Monday, May 21, 2007

Thoughts on the Judgment Seat of Christ

Without getting into the implications in a big way here are some thoughts on the Judgment Seat of Christ.

God will judge every man, woman and child.
Rev. 22:12
Hebrews 9:27

Christians are not excused from Judgment, but we are excused from Condemnation. Rom 8:1

So what then is Judgment without Condemnation? It is the giving of
reward, or not. When a High School student passes in an exam that they
have surely passed their performance is still "judged". The student can
be given reward up to the highest mark, but will suffer loss of
potential marks for poor performance and gain marks for good
performance.

This is not at all what the Judgment of non-believers will be like.
So that can spur us on to the subject that Avery wanted me to discuss.

Non-Believers will be judged at the Great White Throne Rev. 20:11-15

But Christians will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5:10

It's very important for the Believer to understand that there will be
no judgment of sin at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our sin WAS judged
at the Cross, the punishment was paid at the Cross. John 15, Gal 5, Rom 6:3-11
our flesh, our Adamic Nature, is Crucified with Christ. It HAS been
judged and found guilty, sentenced to death & banishment.

The Judgment Seat will happen as Paul describes in 1 Cor 3:11-14

2 Cor 5 contains a great work on the fact that we have been judged according to
sin but will next be judged according to performance or fruit.

This is the same point that James is making in James 2. Sin has been dealt with, now we must perform in the knowledge that our faithful works WILL be judged. Here are some of my thoughts on James 2.

We see this idea of personal fear of the Lord, and personal
accountability carried on in other places as well. It becomes clear
that we are to be concerned primarily with how we will be judged - not
with judging our peers. Because WE ourselves have stewardship over our
lives and will be judged. (this is not a treatise on not judging each
other which IS needed for other purposes)

Rom 14:10-12

1 Cor 9:24-27

Corporately Christ speaks to the 7 assemblies in Rev 2-3 telling
them to do the will of God so that they might receive their reward.

As Christians we will be judged for our performance. Not for "how good
we do" but for what foundation supports what we do. You'll notice that
Paul sought to speak with weakness (though he clearly had great words
in him, and an incredible mind) so as to not rob the power from the
Cross. He made the work of the Cross to be the foundation of what he
did. So that when he stands before the Judgment Seat of Christ he will
hear the words "Well done My good and faithful servant." The things
Paul did pointed to Christ, were dependent on the Holy Spirit and were
submissive to the will of God.

This is how we will be judged. Not by how we have screwed up, or sinned
or anything like that. But when we preach did we do so by the power of
the Holy Spirit. When we feed did we do so as led by God and by His
provision? When we abstained did we do it to glorify Him and be gentle
to our brother?


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