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Study 13: Results of Accepting or Rejecting
We saw in the last lesson how someone can become a disciple
of . We also looked briefly at the results of becoming
his disciple. In this, the last study of this course, we will
be examining what the fate of those who reject Allah's grace
and mercy will be. We will then finish by seeing what the results
of accepting Allah's mercy are.
Those who refuse Allah's grace will spend eternity in hell
Those who remain stubborn and proud and refuse to accept Allah's
grace face a frightful future according to Scripture. First and
most terrible is the prospect of spending eternity separated
from Allah. According to the ,
He will punish those who do not know Allah and do not obey
the gospel of our Lord Isa. They will be punished with everlasting
destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from
the majesty of his power (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9)
This is a horrible warning for those who reject the good news
of grace through Isa the Messiah.
Instead of spending eternity in Allah's presence, the disbelieve
her will spend eternity in hell in the company of Satan and his
workers. According to the ,
And Iblis, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake
of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had
been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the
sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters
and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning
sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:10; 21:8)
Hell is further described in the 's follows,
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for
you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,
where the fire never goes out. (Mark 9:43)
Indeed the sheer horror and terrible nature of hell cannot
be fully understood by anyone. Only those who actually go there
will never understand. But then it will be too late. There will
be no opportunity to repent. Once the judgment of Allah is pronounced,
the door for repentance and faith will be shut forever. Those
who reject Allah's mercy and grace while on earth will get no
second chance. We have look enough that the horrors of hell.
Let us spend some time examining what Scripture has to say about
those who in humility and faith except the grace of Allah.
Those who accept Allah's grace receive salvation and eternal
life
We have already seen in the last lesson that Allah promises
eternal life and salvation to those who accept his mercy offered
through Isa. The believer becomes a partaker in the blessing
of . Through the death of Isa on the cross, the believer's
sins are wiped away and in Allah's sight it is as if they had
never been. They can no longer bring any punishment or condemnation
from Allah. It is written,
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are
in Masih Isa (Romans 8:1)
By Allah's grace we have peace with Allah
Because our sins are forgiven through Isa, we no longer have
to live in fear of punishment. We can for the first time experience
peace with Allah, and security. As it is written,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with Allah through our Lord (Romans 5:1)
By Allah's grace we become children of Allah
We have already seen how through the grace of Allah in Isa,
we can become children of Allah. As children of Allah we have
the assurance of spending eternity in the presence of Allah in
heaven. We have the confidence that Isa himself will come back
to earth and personally take us, his disciples, to heaven to
spend eternity in Allah's presence. Heaven itself is described
as follows in the ,
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now
the dwelling of Allah is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and Allah himself will be with them
and be their Allah. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for
the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3,
4)
All the evil brought into the world by man's sin will be gone.
There will be only perfection and beauty. As children of Allah
we have the further assurance from Allah that we will inherit
all things.
The privileges and joys of those in heaven
In heaven we will be given new, incorruptible bodies. It is
recorded,
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we
will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will
be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable
must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
On the day of Isa's return to earth those who are his disciples,
will receive new imperishable bodies from Allah. Our new body
will be clothed in white robes given by Allah himself. Isa's
words are recorded in the as follows,
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will
never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge
his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
We will wear a crown:
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and
not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8)
All those who look forward to the return of Isa with joy will
be given a crown when he comes again. We will even receive a
new name from Allah,
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your
glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the
LORD will bestow. ( 62:2)
Those who by faith overcome will be given the privilege not
only of spending eternity in heaven but will be able to sit with
Isa on his throne at the right hand of Allah. As it is written,
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me
on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father
on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
Because no evil or sinful thing can enter heaven, Allah will
transform and purify us before we enter heaven. As we come into
his presence we will suddenly be purified of all that is evil
and wicked and become holy and pure like Allah. It is written,
Dear friends, now we are children of Allah, and what we will
be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,
we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John
3:2)
Finally, we have seen how Adam and ate the fruit of the
garden and sinned. It is recorded in the that there was
another special tree in paradise called the tree of life. After
man sinned, Allah drove man out of paradise. Men no longer have
the possibility of eating the fruit of the tree of life. However,
in heaven we will again have access to the tree of life, and
death will be no more. It is written,
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat
from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of Allah. (Revelation
2:7)
This then, is a quick summary of what is written in Allah's
word concerning two groups of men. Out of pride and rebellion,
one group rejects Allah's offer of grace. In humility and faith,
the other group repents of their sins and accepts Allah's offer
of salvation through Isa. Which group are you in?
The end
QUESTIONS:
1. It is recorded in Allah's word that the one rejecting Allah's
grace through Isa,
A. Will spend eternity in hell.
B. Will spend some time in hell.
C. Will spend no time in hell.
2. In hell one's company will be
A.
Allah and his angels
B.
Other men of faith
C. Satan, his workers, and men of
disbelief
3. The one who is condemned to hell,
A. Will spend eternity separated from Allah.
B. Will spend some time in Allah's presence.
C. Will spend eternity in Allah's
presence.
4. Which statement about hell in the word of Allah is most
horrible to you?
5. The one who accepts the forgiveness of sins available through
Isa,
A. Must not sin any longer.
B.
Is forgiven all his sins.
C. Is forgiven some of his sins.
6. In heaven will there be death, pain, or sorrow anymore?
A. Yes
B.
No
7. Give two things that the believer in Isa, as a child of
Allah, will receive from Allah.
1.
2.
8. Because no sinful or evil thing can enter heaven, what
will happen to the believer in Isa before entering heaven?
9. To you, what is the most appealing thing the believer in
Isa receives from Allah?
10. Please explain briefly what has most helped you from this
course.
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