WHY JUDGMENT AND PURGATION ARE MUCH MORE NECESSARY IN THE SERVICE OF GOD
An Address By The President, God’s KingdomSociety (GKS) – The Church Of The Living God –Brother Felix Ekundayo Adedokun at the Last and Great Day Holy Convocation of The Christian Feast Of Tabernacles, in Salem City, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, on Sunday the 22nd day of December, 2024.
Dearly Beloved Celebrants,
To the King eternal, Immortal, invisible, the only wise God, Whose holy name is JEHOVAH, be thanks, honour and glory for keeping us all alive to be in the Feast of Tabernacles 2024 by His grace.
My sermon to celebrants of the Christian Feast of Tabernacles this year is entitled “Why Judgment and Purgation Are Much More Necessary In The Service Of God”
Judgment is the decision of a judge in a court of law. In the context of this sermon however, judgment refers to the mind of God, His determinations and declarations as stated in the Holy Bible, in regard to the conduct of men as well as rewards and punishments for keeping or not keeping these laws.
Purgation is the process or act of cleansing God’s Organization of sin, corruption, falsehood and perversions of every sort “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”. – Ephesians 5:27.
God of Judgment
The Bible shows clearly that judgment and purgation are integral aspects of the work of God. Indeed, God Almighty is the God of judgment. (Isaiah 30:18; Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 89:14; 50:6; 37:28)
The judgment of God involves the proclamation of the truth to the people and then the disciplining or chastisement of the believers through the Ecclesiastical Courts of the Church in order to inculcate in them the right values, attitudes and outlook required of God’s worshippers. Thus, in time of old, God Almighty commanded that judges be appoint among His people to teach and to train the people towards responsible and orderly behavior, as it is written: “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s…” (Deuteronomy 1:16-18)
In Deuteronomy chapter 16 verses 19 and 20 God warns: “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” That was the standard in those days and the purpose was to ensure peaceful coexistence, unity and stability of the nation of Israel by God’s grace. “And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” – 2 Samuel 8:15.
Christian Era
In the Christian era, GodAlmighty has caused to be established ecclesiastical authorities, the first class of which are the saints. These Judges or Ecclesiastical Courts are the “powers that be” who “are not a terror to good works but to the evil”, St. Paul spoke of in Romans 13:1-5. When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth he made it clear that God has committed all judgment to him. (John 5:22;
9:39-41) He also declared: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) It follows therefore that it is in the Last Day that the judgment of God will take place.
The Last Day refers to the last period of Satan’s existence on earth, following the enthronement of our Lord Jesus Christ as King of God’s Kingdom, which period will be climaxed by the destruction of the Devil and all that answer to unrighteousness from the face of the earth. It is a time God Almighty, through Jesus Christ will choose the remaining ones of the saints, called the Remnant or the Very Elect, to set up His Kingdom Organizations in different parts of the world for the purpose of pronouncing the judgments of God on the nations. – John 18:36-38; Daniel 7:13,14; Matthew 24:31, 14.
Referring primarily to the saints whom God will use to judge the people. David the Psalmist declares prophetically: “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.” – Psalm 149:5-9.
Referring to the Apostles, whom God will use to judge the people in this age, Obadiah the prophet was inspired to state thus: “And saviours (the saints) shall come up on mount Zion (that is, from the capital of God’s Kingdom in heaven) to judge the mount of Esau (Satan’s Organization); and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.” – Obadiah 21, parenthesis ours.
.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is now sitting on his throne and the entire world is before him in judgment. (Matthew 25:31-46) The judgment is purely spiritual and is unlike what obtains in courts of the world. Those who hear the truth and are obedient to the word of God until the end will receive favorable judgment from God. But those who do not believe the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness will be damned, as they will receive adverse judgment. “But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.” “…for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth”. – Psalm 9:7, 8; 96:13.
The judgment of God bespeaks His love for His people in that it is meant to turn people to righteousness “for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”. – Isaiah 26:9 Compare Acts 26:18;1 Peter 2:14.
Any Church Organization where there is no judgment, based on the truth, is not a true Church. (Matthew 7:13:14) The true Church therefore must warn, condemn and expose those given to sin: “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, (homosexuals) thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, etc. The true Church will oppose the works of the flesh which St. Paul said include “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like”. It must be made clear that those who indulge in such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21.
The Age of the Last Days
Judgment and purgation are much more necessary in this age because we are in the last days “when the wicked shall do wickedly”. It is a time when the sins or evil among men will rise to unprecedented levels; when false prophets shall rise and deceive many (Matthew 24:11,24); when “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”. (1Timothy 4:1, 2) Those entrusted with the administration of the Kingdom in this age must work
hard to maintain their stand against the devil and his hosts. See 1Thessalonians 3:6, 14. Moreover, there is time for everything. This is the appointed
time for judgment. King Solomon declared under inspiration of God: “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time for every purpose and for every work.” – Ecclesiastes 3:17.
In his historic oration at Mars Hill, in Athens, St. Paul told them: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” -Acts 17:30- 31. Compare Jeremiah 16:16-19.
Those who do the righteousness of God and remain steadfast therein in His true Organization will have life but those who refuse and rebel or relapse into sin will be cast out and will not have life. (Matthew 13:47-50) “…So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,And shall cast them into the furnace of fire (Everlasting Destruction): there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:41, 42. See also Isaiah 26:20, 21.
As stated earlier, it is by judgment and purgation the people of God are continually cleansed by God’s grace. King Solomon declared: “Take away the
dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” – Proverbs 25:4, 5.
Warning
All those who have been called to serve God in His holy Organization in this age are hereby being given stern warning to be serious with the work lest they suffer dire consequences. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17) Truly the judgment will start from the sanctuary, those who are fully devoted to God’s service, (Ezekiel 9:1-11) Eventually, all the living will be judged. (Romans 2:5-11) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10.
We should not join the bandwagon of sin and impunity. Even if the ungodly appear to be prospering, it is only for a short time. We should maintain our stand for truth and righteousness.
Apostle Paul exhorts us in this wise: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15) He also warns: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:12, 13. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Revelation 22:11,12.
Dearly beloved brothers, sisters and friends, fellow celebrants of the Christian Feast of Tabernacles, I pray God Almighty, even our Father, Who “hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” by His grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Brother Felix Ekundayo Adedokun,
President, GKS.
December, 2024