Judgment seat of christ3/28/2023 ![]() ![]() The Creator of the vast universe had mind-boggling plans for us, if only we had proven faithful! Loss of honor and privileges and powers and responsibilities we do not yet understand. Sadly, multitudes of foolish, distracted, uncommitted, and underdeveloped saints will escape the fires of hell, but will not escape the fires of God’s examination for eternal rewards. These, Paul said, “will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved.” Then he adds, “yet so as through fire.” Tragically, some will not only lose some of their works, but apparently will lose everything except their soul. Whatever burns up is wood, hay, and stubble. Whatever remains is gold, silver, and precious stones. The picture Paul gives us is God passing over all our works in consuming fire to see what remains afterwards. Now let’s make sure we catch the full significance of God’s emphasis on His process of examination fire on the saints’ judgment day. God Judges Our Works For Rewards By A Fiery Examination Obviously, He can’t tell us about something He has literally forgotten. We also know God gives us details about forgiven sins (i.e., David’s adultery (2 Samuel 11:1-12:1-13), Peter’s hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-14), Nebuchadnezzar’s pride (Daniel 4:28-37) in the Bible. ![]() There’s nothing He doesn’t know (Hebrews 4:13). That forgiven sins are not literally forgotten by God is evident in that God is omniscient. But these sins committed after salvation are evaluated for their effect on eternal rewards. They are not held responsible to pay the eternal penalty of damnation for these sins. They are forgotten only in the same way King David’s adultery with Bathsheba, and Peter’s hypocrisy in Antioch, are forgotten. But as they relate to our eternal rewards, they are not literally forgotten, as it is commonly believed. Yes, on that Day our sins are covered, in the sense that they do not earn us hell. This is a day when the God who separates joint from marrow, soul and spirit, and the thoughts and intents of the heart, will judge the good and bad we’ve done in the body subsequent to salvation (2 Corinthians 5:10). He uses the terms “the Day,” “will declare it,” “revealed by fire,” “the fire will test,” “if it endures,” “if anyone’s work is burned,” “he will suffer loss,” and “through fire.” Quality: What building material is the structure of our works comprised of? Effect: What did our works accomplish? So, Christ will examine our thoughts, words, and deeds for the fruit of the Spirit, and what they accomplished for eternity.īut how thorough and severe will be this examination? Well, Paul describes the process-and not necessarily the Lord’s attitude-as quite severe. There are two areas in which we will be judged. God Judges the Quality and Effect of Our Works 2 Corinthians 5:10ĭespite whatever weaknesses may be addressed at this judgment, the fact that we are at this judgment and not the great white throne judgment means we are saved from God’s wrath, and our “life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).īut saved from God’s wrath is not the same as saved from His examination and eternal repercussions for bad decisions and bad behavior. Here’s another vivid Scripture of this event:įor 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. Paul describes the judgment seat of Christ as the event where Christ judges our works, “of what sort it is,” and not our life, of what sort it is. The maximum loss at the judgment seat of Christ is one’s eternal rewards. The maximum loss at the great white throne judgment is one’s eternal soul. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. And they were judged, each one according to his works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.Īnd another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. ![]() The first thing we notice about the judgment seat of Christ is it differs from the great white throne judgment: Above are some of the primary Scriptures in the epistles used to support this doctrine. ![]()
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