brought before the Lord in judgment

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MaryJane Sep 4, 2012

Greg wrote:Also most evangelicals do not believe this but every word spoken, written and typed on forums will be brought before the Lord in the judgment. There will be a clear record of everything, whether we edit or even delete them.
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As I was reading this portion of what Greg shared on another thread, this part above jumped out at me. I have often felt confusion on this and so I thought to begin a new thread to ask for help in understanding. I have read similar things shared from many others and have always found it confusing. I do believe that JESUS tells us to take captive our thoughts and to guard our tongues and I see this as very important commands to obey... My confusion though is this, if when we repent of having said unkind words, or in this case typed them and GOD is faithful to forgive us our sins then why would it be brought back up in the judgment? I know it says we will give an accounting but doesn't it also say that when we repent our sins are washed away? How does something washed away and forgotten get brought back up again? This is where my confusion comes in, it almost seems as if two differing things are being said. Do we further give account of sins that JESUS has forgiven us?

I did not want to take away from the heart of Greg's other thread so I began this one instead. I hope to find some understanding and wonder if some might have insights to share and help me come to a better understanding on this.

I have often been so blessed by the things others are seeing when I just don't fully understand a topic.

Just for info the above quote came from this wonderful thread :https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=46535&forum=16

God bless
maryjane

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MaryJane Sep 4, 2012

Was really hoping for some insights on this topic...or am I just making it more complicated? Its funny how often I will go to my darling husband and ask him to explain things and then when he does I think "OH now I see" as the light bulb gets turned on :)

Its alright if no one had anything to share I know as I pray on these things and dwell upon them the LORD will bring me understanding.

God bless
and much love to all
mj

sermonindex Sep 4, 2012

My confusion though is this, if when we repent of having said unkind words, or in this case typed them and GOD is faithful to forgive us our sins then why would it be brought back up in the judgment? MaryJane.

I believe Sister MaryJane that the only time we need to be concerned about what we have said and written is probably when we do in fact harm people with our words and don’t repent of them. The difficulty with words is when they are so prolific we actually forget what we have said and written, we may loose the opportunity to repent because we simply forget what we have said or written. Jesus said a man would be judged by every word which comes out of his mouth. This would include both sound as well as unsound words. We would not want The Lord to neglect the good things we have said, so if we are honest we would have to also accept that the evil words we have spoken will be weighed as well if we loose sight of them and do not repent when we realise we have erred through pride or anger; a thing we cannot be unaware off if we are born again.

Also most evangelicals do not believe this but every word spoken, written and typed on forums will be brought before the Lord in the judgment. There will be a clear record of everything, whether we edit or even delete them. Greg.

These words of Greg speak to me about an unrepentant heart not a repentant heart. The words “Most evangelicals do not believe this” and “whether we edit it or even delete it” appear to confirm this. I am of course open to correction as they are not my words and I have no wish to seem to be putting words in Greg’s mouth. I can’t believe however that Greg doesn’t hold to the belief that true repentance wouldn’t produce true forgiveness. “Most evangelicals do not believe it” seems to be speaking about a view that “internet” words are somehow other than spoken words in that they don’t carry the same weight as spoken words. And “whether we edit or delete it” seems to be a reference to a wilful changing of our words in order to cover up the harm we may have already done, rather than apologising and thereby showing true repentance and a desire to be restored to our brother or sister whom we have hurt or offended.

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MaryJane Sep 4, 2012

Oh thank you armkelly the light bulb just came on after reading your post :)

I was thinking perhaps that there was a distinction being made between words spoken and repented of, verses not being repented of. that makes sense to me because as you said even if a post is deleted that does not automatically mean the person has repented and so would be accountable. I can see that. I also appreciated what you said about not wanting the LORD to overlook the good things we say, of course that does mean HE would have to consider the bad as well.

I do agree with what Greg wrote then, if I write unkind things and then remove them and never repent of them I do see them being brought forth then in judgement.

another thought comes to mind, I have considered the delete and edit button more this morning then before. I realize that it can be a kind of crutch really or even there may be the temptation by self to use this tool in a negative way. After all if I just hit delete or edit my post so as to remove what others thought offensive is there really the need to repent...Oh how wicked the flesh is! Of course there is still the need to repent all the more so because it was posted for the whole world to see!! I have used the edit and delete buttons often myself but I feel the need to pray more when doing so from now on, I want to be sure the motivation of my heart when I do these things is to glorify GOD and not cover up sin! Again I see how in the flesh a useful tool can be manipulated to serve "self" purposes. All the more need to stay close and hold tight to JESUS!!

Word spoken or typed really do matter!

God bless and thank you
maryjane

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SkepticGuy Sep 4, 2012

r we 4given once and for all of our sins, or duz god keep a tally of sins after he forgives us and saves us? i cant figure what the point would be if we're going to heaven anyway why he would bring up sins we committed after we are converted? if he is going to judge that sin then we would be thrown into hell, correct? if he is not going to judge that sin, then he has in essence forgiven us so why bring it up? im no bible scholar, but this does not make sense to me. help me understand.

sermonindex Sep 4, 2012

Was really hoping for some insights on this topic...or am I just making it more complicated? Its funny how often I will go to my darling husband and ask him to explain things and then when he does I think "OH now I see" as the light bulb gets turned on :)
Its alright if no one had anything to share I know as I pray on these things and dwell upon them the LORD will bring me understanding.

Excellent idea sister to start a thread on this topic. I hope many can share their questions and ideas on this topic. I am going to list some of the scripture here to help this discussion:

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[a] 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." (Revelation 20:12)

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:1-2, 6, 10)

Though we are saved 100% by grace, this grace works in us to produce godliness and we will all be judged I believe still. This is not if you will make it in to heaven or not but rather it is very important to God and should be to us of our obedience to Him that is desired. If what we do in this life just for 40-80 years would affect millions of years in eternity what sane person would not do all he could in this life than to affect eternity.

Just a thought.