Eric Bechler's sermon on 'Of the Last Judgement, 1689 SLBC Chapter 32, Par.3' emphasizes the certainty of a future Day of Judgment where Jesus Christ will judge all beings based on their thoughts, words, and deeds. The sermon outlines two main purposes for this knowledge: to deter people from sin and to provide consolation to the godly amidst adversity. Scriptural references from 2 Corinthians, Acts, Ecclesiastes, Matthew, and others are used to highlight the accountability that will be demanded of every individual. The sermon also discusses the importance of not knowing the exact timing of this day, encouraging Christians to live vigilant and godly lives. It warns against 'carnal security'—a complacency that can arise from misplaced self-confidence—and urges believers to trust in God, remain watchful, and prepare for Christ's return. The sermon concludes by advising introspection on personal actions and thoughts, ensuring they align with Christian values and the anticipation of the Lord's coming.

So regarding this chapter, chapter 32, the first paragraph we read a couple weeks ago stressed that there will be a day of judgment wherein Jesus Christ will judge the apostate angels in all humankind according to their thoughts, words, and deeds. In the second paragraph, the glorification of God and his mercy and justice was stressed, leading to two directions, eternal life and eternal torments. Finally, in this paragraph that we'll discuss today, the emphasis is on our being persuaded that this is true so that we might alter how we live so that we might live with a watchful eye and expectant heart. So let's jump in. In the first section of this paragraph, as Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment.

As with everything, our approach should be what say at the Scriptures. Well, the Scripture emphasizes this in a number of passages and we'll go ahead and read through some of them and some of them that we've just read. Second Corinthians 5, 10, and 11, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your conscience.

From Acts 17-31, because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, and that he hath raised him from the dead. From Ecclesiastes 12-14, for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, whether it be evil. And also from Matthew 12 36 and 37, but I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in a day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Thus we see clearly that a day of judgment is coming, a day of judgment where we will be held accountable for every thought, word, and deed.

What is the purpose of this? Why should Christ tell us of a judgment day and why should he persuade us that such a day is coming? Answers of course in this paragraph in the next part both to deter all men from sin and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity. So we have two answers. God and his great wisdom made it clear that our having the knowledge that there will be coming a day of judgment may act as a wholesome motive that would deter us from sin.

Furthermore, that this knowledge might console the godly in the midst of their adversity. The thought of a day of judgment should deter all men from sin, as there is an appointed day in which we will give an account for thoughts and actions. As Christians, we should not fear the day of judgment. From 1 John 4.17, herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is so are we in this world. But if we keep in mind that there is a day of judgment perhaps our actions and our thoughts would be focused more on obedience of God's commands and his will.

From 2nd Peter 3 11, seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. From 2 Peter 3, 14, wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Second of those two answers, for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, to know that God stands with us, cares for us, and watches over us, and will punish our enemies for what they have done to us. It is helpful to know that on the day of judgment, God will judge the good and the evil. It can help us endure and accept sufferings at the hands of the wicked.

Justice will be served. From 2 Thessalonians 1, 6 through 7, seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. God commanded us on how to behave in times of adversity in a lot of places I'll pick out two of them here. One from Leviticus 19, 18. Do not seek revenge or bear grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the Lord. And from Romans 12, 14 through 21. Bless them which persecute you. Bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Be of the same mind, one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceit. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourself, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt keep coals of fire on his head.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. And yet it is comfort to know through all of that that justice will be served, that our enemies will be judged. Deuteronomy 32, 35, again, vengeance is mine and rank compends for the time when their foot shall slip for the day of their calamity is at hand and their doom comes swiftly. So in the next phrase we have, so will he have the day unknown to men. So why would God hide the timing of the day of judgment?

From Matthew 24, 36, but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my father only. Not knowing at what hour the Lord will return can help us be ever vigilant and constantly be preparing for his coming. Not knowing of what hour the Lord will return will also prevent the wicked from being prepared as well. From Luke 12 39, In this know that if the good men of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Continuing that they may shake off all carnal security and be always watchful because they know not at what hour the Lord will come and may ever be prepared to say come Lord Jesus come quickly amen.

Shake off all carnal security. What's this? What is that? I found a sermon by Charles Spurgeon that is titled, The Danger of Carnal Security. It's very interesting, very good.

It's from Judges 18-7 and 27-28. In this sermon, he describes the conditions of carnal security for Christians and for the unsaved. I won't go into all the details. If you're interested, you can look up the sermon and read through it. It's quite interesting.

It's really good. But I wanted to present some of the illustrations he uses for being carnally secured. First for the Christian. Here is a man who is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. In times long gone by, he struggled hard to get his feet upon the rock of ages.

But at last he obtained a firm footing and there he stood in blessed security. For some time, perhaps even for years, he has been free from all doubts and fears and also free from all internal struggles and conflicts. He almost thinks that the devil is dead or if not that the devil in him is dead. That sin has become so broken and bruised in his nature that it will never rise again or cause him trouble. He rejoices and continues to rejoice but it may be that in the course of time the dry rot of self-satisfaction begins to show itself.

The man would not say with the Pharisee that he thanks God he is not his other men, but there is something of that sort of feeling within his heart. He entered into full assurance of faith at the first, but that full assurance has begun to rust into confidence in self. And now, no longer emptied from vessel to vessel, his sin remaineth in him. No longer tossed upon the waves, he makes little or no progress towards the heavenly haven. His ships keel upon the ocean is still amidst a calm, and the fear is that the calm will grow into stagnation and the stagnation into corruption.

For the unsaved he lists a number of qualities for carnal security. That is the way with the carnally secure. They are careless as long as they can enjoy the present. They're quite indifferent to all thoughts of the future. They are quite secure as to the future.

A funeral perhaps startles them for a moment. The passing bell has a strange tone into their ears, but for the most part, they put away all thoughts of death. They're young, they're robust, they will not die soon. Wherefore should they even think of it? They experience a great quietness from all trial.

It is not so with many of you, for you are sore vexed with troubles, sickness, poverty, or bereavement. You seem to always be afflicted and you may always thank God if you are. It is evident that He has not given you up and left you to sleep yourselves to destruction. They are free from all restraint. They are self-contained.

They had no business with any man. There are some persons who are all the more hard to get at because they do not want to be interfered with. And they have no want of anything they had all their heart could wish. All of these qualities lead one to trust in one's own self. This can only lead to a terrible eternal outcome.

Thus knowing that there is an appointed day of judgment at some point in the future unknown to us, that we might shake off all carnal security, that we cannot trust in ourselves, but we must turn our eyes to Jesus and trust in the Lord. From Proverbs 3, 5, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. The other part of this is be always watchful from Mark 13, 32 through 37, but of that day and that hour knoweth no man, know not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch, and pray, for ye know not when the time is, for the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore for you know not when the master of the house cometh at even or at midnight or at the cock crowing or in the morning.

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping and what I say unto you I say unto all watch from Luke 12 35 through 40 let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meet and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know that if the good men of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when you think not." As Christians, we must live our lives being fully persuaded that the Day of Judgment is scheduled. It's on God's calendar. We don't know when, but we know it's certain. And from this we should be incited to perform our duties as Christians, to strive for holiness, to be comforted in sorrows. We should love, we should watch, we should wait for and hasten unto the coming of our Lord.

From Revelation 22 verse 20, he which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly, amen. Even so come Lord Jesus. So I would ask you to take some time this week to examine your own thoughts and your own actions. Are you living a life in carnal security? Have some of those qualities that Charles Spurgeon described, do you find them in yourself?

Are you trusting in the Lord? Are you repaying evil for evil or are you overcoming evil with good? If you are, shake it off and turn back to God. Be ever watchful, he might come back even tonight.