A SHORT SERMON by N. Orcutt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 15, 1877

A SHORT SERMON.

By N. Orcutt

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” Isa. 3:10, 11.

We inquire, 1st, Does the final result depend upon our life—our “doings”?

“For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.” Job 34:11. “Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jer. 32:19. “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Cor. 3:8. “Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile; for there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom. 2:6-11. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.” Gal. 6:7, 8.

2d. When fulfilled?

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16:27. “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. “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, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints.” 2 Thess. 1:6-10. “Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12.

3d. Where fulfilled?

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37:11. (See also Ps. 37:9, 22, 29, 34.) “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Rev. 20:9. “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Prov. 11:31.

4th. How shall we estimate the opinions of men?

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.

N. ORCUTT.