Now is the judgment of this world, Part 2

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That the decisive act which determined the change of ruler-ship (from Satan to our Lord), and turned the condemnation from the world, was the death of Christ, is clearly seen from the following verses (32, 33).

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me." "This he said, signifying what death he should die." Jesus had spoken before of his being lifted up, referring to his crucifixion (John 3:14, 15 and 8:28), and the people whom he now addressed rightly understood him to refer to his death. But ignoring the prophecies which foretold the death of Christ, they reasoned, if this be the Christ, how can this be; for the Scripture says, Christ abides forever. Blinded by prejudice, they overlooked or ignored the prophecies which foretold the sufferings, and saw only the glory that should follow.--1 Pet. 1:11.

The only reply which Jesus made was to not deceive themselves thus. (Verses 35, 36)

The world's crisis came and passed, yet the world was totally unaware of it. As in the crisis of a disease, the patient may be entirely unaware of the change which takes place at the critical moment, yet it may be clearly discerned by the skilled physician, so the world was unconscious of the change which the death of Christ secured for ALL--the privilege of restitution to human perfection, to harmony with God, and consequently thorough obedience to everlasting life.

And although nearly two thousand years have elapsed since the crisis was passed, the mass of mankind are still unaware of the good tidings of great joy which shall in due time be to ALL people. Those however who have been students of the divine Word, know that the time now draws very near when the world shall all see and experience the blessed results which must flow from that decisive act of our Lord at the moment of the world's crisis.

The world has passed through two crises in its two representatives Adam and Jesus, though unaware of both. The decisive instant, the crisis, came in each case which determined certain results to the world.

In the first instance the crisis was followed by the "krima" or sentence; sentence came by the one man Adam upon his entire race unto condemnation to death. In the second instance also the crisis was followed by "krima" or sentence which came by the one man Christ Jesus, unto justification to life (Rom. 5:17-19) giving ALL the right to live again because "redeemed," "bought," "purchased by the precious blood of Christ," who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified to all in due time.

While the right to live again which was purchased for ALL mankind by the death of Christ, is an everlasting right which never can nor will be disputed nor ignored by God, it yet remains for man to individually claim the everlasting continuance of that right, by compliance with the conditions upon which it is offered; for this right, thus purchased at so great a cost may be again forfeited by men. But it can never again be forfeited by a representative, as in the first instance (forfeited by one and thus forfeited by all as was the case when we were all condemned in the one man, father Adam). Each individual redeemed in the second representative crisis, must stand trial for himself, and prove his own claim to an everlasting continuance of life by obedience, or else by disobedience forfeit life for himself--but not for another.

There is then, a coming individual trial or judgment and there will therefore be a crisis, a turning point, a decisive moment and act to each individual, upon which will hinge the issues of the everlasting future for life or death, in his individual case.

If he gratefully accepts of life and its privileges and future possibilities as the purchase of the precious blood of Christ, and if he fully and from the heart complies with the conditions of its everlasting continuance, viz., obedience to God, then the crisis is past, and the "krima" or sentence, is in his favor-- to life everlasting: otherwise it is against him--to the second death. Nor will the life once redeemed, and then again individually forfeited, ever be redeemed again--"Christ dies no more;" "there remains no more a sacrifice for sins." Such ungrateful, willful, deliberate sinners justly merit and shall die the second death.

But while the church with all the world has passed through the first two crises as represented in Adam and Jesus, the church shall not come into judgment with the world--John 5:24. Krisis is here translated condemnation.

The church will be receiving her reward, when the world's individual crisis or judgment is in process. But the church is not exempt from individual judgment; her crisis takes place before the Millennial Age, during the Gospel Age now closing.

Each member of the church therefore in the present life is standing on trial for himself, and at some time during the judgment there comes a critical decisive point to each individual of the church--a time which proves to be the crisis of our course, where a standstill is not possible, but where we must go forward either in the right or the wrong direction, either to the fulfilling of our covenant or the ignoring of it.

In fact, every test that is applied to us, places us in a critical situation, so that we need to watch and pray that we may have strength to overcome. And to each there comes a final test, as in our Lord's case. While the world's representative crisis was reached at the time appointed for Jesus to lay down his life in sacrifice, it was also a crisis to him as an individual. As an individual he was being tested, and proved worthy of the glory to be revealed in him.

The final test in our individual cases may not always be at death. If we have been faithful in the preceding tests, or if we have been rightly exercised by the discipline of the Lord, the closing scene of life will be the last test. It is possible, however, for a consecrated one to ignore and despise his covenant and to refuse further compliance with it and to ignore and despise the discipline of the Lord, or to despise the means by which God brought this salvation to men--even the precious blood of Christ. Such reach the crisis and turn it unfavorably before death. But to those who continue faithful and obedient, the final moment of crisis is at death, even as with the Master --"faithful unto death."

With thankfulness for the grace which carried us through the crisis of our redemption through the death of Christ, may each individual of those now on trial, watch and pray that he may successfully pass through the crisis of his own individual trial.” (R668, 853)

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