guilt, feeling of guilt, morals, judicial system, court, judge, sentences

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Read how man's sense of guilt, the concept of right and wrong, and the judicial system refer to God's judgment. Do not reject the call to salvation

When you discuss religious matters and the seeking of God with people, there are usually two approaches people have. Some are open to God and Jesus Christ, but most often you'll be faced with an impenetrable wall. Your message will not evoke a response. The attitude of such people can be so rejecting that they refuse to open up to the idea that their belief system might be wrong. They have already in advance decided how things are, and no evidence can bring them to think otherwise. You cannot make them listen, because they are not interested, or they'll come up with all kinds of excuses to reject God's invitation.

The same attitude is spoken about in the following words of Jesus and Bible verses. Jesus showed that everything is already ready from God's side and we can receive eternal life as a gift, but we can reject his invitation and love. It is possible if we turn our backs on his gift of eternal life:

- (Luke 14:15-20) And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then said he to him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray you have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray you have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Why then do people reject God and the call to salvation? There are, of course, numerous reasons for that, because people are different and in different life situations. But at least the following reasons are common. Let's explore them a bit.

PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN JUDGMENT AND DAMNATION. One of the reasons people reject God's call is because they don't believe in judgment and that there is damnation after death. They may believe in heaven or that everything ends at death, but consider judgment and perdition unlikely. When they are in this belief, they have, in their own opinion, a valid reason not to turn to God.

However, there are good reasons why the idea of judgment should be taken seriously. We highlight a few of the most important reasons. Four such things are:

• Secular judicial system as a symbol

• The global existence of morality, i.e. the concept of right and wrong

• Sense of justice indicates that wrongdoers will be held accountable

• Guilt and the guilty feeling

The secular judicial system refers to the possibility of judgment. In general, all societies have a judicial system whose tasks include bringing murderers, criminals and other wrongdoers to account for their actions. Physical and sexual violence, theft, fraud and embezzlement are common criminal reasons for which a sentence can be passed. This has been a common practice in all societies throughout the centuries. If the judiciary works correctly – it hasn't always worked – it stays within these frameworks.

On the other hand, if there is a secular justice system whose duties include bringing murderers, criminals and other wrongdoers to account for their actions, why is it hard to believe in the idea that there is a judgment after this life as well? Judgment after death is no more strange than the fact that people answer for their wrongdoings in an earthly court. Both systems work by the same principles, so that's the first good reason to take the idea of a posthumous day of reckoning seriously. God will then make people answer for their actions just as it happens now in the secular judiciary. Everyone will have to answer to God for how they have lived and treated others. Everyone reaps what he sows.

- (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

- (Hebr 9:27) And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:

- (Gal 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

Morality. When people do not believe in judgment after death, they do not take into account the example of the earthly judiciary, but also not the concept of right and wrong, which is one reference to judgment. It means that we are moral beings and we make choices in everyday activities. We feel that many things are right and we should follow them, but often we can feel reluctance to do them. The principles of the Ten Commandments ”you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, or you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” are not unknown to anyone, but everyone naturally knows what is the right behavior and how to treat your neighbor. This inner sense and understanding that prompts us to make the right choices is often called conscience.

Paul continues on the same topic. He teaches that the works of the law—the sense of right and wrong—are written on the hearts of men. He connects this matter with the judgment day, so it should be taken seriously. Our understanding of right and wrong shows how it is logical to believe in a judgment day after death:

- (Rom 2:14-16) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves:

15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

It is important to note that the concept of right and wrong is common among all nations. It shows that man naturally knows the difference between them, even though he can harden his heart. Loren Cunningham, who has visited every country in the world, shares his observations on this subject, which prove the previous words of Paul to be true:

I have met people from every country in the world and noticed that the idea of love, responsibility, right and wrong, conscience and moral exists in every culture. Every language has a concept for right and wrong. This has been even before any contact with other civilizations or with the Bible. (1)

Sense of justice. One reason to believe in judgment is the sense of justice within us. Many crimes and mischief might go unsolved here on earth, but the last judgment suggests that wrongdoers who treated others poorly, cannot run from justice. They will not go unpunished. In modern times, many criticize judgment and damnation, but if wrongdoers are not held accountable, God would accept wrongdoing. He would accept the actions of dictators and other wrongdoers and such a God cannot be good. Many would like to believe that God is a nice guy who sits on the edge of a cloud and closes His eyes to everything, but such an idea is not true in the light of the Bible.

Therefore, the fact that Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin and other inhumane dictators are once in judgment suggests the justice and goodness of God. He will hold these people accountable for their actions. However, ordinary people also have to answer for their words and actions. According to the Bible, the quality of judgment is determined by deeds. That's why there must be different degrees of judgment.

- (Rev 20:12-15) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Guilt and the guilty feeling are the fourth thing that points to judgment. We can carry guilt for the wrong things we have done, and that is right. It shows we have not completely hardened our hearts, and that one day we will be judged for our actions. If a person is not responsible to anyone, why does he feel guilty for his actions? Our conscience bears witness to God and judgment.

This thing manifests itself in all cultures as does the natural moral law – they are inextricably linked. It is not only a matter born of the Christian faith, but a universal phenomenon. The following example from Japan relates to this phenomenon:

When God created woman, He placed in her the instinct to protect the child. You can't break that "human user manual" without serious consequences. In Japan, I have heard many confessions from the mouths of women who have had an abortion. Even a pagan can feel deep remorse for killing his child. This guilt is not a by-product of Christianity, but a voice of conscience born to every woman. (2)

WORLDLY PLEASURES AND FEAR OF MAN. When we continue to discuss why people reject God's call, worldly pleasures and fear of man are the two reasons.

When it comes to the first of these things, or pleasures, many people think about things in the short term. They seek immediate gratification without caring about the long-term consequences. How many have filled their lives with lust and desires, forgetting that they are eternal beings? They are more lovers of the world than lovers of God, as Paul wrote about the people of the last days (2 Tim 3:1-4: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous… lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God). Or how many have focused on the search for mammon and goods and big plans for this life, forgetting that ”we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim 6:7). Everything that we have acquired with great effort remains here. It will be left to the heirs or others, but the eternal soul of man will be separated from God. That's what happens if we have not taken care of the matters of the soul. Jesus taught:

- (Matt 16:25,26) For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What about the fear of people and the need to get human thanksgiving? That, too, can be an obstacle to responding to God's call. Each of us longs for acceptance and appreciation, and if we are afraid of losing it because of God, we will not turn to him.

The search for approval appears in almost all areas. For example, in criminal circles it is common to seek the approval of others by being tough, by getting tattoos or by exaggerating one's own criminality with boastful speeches. People do this, because they want to be respected by others. It is common in those circles but also in other parts of everyday life. We want to be accepted and we do everything we can to make that happen. We do not take into account the former words of Jesus, in which he said: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt 16:26)

DELAYING is one of the main reasons people reject God's call. They say: "Not today, but tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, next year or in old age I will give my life to God. Now is not the time, but I will postpone my decision to a later time."

However, the person or people do not take into account that there are different search times from God. If we pass these times, it may be that there will be no new opportunities, but God will leave us with the decision we once made. A person can live for years on earth, but he no longer has an appeal to God. He may become completely hardened to spiritual things and enter eternity unprepared. That is why it is important to immediately turn to God and let yourself be saved. Unnecessary delaying might cost you your eternity.

We can find one description of the afterlife in the book “Visions of heaven and hell” by John Bunyan, a preacher who lived in the 17th century (The same person also wrote the well-known book “Pilgrim’s Progress”, which is one of the most widely distributed books in the world.). This book mentions a lost person who had repeatedly rejected God's grace and conversion. Don't follow this person's example, but let yourself be saved and turn to God in time!

"Oh, accursed, wretch! Cursed for all eternity! What a fool I have done to myself! What a foolish folly I was guilty of in choosing the short pleasure of sin at the price of such costly eternal trouble! How often was I told that it would happen! How often was I warned to leave the paths of sin that would surely consign me to the chambers of eternal death! But deaf as I am, I did not incline my ears to those warnings, though they warned so wisely. They often told me that my momentary pleasure would soon be changed to eternal trouble. And now my too sad experience says to me it, it really says, but it is too late to help because my eternal part has been determined for ever.

"Why was I given the chance? Why had I been equipped with an immortal soul? Why did I not care about it? Oh, how my own neglect pierces me so dreadfully and I still know that I cannot and will not die. But to live a deadly life is worse than ten thousand deaths, and I still could have been helped once but I did not want to! Oh, this is the gnawing worm that never dies. Once, I could have been happy; once I was offered salvation but I rejected it. If it had happened only once and I would have rejected it, even that would have been unforgivable foolishness, but it was offered to me a thousand times, and I resisted it as often (so lousy I was). Damn the sin, which with its deceitful enjoyment enchants mankind to eternal destruction! God called me often but I resisted Him as often. He reached out his hands but I did not care. How often did I go against His commands, how often I resisted His reprimands! But now the situation has changed, for now He watches over my misfortune and mocks the loss that has come upon me. He could have helped me then, but I didn't want to. Therefore, these eternal pains are only the reward of my own actions, which I am condemned to suffer." (John Bunyan, Näkyjä taivaasta ja helvetistä [Visions of Heaven and Hell], p. 67)

PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THEIR STATE. One of the major reasons why people take an unconcerned approach towards God and Jesus Christ is that they don’t understand the severity of the matter. They do not see that they are under the wrath of God in their unrepentant state. They think God is sympathetic to them, when in fact He hates the hardness of their hearts and their living in sin. In Romans it is written on the subject:

- (Rom 2:4-6) Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

5 But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds

It is important to realize that God is perfect and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.). He will not accept any sin in His kingdom and condemns every unrepentant sinner to damnation. Therefore, those people who live in fornication, break marriage, gossip about others, are greedy, drunkards, thieves (misrepresentation of tax returns, etc.), live in homosexuality or other sins, become excluded from the kingdom of God. That is the clear teaching of the Bible.

- (Matt 12:36) But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

- (Matt 5:21,22) You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

- (Matt 5:27,28) You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery:

28 But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

- (1 John 3:15) Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

- (James 4:17) Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

- (1 Cor 6:9,10) Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

What about the decent sinners who haven't lived in great sins? Based on it, someone may think that he is better than other people and that God is sympathetic to him. However, such a person deceives himself, because before God, in terms of salvation, there is no use in it if he is not as evil as others. It will not make anyone more worthy of heaven if they have been better than other people. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). That is, there may be small and large sinners, but still all are sinners and do not meet God's measure:

- (Rom 3:9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

- (Gal 3:22) But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Thus, our superiority to others means nothing in terms of eternity. It is comparable to a situation of a bus derailing into a gorge. There would surely be both big and small sinners involved, but still their ultimate fate would be the same and they would not be able to change the situation.

Likewise, if a ship sinks, there are sinners of varying degrees, both great and small, but still their ultimate fate is the same. Only if they get to the lifeboat in time can they escape certain destruction. This was the case, for example, with the sinking of the Titanic.

Salvation can also be described as a bottomless chasm that we should cross. Some of us may be able to jump 3 meters, others 6 and some even almost 9 meters. However, when the gap is several hundred times wider, these lengths or their comparisons would not matter much. We would have to state that "none of you fulfill the law" and that on top of that we would be "under a curse" with our comparisons and actions:

- (John 7:19) ... and yet none of you keeps the law...

- (Gal 3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

The greatest Commandment also refers to how we are guilty before God. For when the greatest Commandment is to love God and neighbor with all their heart, soul, and mind, then the greatest sin is if man has not obeyed it. He has committed the most serious sin, and God must condemn him to damnation. People who have not fully obeyed this commandment at every single moment of their lives cannot go to heaven. Every person is naturally in this state. We are intrinsically lost and estranged from God.

- (Matt 22:35-40) Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Is there hope for people? If you have realized your current state of being estranged from God and that you are headed to damnation, you don’t need to accept this fate. For God, who hates sin, is also a loving God. He wants you to be saved, you to repent your sins with your whole heart, and He also wants to forgive you. His goodwill towards you can be seen in the following verses, e.g.:

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- (1 Tim 2:3,4) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

According to the Bible salvation is possible, because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, removed obstacles that were between God and people. He, Jesus Christ, lived a sinless life and in the end carried all sins to the cross. He became the mediator between people and God, so that everyone can enter into communion with God, regardless of our flawed nature. He fulfilled the gap that exists between God and imperfect people:

- (Hebr 8:6) But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Salvation can also be received as a gift without any merits. It is possible because sins have already been atoned for and taken away through Jesus Christ. It is good news for those who have noticed their own shortcomings. They can get everything as a gift without any effort. Furthermore, having accepted the gift of salvation, they are always accepted and under God's grace:

- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.

- (Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

- (Rom 5:1,2) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Therefore, if you wish to receive an eternal life and have your sins forgiven, take a note of the following important points:

Turn to God! If you have been estranged from God, it is vital for you to turn to Him. Do as the prodigal son in the allegory told by Jesus. The son did not stay away from his father but returned to him. When he returned, the father welcomed him with open arms:

- (Luke 15:13,17-20) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,

19 And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Confess your sins! You certainly have some sins on your conscience. It might be adultery, extramarital affairs (Hebr 13:4), bitterness, accusations and unforgiveness (Matt 6:14,15), occultism (Deut 18:10-12), indifference, selfishness, or some other kind of sin. Confess all your sins to God. You don't deserve salvation through them, but it's good to confess them to God that they don't weigh on your own mind:

- (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

- (Prov 28:13) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Welcome Jesus into your life! The third important thing is to understand that salvation and eternal life are only in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the way, not just a guide. No man can come to God except through him, not through Buddha, not through Muhammad, not through the Pope, not through the Church—only through Jesus Christ, who had been prophesied of, who lived a sinless life for us and took our sins to the cross. (Many understand all these things in theory, but they have never surrendered themselves to God and placed their hope in Christ alone. God is in their lives as if in a closed compartment). That is why you must turn to Him and receive Him into your life and you will have eternal life. Do not reject Him, but surrender yourself to Him and welcome Him. The following has been written on this topic:

- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.

- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

- (Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

So, if you have turned to Jesus Christ and received Him in your life, you are a child of God and have eternal life. You have the eternal life regardless of what you feel right now. Do not base your assurance of salvation on your ever-changing emotions, but rest in the word of the Bible and on Jesus Christ, just like the anchor of a ship is never thrown inside the ship but always outside.

- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

- (1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and to follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.

REFERENCES:

1. Loren Cunningham / Janice Rogers: Kirja joka muuttaa kansat (The Book that Transforms Nations), p. 133

2. Mailis Janatuinen: Ihmisen käyttöohjeet, p. 120