Daily Devotional Thoughts All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  This Week’s Study: Romans 2:6-8 Monday - Eternal destination rendered according to one’s deeds - Part 1. [God] "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath (Romans 2:6-8). Wait a minute you say!  If I am saved by grace what is this text talking about?  God “will render to each one according to his deeds?” That doesn’t sound like grace!  That sounds like works! Paul is simply telling us our lives reveal whether we belong to God or not.  Here are John Gill’s comments: “In other words, God will render to evil men according to the true desert of their evil deeds; and of his own free grace will render to good men, whom he has made so by his grace, what is suitable and agreeable to those good works, which, by the assistance of his grace, they have been enabled to perform” (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Romans 2:6). In Revelation 20:12 we read: “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.” When we surrender to Jesus Christ, and accept His death for our sins, our names are written in the Book of Life.  When our names are in the Book of Life, our deeds, the way we live, show that we indeed belong in God’s kingdom.  Is your name written in the Book of Life? Tuesday - Eternal destination rendered according to one’s deeds - Part 2. [God] "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath (Romans 2:6-8). Our text tells us God will render “eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.”  Notice immortality is something sought after.  We do not inherently possess eternal life.  God promises eternal life to those who accept Jesus as their Savior. Here is what Jesus taught from 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.”  Notice the ones who believe in Jesus will “not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15).  We don’t possess eternal life today, we look forward to immortality.  God likens death to sleep.  Death is like a deep sleep from which God will ultimately awaken us to face our eternal destiny. So when do the saved receive immortality?  When Jesus comes at the end of this world’s history to take His children home. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY” . . . . Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). This, my friend, is good new! Wednesday  - Eternal destination rendered according to one’s deeds - Part 3. [God] "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath (Romans 2:6-8). Yesterday we saw how God gives immortality to the saved at Christ’s return, sometimes called the rapture, or the second advent.  Whatever term you use, it happens at the end of this earth’s history.  In God’s Word, the death we die now is likened to sleep.  For example, here is what Jesus said when conversing with his disciples before He raised Lazarus from the dead: “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:11-14). In 1 Thessalonians 4 the apostle Paul talks about awaking from the sleep of death, and rising to live eternally with God: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. . . .  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Eternity with God!  What a wonderful future.  I want to meet you and enjoy your friendship all through the endless ages of eternity.  Will you meet me in heaven? Thursday  - Eternal destination rendered according to one’s deeds - Part 4. [God] "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath (Romans 2:6-8). Yesterday, we reviewed how no one inherently possesses immortality.  Immortality, eternal life, is a gift God bestows on His children at Christ’s return.  By contrast, the lost do not ever receive eternal life.  Nowhere in the Bible do we find the lost receiving eternal life.  God is a merciful and just God.  The lost do indeed receive eternal death in the fires of hell, but they are not kept eternally alive, forever writhing in the terrible pain of hell’s fire.  Not even the worst ogre in this world’s history would his or her worst enemy to cook in the fires of hell throughout. No God is fair.  Here is what God teaches about the destruction of the wicked: Ezekiel 18:4 “[T]he soul that sinneth, it shall die” (KJV).  In Revelation 20:9 we find that “fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them” (KJV).  This text is talking about the destruction of the wicked after the great white throne judgment.  Notice the fire “devoured them” it didn’t leave them writhing in agony year after ceaseless year. Finally, Malachi prophesied: “‘For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch’” (Malachi 4:1). I don’t want to be destroyed in hell fire.  I want to enjoy eternity with God.  And when I learn the truth about the destruction of the wicked, when  I realize that the lost are completely destroyed in the fires of hell, I understand even more than ever, that I serve a good God.  Our God is a fair and a just God. Press <Control>+D to bookmark this page 2010-2012 Marvin Glass, Inc. And now back to more great Southern Gospel Music!