My FB friend, by the name Bud D., shared a comment that inspired me to blog this.
Thank you, Bud D.
“Only God can judge me,” says those out there in the world would say. They only say this when their sin is exposed. But there’s coming a day when the Lord will judge the world in righteousness.
But there’s also a judgment day for saints or those that are in Christ.
Let’s examine the difference. I will leave out some Scripture because you that's mature in Christ already know them. But then there's the sequence of judgments that's still a bit difficult to piece together (Matthew 25 and Revelation chapters 5 through 21). So I may get things out of sequence and I will miss some things because of my ignorance. Not because I desire to mislead you, but I have yet to completely study the entire verses of every thing connected to judgment.
However, judgment falls under the doctrine of Christ called “and of eternal judgment.”
Hebrews 6:1-3 (NKJV)
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will (go on to perfection) do if God permits.”
There's two types of eternal judgment.
The judgment for the believers in Christ and the judgment of the unbelievers. They’re two distinct judgments. One is with the reward of the righteous and the other is with the reward of the wicked.
The Father has committed all judgment to the Son. After going through what the Lord Jesus went through on the earth, it's only fitting that He gets to do the judging.
John 5:18-23 (NKJV)
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do;
for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."
The Lord will raise the dead.
John 5:24-30 (NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment,
but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself,
so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Notice what the Lord Jesus said “shall not come into judgment.”
Obviously, this speaks of one of two eternal judgments. When Paul was before Felix we see that Paul mentions judgment.
Acts 24:25 (NKJV)
“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
Paul mentions the judgment for a reason. It’s the one thing that everyone fears. And for good reason. After judgment of the wicked, comes the sentence.
Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Then in Romans 2:2-6 (NKJV)
“But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds…”
What’s the goodness of God?
Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV)
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
To avoid the judgment of God, one must repent of sin and place faith on Christ alone to be born again which is “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Christ died on the cross having become the “Propitiation” or expiatory sacrifice, having paid in full every man’s debt of sin that sinful man himself is unable to repay. To take advantage of this kindness, one must turn from his sins and place faith in Christ alone.
Proof that man cannot repay this debt is the eternal judgment of sinners. No matter how long in the lake of fire he would spend, there will be releasing of a sinner from this place. There's no "purgatory" or "parole." There's no early release for good behavior or an appeals process.
It’s like when a person is sentenced to life in prison for the rest of their natural life. They’re no longer allowed any freedom until they die.
But in hell, there’s no death. It’s pain and torment forever. They’ll never die in hell.
Mark 9:43-46 (NKJV)
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV)
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The Judgment Seat Of Christ is quite different.
The Greek word for "seat" is Bema.
g0968. βῆμα bēma; from the base of 939; a step, i.e. foot-breath;
by implication, a rostrum, i.e. a tribunal: — judgment-seat, set (foot) on, throne.
AV (12) - judgment seat 10, throne 1, to set (one's) foot on + g4128 1;
a step, pace, the space which a foot covers, a foot-breath a raised place mounted by steps a platform, tribune of the official seat of a judge of the judgment seat of Christ. Herod built a structure resembling a throne at Caesarea, from which he viewed the games and made speeches to the people."
Then there's Vine's Expository.....
(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) "....in two passages the word is used of the divine tribunal before which all believers are hereafter to stand.
In Rom. 14:10 it is called “The judgement seat of God,” RV (KJV, “of Christ”), according to the most authentic mss. The same tribunal is called “the judgment seat of Christ,” 2 Cor. 5:10, to whom the Father has given all judgment, John 5:22, 27.
At this bema believers are to be made manifest, that each may “receive the things done in (or through) the body,” according to what he has done, “whether it be good or bad.”
There they will receive rewards for their faithfulness to the Lord. For all that has been contrary in their lives to His will they will suffer loss, 1 Cor. 3:15.
This judgment seat is to be distinguished from the premillennial, earthly throne of Christ, Matt. 25:31, and the postmillennial “Great White Throne,” Rev. 20:11, at which only “the dead” will appear.
The judgment seat of Christ will be a tribunal held “in His Parousia,” i.e., His presence with His saints after His return to receive them to Himself."
Only the righteous in Christ are assembled before Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 (NKJV)
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."
Many will point out that "whether good or bad" and point to sins. There's no question that whatever is bad is sin.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
But what else, in addition to sins, is considered to be "bad?"
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NKJV)
"...take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
When you didn't do what the Lord commanded you to do, and you do something else, this is bad. It's like when the Lord didn't call you or set you in the Body of Christ to do something, but you went ahead and did it anyway.
Your "work" will be loss and there will be no reward issued to you for the work.
But in the end, you will be saved because the work of salvation is a separate work that's done alone by Christ's finished work on the cross. We don't earn salvation by works because salvation is a work of His mercy and grace, through faith that's a gift from God as told to us by Paul in Ephesians 2:8-10.
So if you're looking for a reward, make sure that you and I are doing exactly what He told us to do and don't assume.
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ This is said at many funerals about one that's departed but only the Lord will say this and we have no right to assume that a person has done exactly what they were told.
But Paul said this....
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NKJV)
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
It'll be like when it's your turn to face Christ and you're expecting a reward, and your works go up in smoke.
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