I recently brought up the topic of giving an account of our lives to God in the context of James 3:1, where James said, those who teach will be “judged more strictly.”
The chapter deals with taming the tongue and two kinds of wisdom, but 3:1 provides opportunity to focus, for a moment, on what the Bible says about future judgment.
There are two judgments of human beings included in the end times narrative. We read about the first, “great white throne judgment” in Rev 20:11-12, where John wrote:
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Rev. 20:11-12
This judgment is for the multitude of mankind, who lived from the time of Adam until the last day, who rejected the free gift of salvation through faith in what Jesus did on the cross.
In Rev 20:12 we see this judgment is based on “...what they had done...”
In other words, mankind is given the option of one day standing before God and being judged on the basis of our own worthiness, or as the Bible says, on the basis of our own righteousness.
We also have the option of being judged on the basis of Christ’s righteousness, which is “imputed,” credited or given to us when we believe the gospel.
With this imputed righteousness of Christ comes the promise found in Psalm 103:12, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
A reader of the Bible understands that peace with God and an adoption into the family of God results when we come to understand the folly and unfruitfulness of planning to stand before God on the basis of our own righteousness.
In Romans 8:1 the Apostle Paul says there is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
There is, though, a second judgment, the “judgment seat of Christ,” which we read about in 2Cor. 5:10:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The “judgment seat of Christ” does not address the guilt and consequences of sin. It is a future occasion for followers of Jesus to review, in the presence of God, how we lived our Christian lives. This will include: how we use the things the Lord has blessed us with to bless others and how we use our lives to serve Him.
In Romans 14:10, Paul combines the rebuke of Christians who were judging one another, with a reminder that one day “we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”
The personal penalty of all sin is removed when a person places their faith in Christ’s death on the cross. The power of sin is “removed” as a follower of Jesus submits himself to the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
In 1 Cor 3:10-15, Paul uses the illustration of raw materials as a metaphor for how we “build our lives.” The contrast between gold, silver, costly stones and wood, hay or straw, is easy to understand.
The goal of both the white throne judgment and the judgment seat of Christ is the same, the glory of God. Our great God will be glorified as unbelievers at the white throne judgment finally come to understand the powerlessness of self righteousness and the indescribable power of the righteousness of Christ. On the other hand, our great God will be glorified as believers review their Christian lives at the Judgment seat of Christ.
There are rewards or “crowns” connected with the Judgment seat of Christ. I like to use the illustration of a graduation to explain the purpose and rewards connected to the Judgment seat of Christ. Those in a graduating class have been approved by the Dean of Student affairs. There are some in the graduating class who graduate with honors, as their educational careers are reviewed, but all graduate.
This illustration breaks down when we consider the purpose of the rewards. On the human plane, the graduate with honors receives the glory and applause. On the spiritual plane, the Lord Jesus Christ receives the glory and “applause” as the rewards or crowns are laid at His feet.
I trust these verses and the judgments connected to these verses provide the motivation to share the good news with those who still believe in their ability to stand before God and give an account based on their own righteousness.
I trust these verses and the judgments connected to these verses provide the motivation for Christians to walk with anxious expectation of the day we can see our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and review all we have accomplished for Him by His power!
