Caressing the Creed by Richard Allen Farmer

Author:Richard Allen Farmer [Farmer, Richard Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781512723984
Publisher: WestBow Press
Published: 2016-01-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

From Thence He Shall Come to Judge the Quick and the Dead

Text: Psalms 7:11; 75:4–7; John 5:24–30

Our creed speaks of the past deeds of Jesus Christ. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He did suffer under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified. He was buried. He did rise from the dead. He did ascend to heaven. Then the creed speaks of Jesus’ present. He is presently sitting at the right hand of God (Hebrews 7:25). Now we address a line in the creed that speaks of Christ’s future. He is now at God’s right hand, and from there (thence) He shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead.

Many people believe that God will judge no one. They believe that God is a God of love only. Such persons cannot conceive of a God who would allow anyone to go to hell. They cannot imagine that at the end of time, there would be anything but one big love fest, if there is anything at all. What does it mean to recite this line that says that Christ will come and judge both the living and the dead?

When I graduated from high school, I was planning on going to college, I was the organist of a large interdenominational choir in New York City. Some of the members of that choir were from a church that believed that the second coming of Christ was imminent. They believed that Jesus was coming again to earth very soon. I believed, as the Scriptures teach, that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s coming. One of my colleagues in that choir said, and I quote, “Richard, we don’t have time to go to college. Jesus is coming soon.” I told her, “If He comes soon, He can pick me up at college. If He doesn’t come, I will have a college degree.”

Our primary text (John 5) contains clear teaching about the end of the world and some of the events connected with that time. If we hold to the authority and the veracity of Scripture, then this passage will not be dismissed.

Those of us who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who follow Him and define ourselves as Christians need not fear the end. When we recite, “From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead,” we do not tremble. That’s because of verse 24. We have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life and need not fear the judgment. Before we look at the rest of this passage, let me remind you of this same teaching in Paul’s Corinthian letter (2 Corinthians 5:10–11; Romans 14:10).

The judgment of God will be of two types and to two groups. First there are those who have done good. This refers not to some superior moral standing. Rather, these people have embraced the Lord Jesus. They made good choices. They said yes to Christ and yes to God’s offer of salvation.

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