2 Corinthians 8 - 10
The sermon explores the believer's perspective on death and judgment, emphasizing confidence in Christ's righteousness and the call to live purposefully between these two realities.
John Nelson Darby emphasizes the believer's perspective on death and judgment, asserting that for those in Christ, death is merely a transition to being with the Lord, thus it is gain. He contrasts this with the judgment, which brings a sense of terror for those outside of Christ, but for believers, it is a call to recognize their righteousness in Him. Darby encourages self-examination in light of the coming judgment, urging believers to live in a way that reflects their identity as righteous in Christ. He highlights the importance of preaching to others, motivated by the reality of judgment and the desire to see souls saved. Ultimately, he presents a life spent in the balance of understanding both death and judgment as a means to glorify God and serve others.
Text
He looks what is the natural portion of sinful man in the face - death and judgment. As to death, it is all settled; for what is death to those who have life in Christ? It is only "absent from the body, and present with the Lord;" therefore we are always confident; we have done with mortality as to the body, done with sin, done with groaning to be with Christ; and therefore it is "far better." Death - the question of death - is all settled.
And he says elsewhere it is gain: "all things are yours . . . life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours."
Then comes the second thing, what comes after death - "the judgment." Well, judgment he cannot talk of in that way; judgment cannot be gone, therefore he calls it "the terror of the Lord." And, let me tell you, that it is a very useful test to put the soul into the presence of the judgment. Here am I, a poor sinner, and I have nothing but the cross; the cross suits a sinner, surely, but you cannot say judgment suits a sinner. If he think of judgment he cannot be easy. But we read: "As he is, so are we in this world;" well, if I am as the Judge, of course I can be happy in view of the day of judgment.
The righteousness of God puts me into the glory of heaven. If I talk of myself as the righteousness of God, of course the judgment day has no terror. If you still feel uneasy about the judgment day, I say you have to get clear about the righteousness of God. The apostle does not make light of it; it is the terror of the Lord. It is not gain. "When it was death it was gain, because it is to be present with the Lord; still when it is judgment he does not tremble as to himself; it urges him to go and preach to poor sinners, to persuade them. We shall all be manifested, saints and sinners; but it is no terror for me at all, because Christ is my righteousness, and as He is, so are we.
But there was an effect on himself; he realized it as a present thing; we are manifested to God: so everything in his heart was judged continually as it will be in that day by Him. He says, as regards death, it is all gain to me, and as to the judgment, it has brought me into God's sight in such a way that I judge myself now as if it were already that day. If Paul got into a kind of ecstasy, it was not excitement; he was beside himself to God. If he comes down to sober reflection in himself it is to think of the saints for their good. A blessed way to spend his life between the two!
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding Death - Confidence in Life after Death - The Gain of Being Present with the Lord
- II points: - The Reality of Judgment - The Terror of the Lord - Judgment as a Test for the Soul
- III points: - Righteousness of God - Judgment Day and Its Implications - The Role of Christ as Our Righteousness
- IV points: - The Apostle's Perspective - Manifestation to God - Self-Judgment in Light of Eternity
- V points: - Living Between Death and Judgment - The Call to Preach to Sinners - A Life Spent for God's Glory
Key Quotes
“Death - the question of death - is all settled.” — John Nelson Darby
“If you still feel uneasy about the judgment day, I say you have to get clear about the righteousness of God.” — John Nelson Darby
“A blessed way to spend his life between the two!” — John Nelson Darby
Application Points
- Embrace the reality of death as a transition to eternal life with Christ.
- Cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord that leads to self-examination and righteous living.
- Engage actively in sharing the Gospel, motivated by the urgency of judgment and the love of Christ.