C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER

CAPÍTULO XXXIII
Del Juicio Final

I. Dios ha señalado un día en el cual juzgará al mundo, en justicia, por Jesucristo,[1]     a quien todo poder y juicio es dado por el Padre.[2]     En cuyo día, no sólo los ángeles apóstatas serán juzgados,[3]     pero igualmente todas las personas que han vivido en la tierra comparecerán ante el tribunal de Cristo, para dar cuenta de sus pensamientos, palabras y obras; y recibir según lo que hayan hecho en el cuerpo, sea bueno o sea malo.[4]   

[1]     Hechos 17:31. Porque ha señalado un día, en el cual juzgará al mundo con justicia por aquel varón a quien ha designado; de lo cual ha dado seguridad a todos los hombres, resucitándole de entre los muertos.

[2]     Juan 5:22, 27. Porque el Padre a nadie juzga, sino que todo el juicio dio al Hijo... Y también le ha dado autoridad para ejecutar juicio, por cuanto es el Hijo del hombre.

[3]     1 Corintios 6:3. ¿No sabéis que juzgaremos a los ángeles? ¿cuántas más cosas que pertenecen a esta vida? Judas 6. Y a los ángeles que no guardaron su primer estado, sino que abandonaron su propia habitación, los ha reservado en cadenas eternas en tinieblas hasta el juicio del gran día. 2 Pedro 2:4. Porque si Dios no perdonó a los ángeles que pecaron, sino que arrojándolos al infierno los entregó a prisiones de oscuridad, para ser reservados al juicio.

[4]     2 Corintios 5:10. Porque todos debemos comparecer ante el tribunal de Cristo; para que cada uno reciba las cosas hechas en su cuerpo, según lo que haya hecho, sea bueno o sea malo. Eclesiastés 12:14. Porque Dios traerá toda obra a juicio, con toda cosa encubierta, sea buena o sea mala. Romanos 2:16. En el día en que Dios juzgará los secretos de los hombres por Jesucristo según mi evangelio. Romanos 14:10, 12. Pero ¿por qué juzgas a tu hermano? ¿O por qué menosprecias a tu hermano? porque todos compareceremos ante el tribunal de Cristo... Así que cada uno de nosotros dará cuenta de sí mismo a Dios. Mateo 12:36-37.Mas yo os digo, que de toda palabra ociosa que hablaren los hombres, de ella darán cuenta en el día del juicio. Porque por tus palabras serás justificado, y por tus palabras serás condenado.

II. El fin de la designación de Dios de este día es para la manifestación de la gloria de su misericordia, en la salvación eterna de los elegidos; y de su justicia, en la condenación de los réprobos, que son malos y desobedientes. Porque entonces los justos irán a la vida eterna, y recibirán esa plenitud de gozo y refrigerio que vendrá de la presencia del Señor; pero los impíos que no conocen a Dios, y no obedecen el evangelio de Jesucristo, serán echados a tormentos eternos, y serán castigados con destrucción eterna de la presencia del Señor y de la gloria de su poder.[5]   

[5]     Mateo 25:31-46. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Romans 2:5-6. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Romans 9:22-23. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. Matthew 5:21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Acts 3:19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. 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, and to be admired in all them that believe(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:[6]       so will he have that day unknown to men, 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 be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.[7]      

[6]    2 Peter 3:11, 14. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.... Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11. 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. 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 consciences. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 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. Luke 21:7, 28. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Romans 8:23-25. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

[7]    Matthew 24:36, 42-44. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.... Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Mark 13:35-37. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Luke 12:35-36.Estén ceñidos vuestros lomos y encendidas vuestras lámparas; Y vosotros seréis semejantes a los hombres que esperan a su señor, cuando volverá de las bodas; que cuando viene y llama, le dicen ábrele inmediatamente. Apocalipsis 22:20. El que da testimonio de estas cosas dice: Ciertamente vengo pronto. Amén. Aun así, ven, Señor Jesús.

Finis.


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