And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3.23, 24

1 Clement 28
Clement of Rome (fl. ca. 90-100 AD)

“Since then all things are seen and heard [by God], let us fear Him, and forsake those wicked works which proceed from evil desires; so that, through His mercy, we may be protected from the judgments to come. For whither can any of us flee from His mighty hand? Or what world will receive any of those who run away from Him? For the Scripture saith in a certain place, ‘Whither shall I go, and where shall I be hid from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away even to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss, there is Thy Spirit.’ Whither, then, shall any one go, or where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things?”

For several chapters leading up to this one Clement has been reminding the Corinthians of the hope of resurrection and the threat of judgment. We are always preparing for that great day, whether we are aware of it or not. We must strain forward in holiness, proving that we await the resurrection to life. Otherwise, we will languish in disobedience, and fall under the judgment of the Lord. His counsel takes on an eschatological cast as he exhorts the churches in Corinth to keep the long view in mind, and to work out their differences as unto the Lord. He sees all and will reward the humble and those who cling to His Word.

How does eschatology factor into training for discipleship? Meditate on 2 Peter 3, and then consider the role that the coming of judgment, resurrection, and the new heavens and new earth should have in encouraging people to walk with Jesus. How might this become more a part of your own ministry?

T. M. Moore

Introduction to Christian Worldview
We’re pleased to offer our course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, at The Ailbe Seminary. There’s no charge, and all the course materials are free. In 12 diagrams you will gain a perspective and overall grasp of the 1 worldview that can change the world. Click here to register.

The Writing Pastor
Have you ever thought you might like to learn how to use writing in your ministry? Our course, The Writing Pastor, can set you on a course of developing a ministry of writing to deepen and extend your ministry in the Lord. We currently have three slots available for this course, which lasts around four months, meeting every other week. I teach this individually to help you discover your interests and develop your skills. The course is free, but there is a charge for the workbook. For more information, write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.