Eternal Judgment.
Rom. 14:10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Last week in Asheville, I asked a group of young people a question. How many of you are scared when you hear that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Most of them raised their hands. Upon further investigation, it became clear that they all had stuff in their past that they felt would bring severe judgment and condemnation. They all lived in fear despite the word saying that God did not give us a spirit of fear - 2 Tim 1:7. This opens a door for the enemy that I wanted to shut immediately.
I grew up under hell, fire, and brimstone preaching. Yet, I remember the day I was set free from fear and started loving God when I realized that Jesus took care of my sin. There was no more record of my wrongs. Do I have scripture for that? I am so glad you asked.
a. Isaiah 43:25
b. Jer 31:34.
c. Heb 8:12.
d Heb 10:17.
e. Col 1:14 with 1 John 1:7.
When we stand before Him, we will account only for ourselves - Rom 14:12. You will not represent anybody else. So the question remains to be asked. If my sins were taken care of, what would I give an account for?
According to scripture, we will give an account of a few things. The first thing is our words.
Matt. 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.
What a sobering statement. Jesus continues by stating that our no should be no and our yes be yes; everything else is influenced by the evil one - Matt 5:37. James says that our tongue is the only unruly member of our bodies - James 3:6-10. On the other hand, Solomon noted that we could produce life and death with our tongues, and we live from the fruit of how and what we speak - Prov 18:21. Paul admonishes us to speak pure and good words.
Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Col. 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Next, we will give an account of all our work.
Matt. 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
These works are not to earn our salvation but the works we do because we are saved. James says that faith without works is dead - James 2:14-20. The works he mentions are clothing the naked and feeding the poor. The same thing Jesus said to the righteous.
Matt. 25:34-36 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Paul tells us that our works will be burned and we will suffer loss for the works that are like wood, but for the works that are like silver and gold we will be rewarded - 1 Cor 3:13-14.
We were created to do good work. Daily we are invited to participate with the Holy Spirit in bringing heaven to earth.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Col. 1:10 That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Thirdly we will also be judged for our stewardship. God takes this very seriously. Your giftings, talents, and anointing need to be stewarded. Stewardship is not maintaining what you have but increasing what you have. The parable of the talents makes it very clear to us. The person that received one talent and then hid it was punished. The master expected an increase. The other two people increased their talents by stewarding them well and received double the reward for what they had.
Matt. 25:21 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. So enter into the joy of your Lord.'
How will our words, works, and stewardship be judged? What is the metron of God?
James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
I dare to say that the law of liberty is what Jesus speaks about when the lawyer asks Him, "What is the great law and commandment?"
Matt. 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Paul says that when we do anything we must do it as if we are doing it unto God.
Col. 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
What are the rewards we will be getting for serving Jesus?
Rev. 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.
The book of Revelation tells us that for those who overcome, ther are seven rewards. I will just give you the scriptures.
a. Rev. 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
b. Rev. 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
c. Rev. 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.
d. Rev. 2:26-28 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — He shall rule them with a rod of iron. They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' as I also have received from My Father, and I will give him the morning star.
e. Rev. 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
f. Rev. 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
g. Rev. 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
We will also receive crowns. The Elders cast their crowns at Jesus' feet - Rev 4:10. Nowhere does it state that we will do the same. I believe these crowns are not to wear, but it represents our authority and walk with God. So what are these crowns for the Righteous?
Incorruptible Crown – 1 Cor 9:24-25.
Crown of Righteousness – 2 Tim 4:8-9
Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thess 2:19
Crown of Glory – 1 Pet 5:4
Crown of Life – James 1:12.
There will also be a judgment for the unrighteous. However, this will not be the judgment seat of Christ but the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of time. Jesus makes it clear that the righteous will be resurrected to eternal life and the unrighteous to eternal judgment.
John 5:28-29 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.
Rev. 20:11-15 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 unrighteous are judged for two things. First, they are judged for their works, and second, if their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
These people will face eternal judgment and eternal punishment - Matt 25:46.
Now is the time to get right with God. Ask him for forgiveness and receive his provision through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Allow Him to take care of your sin. What a glorious expectation to know that we can be right with God. Our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life and declared righteous before Him. It all happens with simple faith.
Rom. 10:9-11 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.
We are constantly praying for you all. You are true friends and fellow laberors in the kingdom of God.