Testing Every Man’s Work

Feature 3 –October 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Testing Every Man’s Work

The Magistrate
Magistrates in the Roman Empire used special thrones when conducting legal tribunals. Pilate, investigating the charges against the Lord Jesus, used such a seat, although he went out of the judgment hall to hear the supporters of Annas, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Jn. 18:28-19:13). Similarly, the Lord Jesus will occupy a special throne when judging the “dead, small and great,” whose names are not in the book of life (Rev. 20:11-12 KJV ). That will be at the very end of time, prior to the creation of the new heavens and new earth.

Before that, at the end of the current age of grace, the Lord Jesus will occupy another magisterial throne – but it will be for a very different purpose. There will be no litigations there, nor will there be any criminal trials. It will be an assessment of the life and work of each and every born again Christian since Pentecost until the time of the Lord’s return for His Church. This is not about any earthly empire, although the Church with Christ will in fact rule the world. This is about the kingdom of God.

“For we must all appear [literally: “be manifested”] before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). That is one of life’s great certainties. We have established when this awesome event is to happen. We need now to find out what goes on in that day and what the possible results are for believers of this age. In Romans we have almost the same phrase as in Corinthians, except for one word. The apostle wrote there that we must “all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10).

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians includes a detailed account of what is to be judged and what is to happen. There we are reminded that we are privileged to be “labourers together with God.” For this we are to be rewarded, each for his own contribution (1 Cor. 3:8-9).

The Builders
In the next verse Paul took up the picture of a builder building. Paul explained that he has already laid the foundation for the Corinthians to build on. This we may understand as his bringing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to them and seeing them saved and established. The apostle described himself as a “wise master builder” who laid the foundation on which others then build. He went on to warn, “But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (vv.10-11).

We are given very clear direction as how we should apply this idea of building. The New Testament uses the word “edification” at crucial times. Twice Paul declared that his ministry is for edification and not for destruction (2 Cor. 10:8, 13:10). What this means we may find out from Romans, where Paul exhorted, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (12:1-2). There is only one way to do this: by reading and meditating on God’s Word, the Bible – filling ourselves with it. Only thus can we be filled with the Spirit.

Psalm 1 tells us of the blessed man whose “delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” (v.2). The result will be reflected in what he builds in this life: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (v.3).

Proverbs 8 tells about God’s Word and Wisdom. “For My mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to My lips. All the words of My mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive My instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (vv.7-11).

There is much more. Read Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 19 and 119, and Philippians 4:8; then ask yourself these questions:

• Dare I fill my mind with the occult, dirty thoughts, violent ideas or the world’s lies, and yet expect to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18)?
• Can I expect God to be pleased with me and reward me if I have not submitted my heart and mind to Him who seeks to conform me to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29; Col 3:10)?
• With whom is God pleased? Is it not with His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased (Mt. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:16-18)?

The Building
Returning to 1 Corinthians we see that we may build using two types of materials: “gold, silver, precious stones” or “wood, hay, stubble” (3:12). Whatever we do we build with one set of materials or the other – the precious or the worthless. It is interesting to note that the first category of building materials is associated in Proverbs 8 to God-given instruction (silver), knowledge (gold) and wisdom (rubies).

The next three verses in 1 Corinthians contain both a warning and an assurance. In Revelation, John saw the eyes of the Lord Jesus “as a flame of fire” (1:14). He sees and knows all; there is nothing hidden from His gaze, even in the inner darkness of our sinful minds. “The fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13).

Lest anyone should think that there is here a danger of losing one’s salvation, this is not what the passage is about. It has to do with gain or loss according to how believers have lived and done in this life. When we believed in the Lord Jesus we passed from death to life and had God’s guarantee that we could not be lost. “He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

The promise is first of “a reward” for faithful service, then a guarantee that even if everything we have built is burned “he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:14-15). In other words, we could be like someone pulled out of a burning house where everything he has ever owned is utterly destroyed, but his life is saved. It is only at the great white throne judgment where individuals – sinners who did not believe God – will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10-15).

The Crowns
The Lord Jesus will give several things for faithful service: crowns and promotions. Imagine kneeling before the Lord Jesus while He says to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21). Will that not be much, much better than all the riches and honors this world has to offer? These are the crowns of victory which the Lord really and truly wants to award to us.

Paul wrote that the victor’s crowns for believers are “incorruptible” whereas the athletes of this world only win “corruptible” crowns (1 Cor. 9:25). The picture is that of the ancient world where a crown of leaves was given, but even a gold medal has nothing to compare to what the Lord Jesus has in store for us!

Writing to Timothy, Paul spoke of “a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). Paul confirmed that the Lord Jesus Himself will give out these awards.

A “crown of life” is promised to all who love the Lord Jesus (Jas. 1:12). This is further defined and shown not to include all Christians, since the word translated “love” means “self-sacrificing love.” Not all of us have that sort of love and devotion. The Lord in His letter to the church at Smyrna made this clear, saying, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

A third crown is “a crown of glory,” which is the award for faithful service as elders in shepherding and overseeing. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

The Promotions
In addition to the rewards, there are promotions according to how we have discharged our responsibilities. Clearly we must witness, teach and make disciples, acting as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:20). We are called and equipped for these tasks now, yet we will be elevated to greater service in the administration of God’s universe during the millennium and forever in the new heavens and the new earth.

In the parable of the talents, as found in Matthew 25:13-30, we see in picture the Lord giving to His servants talents – five, two or one – “according to his several ability.” The servants with five and two talents doubled the wealth entrusted to them, and the Lord commended them as “good and faithful servants.” Having been faithful in a few things the Lord then made them “ruler over many things.” Another “faithful and wise servant” doing what has been entrusted to him is found in Matthew 24:45-47.

Luke 19:12-27 pictures another aspect of the rewards and promotions. Before going to a far country the Lord gave His ten servants a pound each in weight of either silver or gold. Two of the servants gained in varying amounts. Accordingly, the Lord said to the one, “Have authority over ten cities.” Another servant who gained five pounds became a ruler over five cities. These rewards were in proportion to one’s service in this life, using the gifts God has given us.

Another point is in Hebrews. “For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak” (2:5). The writer went on to quote Psalm 2, showing clearly that the Lord Jesus is the One who fulfils the psalm. However, we also know that there are fallen angels who at present rule the nations of this world and presumably cities as well. It may be difficult for us to understand the term “city” as used in Luke 19, but in the ancient world it included the territory that any city ruled over, from a few hundred acres to a vast empire such as Rome.

It may be that we will, if we have earned the privilege, be promoted over the territories once ruled by the fallen angels. Some details of these angels may be found in Daniel 10 and other Scriptures.

Whether we understand all the matters related to the judgment seat of Christ or not, let us serve Him faithfully day by day as we live in this world. To Him be the glory!

By Roger Penney