REAPING AND SOWING:  LEVELS OF JUDGMENTS AND REWARDS  5/01/11

The works we do on earth are recorded and written in books.  Those works will be judged. The Lord promises that every person will be tended to in regards to the good and bad things they have done will while living on earth.  This is true for the righteous' rewards and the wicked's punishment. 

2 Cor 5:9-11

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

NT:2865  RECEIVE

komizo (kom-id'-zo); from a primary komeo (to tend, i.e. take care of); properly, to provide for, i.e. (by implication) to carry off (as if from harm; genitive case obtain):

KJV - bring, receive.

Rev 20:12-13

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

NT:2919  JUDGED

krino (kree'-no); properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:

KJV - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

Rev 22:12  NKJV

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Matt 16:27

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Rom 2:3-11

And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":  7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

1 Cor 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

Gal 6:7-9

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Rev 2:23

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

DIFFERENT Levels of judgment AND PUNISHMENT

As I pondered these things, I realized that because God is completely and totally just in His decisions of weighing men's hearts, motives and actions, that there are different levels of punishment and torment in hell.  I have found this to be true in scripture as well.

{Note Matt 23:14 was not in the original GK but added by the early church}

Matt 23:14

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. {2917}

NT:2917

krima (kree'-mah); from NT:2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ["crime"]):

KJV - avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation,  go to law, judgment.

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John 19:11 NKJV

Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

Matt 11:24

But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

Luke 12:47-48

And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

James 3:1-3

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

2 Cor 5:10-11

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

The fear of the Lord:  WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

One of the basic laws of the universe and how God created the world, is that every seed bears fruit after its own kind. 

Gen 1:11-13

Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

This concept continues in His promise that WHATEVER we sow, we reap.

Gal 6:7-10

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The concept is reinforced throughout the entire Bible, and it is all connected to the balance scales of DIVINE JUSTICE.   If we want to be treated right, then we need to treat others right.  This reaping and sowing occurs in our lives on earth and our eternal life in heaven. 

Matt 7:12  NKJV

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matt 7:1-3

"Judge not, that you be not judged.  2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Matt 6:14-15

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matt 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Hos 10:12

Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy;

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:37-38

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 

Prov 11:25  NLT

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

WORD O’ GRAM: JUSTICE

Justice or fairness

Ultimately what is right.

Settling old accounts.

To right the wrongs

In rewards and punishment.

Courts of God determine to

Even the scales.

Matt 7:12 NKJV

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Gal 6:7 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

WORD OF WISDOM:  Part of maturing into the fullness of Christ Jesus is accepting His justice that we reap what we sow.  When we understand this, we grow in TEMPERANCE, the last fruit of the Spirit.   

Gal 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.