Eastwood Baptist Church

Blind Spots: The Believer's Judgment
Morning Worship Service Sermon Outline and Notes for Eastwood Baptist Church, Tulsa www.eastwoodtulsa.org
Locations & Times
Eastwood Baptist Church
948 S 91st E Ave, Tulsa, OK 74112, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM

Not everyone who breaks the speed limit gets a ticket. Not everyone who commits a crime gets caught. There are many “unsolved murders”. But we are speaking of human courts and justice. There is coming a time when God will judge the world!
Nothing escapes His eyes: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3.There are no “unsolved” crimes with God. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NKJV)
The Bible teaches two separate judgments, one for believers and another for unbelievers. We are going to look at the believer’s judgment in two messages. In a coming Sunday, we will look at God's final judgment of those who reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
There are two texts that specifically refer to the judgment of believer’s works. Today we are going to look at 1 Corinthians 3:5-15.
The context of this story is the rivalry, competition, and strife in the Corinthian church. The believers in Corinth were acting like the world around them. They were following men. There is a parallel today in the Christian church (unfortunately). Christians follow personalities, well-known preachers and sometimes separate into factions. Our political climate is also one of division, strife, and confusion. God's Church must be different! Let's learn from these verses and mature in our faith and love for one another.
Nothing escapes His eyes: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3.There are no “unsolved” crimes with God. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NKJV)
The Bible teaches two separate judgments, one for believers and another for unbelievers. We are going to look at the believer’s judgment in two messages. In a coming Sunday, we will look at God's final judgment of those who reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
There are two texts that specifically refer to the judgment of believer’s works. Today we are going to look at 1 Corinthians 3:5-15.
The context of this story is the rivalry, competition, and strife in the Corinthian church. The believers in Corinth were acting like the world around them. They were following men. There is a parallel today in the Christian church (unfortunately). Christians follow personalities, well-known preachers and sometimes separate into factions. Our political climate is also one of division, strife, and confusion. God's Church must be different! Let's learn from these verses and mature in our faith and love for one another.
God uses people to reach people with the good news. V5
Paul uses a negative atmosphere in the church to remind His people of their salvation! It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people! We are all needed and used by God to reach someone.
God brings about the harvest. Vs 6-7
We are not insignificant in the process of salvation but neither are we to be lifted up and idolized. God is the one that makes the plant grow.
God has given each of us a personal task but the same goal. Vs 6-7
There’s no room for competition or rivalry. Our task is personal but our goal is identical! God wants to build His church. We are servants of His in that task.
We work together but we are rewarded individually. V8
We are getting ready for a special ministry to our community called Saturate Tulsa. It’s the big task of taking the gospel to 9,000 homes in our zip code. There are many things that need to be done and we can all have a part! But only God can make our efforts fruitful!
The only foundation is Jesus Christ. Vs 10-11
The Church of Jesus Christ is built on one foundation only. Jesus Himself. The Church is not a club or civic organization. It’s the Church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15).
The materials we use to build on this foundation are crucial. V12
We can make a ‘show’ before men with cheap materials (wood, hay, stubble) but our work won’t survive the judgment; it will burn up. Our work in the kingdom should be done with passion, precious materials, and patient endurance.
Each person’s work will be tested by fire in the final judgment. V13
Our salvation is not based upon our works. From start to finish our salvation, growth, and perseverance are by grace. BUT, we are rewarded by our works.
Only works that pass the test will be rewarded. V14
The testing fire of God’s judgment will show our works for what they are. Our labor will be rewarded. But since it is God who is at work in us, He will receive all the glory in the end.
Some rewards will be lost but the saved person will pass through the testing fire. V15
The testing fire is not meant to cleanse the believer, that was done by the blood of Jesus. The testing fire is for the works of the believer. The loss of rewards is tragic. That is why I am preaching this message. I want you to be fully rewarded.
What are some blind spots that God wants to reveal to us? Here are a few:
1. Envy, strife, and division are caused by immaturity. V3
2. In the task of evangelism, God uses other people but not me.
3. Not doing my best.
4. I’m saved; I don’t have to be concerned with any kind of judgment.
5. Shame or fear at the judgment instead of facing it boldly.
Paul uses a negative atmosphere in the church to remind His people of their salvation! It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people! We are all needed and used by God to reach someone.
God brings about the harvest. Vs 6-7
We are not insignificant in the process of salvation but neither are we to be lifted up and idolized. God is the one that makes the plant grow.
God has given each of us a personal task but the same goal. Vs 6-7
There’s no room for competition or rivalry. Our task is personal but our goal is identical! God wants to build His church. We are servants of His in that task.
We work together but we are rewarded individually. V8
We are getting ready for a special ministry to our community called Saturate Tulsa. It’s the big task of taking the gospel to 9,000 homes in our zip code. There are many things that need to be done and we can all have a part! But only God can make our efforts fruitful!
The only foundation is Jesus Christ. Vs 10-11
The Church of Jesus Christ is built on one foundation only. Jesus Himself. The Church is not a club or civic organization. It’s the Church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15).
The materials we use to build on this foundation are crucial. V12
We can make a ‘show’ before men with cheap materials (wood, hay, stubble) but our work won’t survive the judgment; it will burn up. Our work in the kingdom should be done with passion, precious materials, and patient endurance.
Each person’s work will be tested by fire in the final judgment. V13
Our salvation is not based upon our works. From start to finish our salvation, growth, and perseverance are by grace. BUT, we are rewarded by our works.
Only works that pass the test will be rewarded. V14
The testing fire of God’s judgment will show our works for what they are. Our labor will be rewarded. But since it is God who is at work in us, He will receive all the glory in the end.
Some rewards will be lost but the saved person will pass through the testing fire. V15
The testing fire is not meant to cleanse the believer, that was done by the blood of Jesus. The testing fire is for the works of the believer. The loss of rewards is tragic. That is why I am preaching this message. I want you to be fully rewarded.
What are some blind spots that God wants to reveal to us? Here are a few:
1. Envy, strife, and division are caused by immaturity. V3
2. In the task of evangelism, God uses other people but not me.
3. Not doing my best.
4. I’m saved; I don’t have to be concerned with any kind of judgment.
5. Shame or fear at the judgment instead of facing it boldly.
Remember, a blind spotis something you can’t see about yourself. When God reveals it to you, your response is repentance. God will restore you and continue to make you fruitful in His kingdom.
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