“God renders to every one according to their deeds.” is by far the most often-stated truth in Scripture. That realization is what led me to write these following articles. Part 2 is an extensive list of passages from 63 of the 66* books in which it is stated in one way or another. Despite its length, it won’t be exhaustive. I felt it was important to list so many passages because of how often the Lord had these pronouncements recorded.
It appears obvious that it’s due to how serious this matter is for us all, especially about Judgment Day when we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ “that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” My commentary on this topic will follow in separate parts.
God rarely uses parables, figures of speech or types to testify of his judgments, but rather, he states them plainly. They are so numerous that no Bible version down to the loosest paraphrase could hide the theme. Even versions deliberately altered from the original texts could not do so without making the Bible unrecognizable.
Some passages are about God rendering to man during this earthly life, or are about those which will be rendered at the Final Judgment. Some could refer to either.
The theme uses such words as “give,” “reward,” “repay,” “recompense,” “render,” “judge.” It is even the main point of entire books (e.g, Nahum, Revelation) or chapters (e.g., Deut. 28, Matt. 25) or verses (Isaiah 57:17). Generally they follow the form “Because you have done that, I will do this,” or “If you do this, I will do that.”
Sometimes they are God accusing individuals (e.g., King Saul), communities (e.g., Capernaum) or nations (e.g., Edom), followed by His sentences upon them. At other times, they are God praising someone, followed by His promises to them of reward, (e.g. Abraham, Caleb, the Philadelphia Church).
What might be unsettling is how many more harsh pronouncements there are than favorable ones; but, that does not speak against God’s nature but against man’s. God is pure and holy, man is corrupt; God is impartial, man is partial; God is generous, man is selfish; God is good, man is evil. Considering then what people are like, is it any wonder why God’s pronouncements about him are so often harsh?
It is my hope, should God grant, that seeing these passages listed together will impress the matter seriously upon the reader’s mind. Therefore, let’s let these words speak for themselves. As James 1:21 says, “Humbly receive the engrafted word which is able to save your souls.”
(* Song of Solomon, Titus and Philemon are not quoted from.)
Walking The Ancient Paths 