Pastor Terrie Beede's "Studies in Theology" series, grounded in the anchor text of 1 Timothy 4:16, continued with The Final State of Man Part 3: The Final State of the Redeemed. This session was among the last two in the systematic theology study, with the subsequent session planned to cover the return of Christ, bringing the series to its conclusion. Beede emphasized that Christian doctrine is not "dry and cold" but "affects us where we live".
The session built upon previous discussions on the final judgment of man, which included the judgment of unbelievers. This involved every deed being considered, every heart revealed, punishment according to works (with varying degrees), the believer's role in the judgment, and all unbelievers being "without excuse" before God. The purpose of this final judgment is to display "the declarative glory of God" (magnifying His holiness, righteousness, grace, and mercy) with "complete" and "eternal" justice administered by Jesus Christ Himself. The previous session also covered the doctrine of hell, described as an "everlasting place of punishment," "never-ending burning, a place of never-ending torment and punishment" symbolized by the Valley of Hinnom.
In this session, the focus shifted to the final state of the redeemed, specifically the judgment of believers, which is distinctly different from that of unbelievers. This judgment is emphatically "not for condemnation" nor is it for "humiliation". The Word of God assures that transgressions have been "removed from us" "so far as the east from the west".
While believers' "rewards are also going to be according to their works," the speaker stressed that ultimately, "it's not really going to matter much for anybody" in terms of comparative rewards. The focus will be on the overwhelming joy of salvation itself. Believers "will be blessedly happy just to be there" and "will be casting down our crowns before the Lord Jesus Christ". The central and "greatest reward" for the redeemed is the "presence of Jesus Christ".
The session also briefly reiterated that believers would participate in the "judgment of angels". This installment provided a hopeful conclusion to the doctrine of man, setting the stage for the final study on the glorious return of Jesus Christ.