Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, Praise the Lord. Today I would like to share an insight that completely changed my belief on what I needed to do to achieve eternal life. When the world ends all souls will be judged by God for eternal life or eternal damnation. But what is the criteria that God will use to judge our souls? Let us see what the bible says. In Deuteronomy, God the Father introduces this criterion to us. In Acts the apostle Peter references the Deuteronomy verse to teach us what is required. In the book of John Jesus Christ reiterates the same message (a message that he speaks and that it is from God the Father). And finally in Revelations the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ himself gives us insight into the judgment that is to come. So let us go deeper to see what these verses say.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 says, "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." These verses tell us that God the Father will send Jesus Christ as a Prophet to speak His words, and if we do not obey those words, God will require it from us! If we do not obey these words then we are in danger of burning in hell and not attaining eternal life.
This same message is repeated in the book of Acts
Acts 3:22-23 says, "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." In these verses we see that the Apostle Peter connects Jesus Christ to that prophet that Moses prophesied about in Deuteronomy chapter 18. Here again, we hear Apostle Peter say that Jesus is the prophet that God the Father sent and every soul that will not obey his words will be destroyed. This same message is repeated again in the Gospel of John that Jesus speaks the words given to him by God the Father.
John 12:48-49, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."
So in these verses in John, we hear that Jesus spoke those commandments which come from the Father will judge every man on Judgment Day. There are many examples of the Words of Christ that we can study but let us see what the risen Lord Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ says after his death and resurrection in his final message to the churches in the book of Revelations.
Revelations 22:11-16 says, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." This message is so important that the Lord Jesus Christ himself signs his name in verse 13 – He is Alpha and Omega – First and the Last. In verse 16 he signs it as – the Root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star. So, there is no confusion who is speaking in these verses. So, the message here is really very important. Let us see what His message is. In verse 11, Jesus says, that every soul will be judged according to their works of righteousness or unrighteousness. Holy or Unholy. Clean or filthy. In verse 14, the Lord Jesus Christ states that those who DO his commandments will have eternal life. Those who do not do his commandments will have eternal damnation and will not be allowed into eternal life. We must therefore be obedient doers of his words to escape the judgment that is to come. His words and they alone will judge every soul with life everlasting or destruction in the lake of fire.
In conclusion, there are 2 important things to note. Firstly, the words of Jesus have greater/elevated significance for our eternal life. We must submit ourselves in obedience to them. Otherwise as stated in Deuteronomy 18, God WILL require it of us and God will destroy us if we are disobedient. Secondly, Jesus says that our soul will be judged and rewarded according to our works of righteousness or unrighteousness, holy or unholy. According as our work shall be. We must therefore live in obedience to His words. We must study them with the intention of submitting ourselves in obedience to them. So, in conclusion, the criteria that we have to fulfil is found in Jesus’ words. We need to find out what are those commandments of Jesus Christ are and submit ourselves in obedience to them.
May God bless you.