{"id":90758,"date":"2021-03-12T07:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T12:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/"},"modified":"2023-10-07T22:35:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T02:35:38","slug":"christian-judgment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Judgment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">2 Corinthians 5:10: \u201cFor we must\nall appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the\nthings done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or\nbad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Judgment is a fact in this life as well as the next.&nbsp; Based upon one\u2019s spiritual orientation in this temporal life, both Christians and non-believers face an eternal judgment but the nature of that judgment is very, very different.&nbsp; Are Christians held accountable for sins?&nbsp; If so, what is the difference in judgment between the Christian and the non-believer?&nbsp; To determine the Biblical answer, we look to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Historical\nContext: Written between 55-57 A.D., 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 1\nidentifies the author of the Book of 2 Corinthians as the Apostle Paul,\npossibly along with Timothy.&nbsp; Titus&#8217;\nreport to Paul which sparked this second letter was encouraging, but evidently\nit also brought troubling news that some at Corinth were questioning Paul&#8217;s authority as\nan apostle. This doubt may have been planted by &#8220;Judaizing teachers&#8221;\nwho seemed to follow Paul and attempted to undermine his teaching concerning\nthe Law. They appear to have questioned his veracity (2 Corinthians 1:15-17),\nhis speaking ability (2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:6), and his unwillingness to\naccept support from the church at Corinth\n(2 Corinthians 11:7-9; 12:13). There were also some people who had not repented\nof their licentious behavior (2 Corinthians 12:20-21).<br>\n<br>\nHe hopes that by writing in advance of his visit he can get all of the\nnecessary rebuke out of the way (2 Corinthians 1:23-2:3; 13:10). He also uses\nthe opportunity to encourage them to have the collection for the needy saints\nin Jerusalem\nready when he comes (2 Corinthians 9:1-5; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2), all of\nwhich is their duty given Christ\u2019s judgment as to their action or inaction on\nHis behalf.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Grammatical\nUsage: The phrase \u201cus\u201d is from the Greek word\n\u201chemies\u201d which is the emphatic version of us\u2026literally meaning, \u201cthe entire\nbody of us\u201d which is a direct reference to the Christian.&nbsp; None will escape the subpoena (Rom 14:10).&nbsp; \u201cBad\u201d in the Greek is \u201ckakos\u201d meaning, \u201clack\nin a person of those qualities which should be possessed and then demonstrated;\nbad character leading to injury or baneful (deadly; causing distress or death;\ndestructive) result.&nbsp; Specifically in V.\n10 the opposite of \u201cgood\u201d which is \u201cagathopoieo\u201d in the Greek meaning, \u201cto the\nbenefit of another\u2026well doing.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Literal\nApplication: Because all of us (every individual Christian) must appear before\nthe judgment throne of Christ, in order that each one receive recompense for\nthe things done through the body, in accord with that which he has done,\nwhether good or worthless.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Contextual\nInterpretation: In the context of this Scripture, it is clear that it\nrefers to Christians, not unbelievers. The Judgment Seat of Christ, therefore,\ninvolves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ. The Judgment\nSeat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ\u2019s\nsacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2), and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of\nour sins are forgiven and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). <strong>We should not look at the Judgment Seat of\nChrist as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives\u2026or\nnot as the case may be. <\/strong>Yes, as the Scriptures say, we will have to give an\naccount of our lives. Part of this is surely answering for the sins which held\nus from the full service of God. However, that is not going to be the primary\nfocus of the Judgment Seat of Christ.<br>\n<br>\n<strong>At the Judgment Seat of Christ,\nbelievers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ<\/strong> (1\nCorinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The things we will likely be judged on are\nhow well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), how victorious we\nwere over sin (Romans 6:1-4), how well we controlled our tongue (James 3:1-9),\netc. The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for different things based\non how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The\nvarious crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1\nPeter 5:4; and Revelation 2:10. James 1:12 is a good summary of how we should\nthink about the Judgment Seat of Christ, \u201cBlessed is the man who perseveres\nunder trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of\nlife that God has promised to those who love Him.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Scriptural Comparison: The Great White Throne Judgment, found in Revelation 20:11-15, <strong>is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire<\/strong> (the place of eternal punishment commonly known as hell). We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after the millennium and after Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone\u2019s deeds whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought; and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; Psalm 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 18:6; Revelation 22:12).<br> <br> Also at this time another book is opened: the \u201cbook of life\u201d (Revelation 20:12). It is this book that determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. <strong>Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the \u201cbook of life from the foundation of the world\u201d<\/strong> (Revelation 17:8). We also know from Scripture that it is at this judgment that Jesus will judge \u201cthe dead according to their deeds\u201d (Revelation 20:12) and that \u201canyone\u2019s name\u201d that is not \u201cfound written in the book of life\u201d will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).<br> <br> <strong>The fact that there is going to be a final judgment for all men, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly confirmed in many passages of Scripture.<\/strong> Every single person will one day stand before Christ and be judged for their deeds. While it is very clear that the Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of Christ, Christians do disagree on how it relates to the other judgments mentioned in the Bible, and as to exactly who will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.<br> <br> Many Christians believe that the Scriptures reveal three different judgments to come. The first is the judgment of the \u201csheep and the goats\u201d or a \u201cjudgment of the nations\u201d and is seen in Matthew 25:31-36. They believe it takes place after the tribulation period but prior to the millennium and that it is to determine who will get to enter into the millennium kingdom. As we have cited, the second is a judgment of believers\u2019 works, often referred to as the \u201cjudgment (bema) seat of Christ\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:10); at which time Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God. The third is the \u201cGreat White Throne\u201d judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15); which is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.<br> <br> Other Christians believe that all three of these judgments as seen in Matthew 25:31-36; 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 20:11-15 speak of the same final judgment, not of three separate judgments. In other words, those that hold this view believe that the \u201cGreat White Throne\u201d judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 will be the time that both believers and unbelievers alike are judged. Those whose names are found in the \u201cbook of life\u201d will be judged for their deeds in order to determine the rewards or loss of rewards that they will receive; and those whose names are not in the \u201cbook of life\u201d will be judged according to their deeds to determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Those that hold this view believe that Matthew 25:31-46 is another description of what takes place at the \u201cGreat White Throne\u201d judgment. They point to the fact that the result of this judgment is the same as what is seen after the \u201cGreat White Throne\u201d judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. The \u201csheep\u201d (believers) enter into eternal life while the \u201cgoats\u201d (unbelievers) are cast into \u201ceverlasting punishment\u201d (Matthew 25:46).<br> <br> Whichever view one holds of the \u201cGreat White Throne\u201d judgment, it is important to never lose sight of three very important facts concerning the coming judgment or judgments: <strong>1<\/strong>\u2014That Jesus Christ will be the judge; <strong>2<\/strong>\u2014that all unbelievers will be judged by Christ, and that they will be punished according to the deeds that they did. The Bible is very clear that the unbeliever is storing up \u201cwrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:5), and that God will \u201crender to each one according to his deeds\u201d (Romans 2:6); <strong>3<\/strong>\u2014that believers will also be judged by Christ, but since Christ\u2019s righteousness has been imputed to them and their names are written in the \u201cbook of life,\u201d they will be rewarded according to the deeds that they did in accordance to scriptural obedience.&nbsp; Romans 14:10-12 is very clear that \u201cwe shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ\u201d and that each one of us will \u201cgive an account of himself to God.\u201d<br>  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conclusion: Without a doubt the Bible is very clear that everybody, believer and unbeliever alike, will someday stand before Christ to be judged. But the good news for the believer is that our judgment will not be to determine if we are cast into the lake of fire, because that was settled once we believed the gospel and became \u201cchildren of God.\u201d Those that are truly saved have benefited from the great exchange in which our sins are accounted to Christ and His righteousness is imputed to us. So, while our salvation is secure in Christ we will \u201cstill give an account of ourselves to God\u201d (Romans 14:12), and should strive to do all things for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).&nbsp; Here we pay the opportunity cost of Christian resources wasted in the markets of the world (1 Cor. 3:15).&nbsp; That God is serious about this judgment is clear in V. 11.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2 Corinthians 5:10: \u201cFor 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.\u201d Judgment is a fact in this life as well as the next.&nbsp; Based upon one\u2019s spiritual orientation in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[526,534],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Christian Judgment - Grace Evangelical Free Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christian Judgment - Grace Evangelical Free Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"2 Corinthians 5:10: \u201cFor 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.\u201d Judgment is a fact in this life as well as the next.&nbsp; Based upon one\u2019s spiritual orientation in [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grace Evangelical Free Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-12T12:14:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-08T02:35:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tony Raker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tony Raker\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tony Raker\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/#\/schema\/person\/6785bcea471ae92fb3660d811c5c74ef\"},\"headline\":\"Christian Judgment\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-12T12:14:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-08T02:35:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/christian-judgment\/\"},\"wordCount\":1693,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Issues &amp; 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