How are we to understand that? Well, it’s very simple. What are the possibilities? Good or bad, nothing in between. But all of us will have to give an account, Paul says, of the things done while in the body, the way we have lived in this earthly life.Īnd he says-and again you seen this theme of no neutrality occurs again and again in the Bible-he says we must give an account for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. The issue is how have we served the one whom we claim to be our Savior and our Lord? And we will either be rewarded for faithful service or we will be deprived of our reward if we have not been faithful in serving. If you are truly in Christ Jesus as a believer, born again and walking with God, then you do not need to fear condemnation-ultimate, final rejection from the presence of God. Paul says that very clearly in Romans 8:1: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) If we have truly believed in the Lord Jesus, committed our lives to him then there is no condemnation for us. This is an appointment that we cannot refuse to keep.Īnd then he describes the purpose for which we must appear before Christ’s judgment seat, “that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” It’s important to understand that this judgment is not a judgment for condemnation. And Paul says “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” We have no option. That’s with the people who believe in God and claim to serve him. Bear in mind that the New Testament says judgment must begin at the house of God. But we’re not speaking about the judgment of unbelievers, we’re talking today about the judgment of believers. This is described very vividly in Revelation 20. It will take place before the great, white throne of God. For the rest of mankind there will be another, later judgment that will have a different setting. It’s a judgment that takes place before the judgment seat of Christ. This is the judgment that awaits all Christians. Notice when Paul says “we all” he’s speaking as a Christian. He says: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (NIV) This theme is presented to us by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10. Today we’re going to look forward to the awesome moment when we stand before Christ’s judgment seat and answer for our lives on earth. Even if we call ourselves atheists or agnostics we really have a god whom we worship and serve. If we refuse to worship and serve the one true God then we will end up worshiping and serving some false god. The only choice he has is whether he will worship and serve the true God or false gods. Because, man was created to worship and to serve and he cannot change that in his nature. We have to choose and our choice is not whether we will serve but only whom. I pointed out that this is true as much for us as it was for Israel. He said in Joshua 24:15: “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.”Īnd then he said you can serve the true God or you can serve various different false gods. In my talk yesterday I referred to Joshua’s closing address to Israel when he took his farewell of them and commended them to God. Each month our listeners write in to tell us of prayer requests that have been wonderfully answered.
#The judgment seat of christ illustrations free#
Feel free to share with us your personal needs, your problems, your prayer requests. Before I finish this talk we’ll be giving you a mailing address to which you may write. It’s good to be with you again as we continue with our theme for this week, “No Neutrality.” Has it perhaps been challenging you?īut first, let me say “Thank you” to those of you who have been writing to me.
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