If you believe that Christians will be punished, for how long will they be punished? Will the period be brief, prolonged for a predetermined time, or for ever?
The apostle Paul wrote that a believer who lives according to the flesh will “not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). Is that kingdom a thousand-year period mentioned only in Rev. 20:4-6? Or is it the eternal kingdom, in which case such a believer will be out of the kingdom forever?
In several of my earlier writings (which you may read in the “Jesus on Judgment” category), I focused on passages dealing with judgment of the Christian. I showed the possibility of judgment on the servant of God without giving much detail other than the fact of punishment itself.
Later I was to read J.D. Faust’s book, The Rod: Will God Spare it? that chronicled more details surrounding the Judgment Seat of Christ. More of my writings began to explore the judgment of Christians, but as yet I had not decided what my convictions were regarding this doctrine of Christians being rejected for inheriting the kingdom. What are the ramifications of this doctrine? How does it affect one’s salvation? If a Christian is punished forever based on his works (which I don’t believe), then doesn’t that imply that salvation depends on works? This contradicts Rom. 4:5, which tells us that we are justified by faith apart from works.
After I posted an audio of a sermon I preached in J. D. Faust’s church in 2008, a man began posting questions on this blog challenging the idea that Christians will be punished temporarily during the Millennial Kingdom period. The audio did not actually address the topic. He raised it because I appeared in Faust’s church (to preach on why people do not get ready for Christ’s coming), so he thought I had Faust’s same deeply felt convictions. Nevertheless, I welcomed his comments because they helped me explore the subject more deeply.
Will Christians be punished temporarily, or forever? Read the comments and draw your own conclusions.
