1) The document discusses understanding God as our creator, loving father, and righteous judge. It talks about God creating the world, calling believers his children, and judging all people's deeds. 2) It emphasizes running the spiritual race and preparing for judgment by putting faith in Jesus. When Christ returns, he will resurrect believers to eternal life and unbelievers to damnation. 3) The righteous judge, Jesus, will evaluate each person's deeds and reward believers who love his return with the gift of eternal life.

1. Understanding God- Our Righteous Judge Laindon Special Bible Presentation 11th May 2011

2. TODAY: Understanding God – Our Righteous Judge Our ‘Understanding God’ Series Understanding God 2

3. Understanding God Our Creator Our Loving Father Our Righteous Judge Understanding God 3

4. Our creator “And the earth was without form [tohuw: purposeless], and void [bohuw: empty]; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1 v 2) “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [tohuw: purposeless], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45 v 18) “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4 v 11) Understanding God 4

5. Our Loving Father “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27) “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Understanding God 5

6. Our Righteous Judge Understanding God 6

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8. God is on Our Side “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9) Understanding God 8

9. …but there is a race to be won “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) Understanding God 9

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15. The gift of God “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8) Understanding God 15

16. An incomparable gift “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:3-5 Understanding God 16

17. Running the race… “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 Understanding God 17

18. Meeting our Righteous Judge (1) “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:26-29) Understanding God 18

19. Meeting our Righteous Judge (2) “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) “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27) Understanding God 19

20. Now is the time to run the race, preparing for the return of Jesus, so that when he does return he may recognise us as his true brothers and sisters and give us the gift of eternal life… Understanding God 20

21. Paul wrote to Timothy Understanding God 21 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:4)