GRACE UNVEILED, #34 “Why Suffering Isn’t Wasted” | Jim Hammond
Recap
Pastor Jim continued with his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Grace Unveiled.” In this 34th installment entitled, “Why Suffering Isn’t Wasted,” Pastor Jim said he wanted to revisit Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (KJV). He explained, “I realized that this scripture is much deeper than how I explained it. So I feel it’s very important to go through it again.” We found out what it means to “suffer with Him.”
Dive Deeper
In the last installment to our “Grace Unveiled” teaching series on Romans, we ended on Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (KJV).
Pastor Jim stated, “I realized that this scripture is much deeper than the way I explained it. So I feel it’s very important to go through it again.”
The key words in this verse are “If so be…” “…if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (KJV).
If you believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again and asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, you’re a child of God. Therefore, you are a joint heir.
Joint heir of what?
This is how the Amplified translates it: “If we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering.”
“Only we must share His suffering”—sharing His suffering sounds like a condition.
Pastor Jim said, “I don’t have the capacity to completely understand this statement of being joint heirs with Christ and what it all means, because Jesus Christ inherited the universe. Which at this moment, is still expanding, still growing, still being created.”
It says, “If so be that you suffer with Him, that you may also be glorified together.” If so be…
Pastor Jim said, “I’m going to convince you that the glorification happens in this life—not just in heaven. I think it’s going to surprise you, because no one’s really looking for that in the middle of their suffering.”
“The joint heirs of Christ”: Many scholars believe this is a conditional statement because it says, “if so be” that you suffer with Christ.
Pastor Jim said, “I know that I’ve said all that you need to receive your inheritance is a death. I’ve said that many times. What do you do for an inheritance? Nothing. Someone dies. And there are things that we all get the second we ask Him to be our Lord and Savior. They’re automatic. But I’m just here to tell you, not everybody is going to get the same thing in heaven.”
It will be great in heaven. There will be no tears. It’s eternal paradise.
However, heaven is not socialism or communism. It’s not like there’s the 2% of elites and 90% of everybody else gets the same thing. That’s not heaven.
People don’t understand that. After the rapture and after the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, there will be something called “the judgment seat of Christ.” There is not a more misunderstood subject in the New Testament.
The Greek word for “judgment seat” is called “bema.” Our judgment seat is called “bema.”
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the Greeks had the Olympic games. They had something called the “bema” podium or stage. After the games, they came up to the bema stage to receive their rewards. That stage is the Greek word for judgment seat. It has nothing to do with bringing up your past. That is unscriptural.
Yes, there will be a great white throne of judgment at the very end. Believers will not be involved in that. It will be for non-Christians.
Pastor Jim shared how someone back in 2006, 2007 had a tape series and book on the judgment seat of Christ. The author believed that every individual would be judged. People had to sit and watch a video of their lives being played out for all to see, even all the things that no one knew about. If the judgment was too bad, the people would go into a cage and then get shot out of heaven, straight into hell.
Pastor Jim said, “Can I just tell you, nothing could be more unscriptural than that ridiculousness. I pray he’s still not selling that series, because it’s wrong!”
What does the Bible say about our sins? Hebrews 8:12 says, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old…” Then in Hebrews 10:17 it says, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” That is our New Testament covenant—He does not remember our sins.
Twice in Hebrews, the Lord says He will not remember our sins. He’s going to have mercy on us.
It doesn’t say, “But… when get up in heaven, I’m going to embarrass you by playing a video about your life in heaven and judge you in front of everyone.”
If God did that, you know what that would make Him? It would make Him a liar.
Does He forget our sins, or not?
Was there a cross He was judged on, or not?
Was He judged for you, or not?
Does the Lord say He views you as being crucified with Christ, or not?
He views us as if we went through the punishments. That’s why the Gospel message is so powerful. He views us as if we did that. We get credit for the cross.
And so at the judgment seat of Christ—the “bema” seat of Christ—certain people will get a lot of rewards and certain people will not.
Read About It
Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Hebrews 8:12–13, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old…”
Hebrews 10:17, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
Discussion Questions
For whom is the Judgment seat of Christ?
What does the Bible say about our sins?
In your understanding, what does “joint heirs with Christ” mean?