The Judgment Seat

Uplook – October 2017 — Grace & Truth Magazine

The Judgment Seats

There are a number of judgments prophesied in Scripture. We read of a judgment seat in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and in Romans 14:10-12. The King James translation has “the judgment seat of Christ” in both places, but Darby ( JND ) and most modern translations have “the judgment seat of God” in the latter. These may indeed just be different aspects of the same thing, but since they are spoken of separately in Scripture they will be treated likewise in this article.

The judgments at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15) and at the separation of the sheep and the goats (Mt. 25:31-46) should not be confused with the judgment seat of Christ and the judgment seat of God. The separation of the sheep and the goats is the judgment of the nations (v.32) occurring when Christ sets up His millennial kingdom, whereas the judgment at the great white throne is of the physically resurrected (Jn. 5:28-29) but spiritually dead unbelievers. These unbelievers are sentenced to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15) as a consequence of their sins. The believer should not fear either of these judgments because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 ESV). Why? Simply because Christ has already borne our condemnation!

The Judgment Seat Of God
In Romans 14:1-12 we are told, “We will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Among the things to be considered here is any judgmental attitude we have toward a Christian brother or sister whose opinion on non-essential matters differs from ours. What is truly important is whether or not the actions produced by our interpretations honor the Lord (v.18).

He said, “On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Mt. 12:36). We are undoubtedly guilty of saying or doing things that we have not judged and confessed while here on earth. Then in our changed state (1 Cor. 15:52) we will surely be able to judge each word and deed in the light of God’s judgment of it.1 For us, no unjudged sin will remain (see Rom. 8:1).

The Judgment Seat Of Christ
At this judgment (2 Cor. 5:10) there will be an evaluation of the worth to the Lord of the service of each believer and a determination of the nature of the reward merited. The Scripture says that we will appear there “so that each one may receive what is due for what he [or she] has done in the body, whether good or evil.” This has nothing to do with punishment for sin, for the word “evil” in this passage, according to the most authentic manuscripts, is the word phaulos, meaning worthless, rather than kakos, which denotes bad in the sense of “being evil in character.”2

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the apostle Paul discussed the evaluation of our works in terms of the effect of fire on the materials we put into “God’s building.” The foundation of this figurative building is Jesus Christ – a foundation which Paul has laid and others are building upon. He admonishes each of us, saying, “Let each one take care how he builds upon it ... Each one’s work will be ... revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.”

The valuable “gold, silver, and precious stones” in the figure will survive the fire, whereas the much less valuable “wood, hay, and straw” will be consumed. All the work of a believer may be burned up as one who loses all his possessions to a fire, but this person himself “will be saved” (3:15).

The building in the figure is the Church, the Assembly, which is composed of all believers into which we, “like living stones are being built up a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:4). The “living stones” are people, not efforts. Here is how they are added: Our Lord draws them (Jn. 12:32), the Spirit gives life (6:63), and their coming to Christ for salvation is the result of the work of the Father (v.44). The growth of the Church is the work of the Trinity! All we do is to add the gold, silver and precious stone decorations which bring glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31).

What are the works that bring no glory to God and get burned up in the fire of judgment? They are like boards of wood, bales of hay, or stacks of straw which we use to form partitions or additions. The partitions are the internal divisions based on non-essentials that men have labored to maintain since the establishment of the pristine Church (Acts 2). What a day that will be when all that worthless stuff is gone and what remains will be bringing glory to our Lord!

What Effect Should This Knowledge Have On Us?
Each of us who knows that the Lord Jesus “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Th. 1:10) has the responsibility to talk about this deliverance with those around us. Our Lord has a different way for each to do this – “having gifts that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them” (Rom. 12:6). Also, “let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block of hindrance in the way of a brother” (14:13).

We are all building on the foundation that has already been laid, Jesus Christ, and “each one is to take care how he builds upon it” (1 Cor. 3:10). We will receive rewards for what we have done and will then cast them before “Him who is seated on the throne” (Rev. 4:10). After all, the meritorious things we do are done by the power of Him who dwells in us, are they not?

No believer should ever fear to appear before any judgment seat in Scripture. The Lord Jesus took upon Himself at the cross all the pain, punishment and penalty for our sin and sins. We will rejoice because of all that the Spirit has done as He intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26) and because of how God through His divine might and wisdom, has made everything “work together for good” to us (v.28). We shall have met the Lord in the air and “will always be with the Lord” (1 Th. 4:17). “In [His] presence there is fullness of joy ... [and] pleasure for ever” (Ps. 16:11).

END NOTES
1. Scripture does not specify exactly where judgment takes place.
2. Vine, W. E., An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, vol. II, pp. 50,51; Oliphants, LTD.

By Alan Crosby