In all of these passages, Paul was picturing the believer as a competitor in a spiritual contest. How do we know who falls into the category of swine, those incapable of appreciating the truth, if we do not make certain judgments? A God of faithfulness and without injustice. If God were to punish the believer judicially for his sins for which Christ has already rendered payment, He would be requiring two payments for sin and would therefore be unjust. He did not whip the losers.3 We might add, neither did he sentence them to hard labor. Is it only for rewards or their loss? It is called great because of the awesome intensity and the degree of its importance. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day, And Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind., Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.. 1 Cor. Before God, we all stand naked, helpless, and hopeless in ourselves. For the non-Christian, the one who has never trusted in the person and work of Jesus Christ, it should cause him to want to search out the truth regarding Jesus Christ, to embrace Him in faith as the Savior from his sin and eternal doom. Correct me, O Lord, but with justice;Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing. As the loving Father that He is, God must break out the board of discipline in His loving commitment to bring us back to Himself. Deeds is the Greek word, ergon, which refers to anything that is done, a deed, action, or work. It is used of good deeds (Matt. After discussing the immoral man, the moral man, and the religious man in Romans 1:18-3:8, the Apostle Paul declares that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, that there is none righteous, not even one, and all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. (1) Loss of Fellowship With the Lord. (4) Our Spiritual Gifts. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. 3:23; Hab. 14 If any mans work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. Some people are troubled by the doctrine of rewards because this seems to suggest merit instead of grace, and because, it is pointed out, we should only serve the Lord out of love and for Gods glory. This was the royal crown, the crown of a king. While the Bema is going on in heaven (with the church in the Lords presence) a series of terrible judgments will begin to unfold on the earth for a period of seven years to be culminated by the return and manifestation of Christ to earth as the Great White Horse Rider of Revelation 19. 19:17; 1 Cor. Rom. 7:18, 22, 27. the word - 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 7:15-24), the believers union with Christ in His death provides for divine forgiveness for the fact of the sin nature and for victory over its reigning power. Daily forgiveness of those who are within the family of God is distinguished from judicial and positional forgiveness which was applied forensically to all of a persons sins the moment he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.14 We need to distinguish between fellowship forgiveness and legal or forensic forgiveness that justifies us and gives us a standing before God through Christ. 24:4-26). (2) The believer who fails to abide experiences shame by the revelatory nature of Christs presence at the Bema. It is significant that among the final words of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, we find these words of the Lord: Rev. These verses show we cannot come into judgment. 2:2 the ruler of the kingdom of the air, NIV [air is the Greek, aer, the atmospheric heavens]). The moral man, the religious man, and the immoral and non-religious are all in the same boatthey all fall short of the glory of God (Gods perfect righteousness). Known sin in ones life causes a loss of intimate fellowship with the Lord with the consequent loss of His joy and peace (Ps. The Christian will not face the final judgment because Christ was judged for us, but all believers will face a judgment called the Judgment Seat of Christ, the nature of which will be covered in the material to follow. This would mean that the finest of Christians could be sorrowful throughout eternity. See also Colossians 2:10-13; Galatians 2:20; and Romans 8:1-2. 2 Tim. There were also divisions and factions and the focus on personalities rather than the Savior. If you prayed this prayer and truly trusted in the person of Jesus Christ and His death for your sin, then you have been born anew into the family of God. Specifically, this is the dead of the second resurrection, the resurrection of the unjust, the resurrection unto the second death mentioned in Revelation 20:5-6, 12-14, and John 5:29b. Bring to light is photizo, to bring to light, make visible. Disclose is phaneroo, to manifest, reveal. The issue should be extremely clear from these two verses: The Lord will evaluate the quality and nature of every persons work. 3 Samuel Hoyt, The Judgment Seat of Christ in Theological Perspective, Part 1, Bibliotheca Sacra, January-March, 1980, electronic media. 14 If any mans work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge lest you be judged. We should not think of discipline as punishment. 20:10). This judgment proves them sinners and in need of the righteousness which God freely gives through faith in Jesus Christ. We may rule over galaxies, celestial bodies, the heavens, and definitely over angels, and the world (cf. 12 Zane Hodges, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Autumn, 1991, p. 7. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Titus 3:5-7: He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 4:4-6, 22). And not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (presence). Please note several things here. Further, the words awake or asleep of verse 10 refer to a spiritual or moral condition, not whether one is alive or dead when Christ returns as in 4:13-14. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. The only exception is the person of Jesus Christ who, through the virgin birth, escaped the sin problem that is normally passed down from generation to generation. When God put Adam and Eve in the garden, He furnished them with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food (Gen. 2:9). (Rom 14:10 & 2 Cor 5:10) 2) White Throne Judgment = non-believers only. 3:9-10, 23). 6:8; 2 Tim. In view of his use of crown (stephanos, the victors wreath) in other places, and the fact believers will cast their crowns before the Lord (Rev. The negative effects involve the following: (1) The loss suffered in 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the loss of rewards, not salvation as the verse goes on to make clear. The Bible describes one judgment that takes place at the return of Jesus and two judgments that people will face after death. 3:24; 5:15-17; 6:23; Eph. It is the word used of the crowns promised to believers for faithfulness in the Christian life. Compare the following passages: 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Why? They insist that the tribulation is not the judgment of God, but comes from man and Satan bringing persecution to all. 24:21), and it will be culminated by the personal return of Jesus Christ to earth (Matt. The rebels of unbelief must be removed so that only believing Israel will enter into the kingdom (cf. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 5:2). (Emphasis mine.). This will be followed by their examination before the Judgment Seat of Christ. 6:10-12; 1 Pet. The believer is seen by the Father as clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 4:8; Rev. Generally speaking, the principle is stated in Matthew 7:1-5. (1) The Crown of Thorns (Matt. Knowing and having the hope of the resurrection and all that this means to the Christian, the Apostle spoke of his commitment to maintain a clear conscience, one cleared by confession and the forsaking of all known sin (1 John 1:9; Prov. Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? (13) It is a time of global and universal war, human and angelic (Rev. 1:18-3:9, 23). But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Therefore it should be each believers impelling desire to be well-pleasing to the Lord in all things. (4) Loss of Opportunities. The point is the Great White Throne Judgment does not occur on earth or in heaven as we know it, but somewhere beyond, perhaps in extreme outer space. English strikes a proper balance on this subject. 3:1-13; Tit. The result is the one world system of the Beast as described in Revelation. 1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV / 106 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. Therefore, at the judgment seat of Christ forensic punishment will not be meted out for the believers sins.15. 6-19; Zech. Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. 7 Trumpet Judgments Unnamed Books of Judgment. What we know about rewards is given in terms that are more general than specific. So, it is only fitting that He also judge the old earth and heavens that has been the arena of Satans activity and mans sin and rebellion. (1) Unconfessed sin relates to fellowship in this life, not ones relationship or standing with God. 24). 11:1f; 13:1f; 2 Thess. 32:3-5). The visible return of Jesus Christ (Matt. (4) The Promises to Overcomers. This is what his work deserves. The basis of the judgment is what is found in the two sets of booksthe books which are opened, and the other book, the Book of Life (Rev. Carnal believers have no vision other than their own personal agendas and selfish goals (cf. This event will occur immediately following the rapture or resurrection of the church after it is caught up to be with the Lord in the air as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Crowns are given as rewards for faithfulness to appropriate Gods grace and Christs victory in the Christian life. 3:13-15 each mans work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each mans work. (3) In 2 Timothy 4:8 and 1 Corinthians 4:5, rewards are associated with that day and with the Lords coming. 3:14-15). Hebrews 10:17-18 And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. 20:5-6). 1 James M. Stifler, The Epistle To The Romans, Moody Press, Chicago, 1960, p. 31. In this passage and in Malachi 3:2-3, 5, and Ezekiel 20:37-38, the individuals works will be brought into judgment, but not because they are saved by their works, but because their works demonstrate they are rebels who have failed to trust in Jesus. The judgment of God is also described in the Bible as a process, not strictly the rendering of a verdict or passing of a sentence. For example, Peter tells us that "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God" ( 1 Peter 4:17 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 9:24-25). 24:41). When they enjoyed each other and the fruit trees and blessings of the garden, they acted in their self-interest but they did so in dependence on and in obedience to the Lord. Joy will indeed be the predominant emotion of life with the Lord; but I suspect that, when our works are made manifest at the tribunal, some grief will be mixed with the joy, and we shall know shame as we suffer loss. Undoubtedly then, one book is the book of works which contains a record of every persons deeds as a witness of the true nature of their spiritual condition. Revelation 7:14 shows us that salvation in the Tribulation (as in the church age) is through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. 19:8 with Dan. How many times was Jesus mentioned in the Bible? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; Romans 5:12-15 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned 13 for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. 15:24-26). Because Scripture declares all men to be sinful. But (2) Scripture also uses it of a very special and future time of tribulation that is to come upon the whole earth (Matt. 24:9, 21, 29; Mark 13:19, 24; Rev. Her blessedness is extolled by Elizabeth (Lk 1:45). The order is: At the end of the Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will return personally to earth (Zech. 1 Cor. The purpose and the basis is the most critical issue of all and brings us face to face with the practical aspects of the Bema. 5:16f). Isaiah 44:22 I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, And your sins like a heavy mist. (6) It is a day of extreme deception and delusion (2 Thess. Note that these two things go together. Reasons for this will be set forth and developed as we study the nature, purpose, and basis for the Bema. They were assembling themselves with other believers and partaking of the Lords supper, but they were out of fellowship with the Lord and were controlled by the sinful nature, the flesh, rather than by the Holy Spirit. Her single-mindedness is seen in the events which relate her to her son Jesus on almost every occasion in which she is mentioned in the New Gods wrath against mans sin and rebellion will be withheld no longer. In Revelation 4:2 John beheld a throne set in heaven from which the Tribulation judgments proceeded. As the victorious Grecian athlete appeared before the Bema to receive his perishable award, so the Christian will appear before Christs Bema to receive his imperishable award. The judgment of the antediluvian world (Genesis 7:1724). 2-3). It is called a throne because here the Lord Jesus Christ will sit in absolute majesty and sovereign authority to consign a Christ-rejecting world to the eternal Lake of Fire. The word "judgment" is The Tribulation will witness Satans wrath and the persecutions of his man, the Beast (Rev. If It Is During The Millennium How Will There Not Be Pain And Tears When The Devil Is Released To Deceive The Nations? 1:15). Added to this are the declarations of the following verses of Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 22:3; 21:4; Isa. (c) There are two views: (1) The believer who fails to abide is made to feel shame by the Lord, i.e., the Lord puts him to shame. We are not to judge others in the sense of condemning them or passing judgment on the opinions of others on doubtful matters as discussed in Romans 14. But Jesus said to him, No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.. This crown is a reward promised to Elders for faithfulness in the discharge of their responsibilities in shepherding the people. The instinct to preserve our lives is the same. Ungodliness is always the source of unrighteousness; ungodliness (turning away from God) leads to idolatry (man worshipping the products of his own mind and hands), and idolatry leads to unchained sensuality. Actually an evaluation is going on every day by the Lord (cf. Emotion proceeds from the realization of facts in personal experience. According to Romans 1:18-32, when men turn away from the knowledge of God revealed so vividly in creation, God, as an expression of His holy wrath, turns men over to their own devices and foolish imaginations. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. The number forty symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. The goal, however, is always to bring us back to Him (Heb. In the King James version. Two things: (a) This describes all the crowns. But those who are not killed by these judgments will be gathered, judged, and the rebels removed with only believers going into the millennial kingdom. Speaks of Christs work on the cross and stands for His victory over sin, Satan, and death. 14:7, 10; 19:2). 12:15b). But when men reject the knowledge of God and His plan of salvation, they in essence determine to stand on their own merit, or in their own righteousness. But even this will be Gods judgment and the expression of His wrath. The deeds of the unbeliever are only examined to show that the person, no matter how much good they have done, falls short of Gods holy demands. The awesome fact is that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. 0. Because Christ has born our judgment by being made a curse in our place: Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So Christians need to examine their hearts and actions for sin according to the Scripture and then judge the sin they find as sin and confess it to the Lord. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. The verb used is komizo and means to carry off safe, to carry off as booty. In the middle voice as here, it meant to bear for oneself,16 or to receive back what is ones own.17 Compare Matthew 25:27 and Ephesians 6:8. 3:9). 6; 9:15, 18; 11:13). All sinful deeds, thoughts, and motives, as well as all good deeds done in the energy of the flesh will be consumed like wood, hay, and stubble before a fire because they are unworthy of reward. This is his term of endearment for his readers as born again people. Rather, it is a place where rewards will be given or lost depending on how one has used his or her life for the Lord. 1:9-16; Gal. The Archangel* Gabriel is mentioned in 1:12; Rev. 8:1, 13-17), they are subject to judgment at the Judgment seat of Christ in relation to their works. Not only did Christ die for our sin as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), but He died to break the reign of sin in the lives of those who put their trust in Him as their Savior. Similarly, Paul tells rich people that God gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim. 4:1). For those ideas Paul would have most likely used kalos, good, and kakos, evil. For good works, those valuable like good fruit, we will receive back rewards, but for bad works, those rotten and worthless, we will receive no rewards or the loss of rewards. 12:11). In the King James version. It is the purpose of this study to cover all the major judgments (past, present, and future) that we find in Scripture to help resolve this confusion. 2:4; Jude 6; 1 Cor. In other words, they are destroyed, dissolved (2 Pet. This is seen in those passages where a reward is administered in the form of something like well done thou good and faithful servant (cf. 12:1-2; Matt. Eph. 12:6, 8). With the Spirit back in control and the believer in fellowship (in the state of abiding in the Vine) he or she can then produce fruit for which they will receive rewards at the Bema. But these were not the only consequences of failing to judge sin in their lives. According to the King James Bible, hell is mentioned over 100 timesbut that 22:12).4. This passage teaches: (a) that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ, and (b) that the way to possess eternal life is to possess Gods Son. But the point of Scripture is that even this is a part of Gods judgment upon a world that has sought its answers apart from the true God. All the graduates are there and excited about graduating, yet at the time of rewards, some sorrow might be experienced, but it is quickly overcome by the joy of the event. 32:3-4). and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 9-11). However, at such an event the overwhelming emotion is joy, not remorse. (3) A time of trouble or distress (Daniel 12:1). 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. We will each be enthralled with God and our glorified state. The believer will forfeit rewards which he could have received, but he will not be punished in the judicial sense of paying for his sins. Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights receiving Gods laws. 2:8), but a reward for enduring trials and overcoming temptation. IV: Ecclesiology-Eschatology, Dallas Seminary Press, Dallas, TX, 1948, p. 406. This always results in moral devolution and degeneration. 24:14). For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 24:31; Ezek. So that points us to the purpose, the return of the Savior and what it will mean. The Book of Life contains the names of believers, those justified by faith and who have a righteousness from God imputed to their account. 5:8). The context suggests that Paul has in mind the return of Christ for the churchthe rapture (1 Thess. Revelation 21 Seems To Be After The Millennium Where It Says There Will Be No Pain Or Tears. 2:5). 4:16); (3) the resurrection of tribulation period saints (Rev. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? They were showing favoritism and hurting other believers rather than showing love and concern as it should be among believers in Christ. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.. When He appears. The when points to the imminency of the return of the Lord. What are they and how are they described in Scripture? While salvation is a gift, there are rewards given for faithfulness in the Christian life and loss of rewards for unfaithfulness. And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. 2:7; 2:11, 17, 26. At the Great White Throne Judgment the Book of Life is produced to show that the participants name was not found written in the Book of Life because of their rejection of Jesus Christ. While people are saying peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come as birth pains upon a woman in travail. When Jesus returns, there will be a judgment dividing sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46) At this judgment those who survived the Tribulation will be separated into two groups. The judge is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:22-23, 27). 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. If you would like to receive and trust Christ as your personal Savior, you may want to express your faith in Christ by the following prayer: Dear God, I know Im a sinner and that nothing I do can gain heaven or eternal life. (NIV). Unfortunately, this condition had continued because some of these believers had failed to examine their hearts and judge their sin by honest confession followed by a commitment to deal with it in the power of the Spirit (11:28, 31). Undoubtedly, then, the Scripture will be used to demonstrate the clearness of the plan of God and that man is without excuse. The sea and death (i.e., the ground) contain the bodies and Hades contains the souls. The Bible declares, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God. In other words, our sin separates us from God who is perfect holiness (righteousness and justice) and who must therefore judge sinful man (Rom. A common misconception which arises from this English translation is that God will mete out a just retribution for sins in the believers life, and some measure of retributive punishment for sins will result.7.
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