the judgment of God. But not only the hypocrite: the idolater and false worshipper will also bear the judgment of God. The judgment of God is sure: the wrath of God will be executed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, in particular against those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

FINAL SCRIPTURES TO PONDER

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matthew 25:31-33).

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

"But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath" (Romans 2:8).

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Ephes. 5:3-6).

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7).

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 14-15).