Series 19

Study 10 WILL CHRISTIANS BE JUDGED?

Things Hard to be Understood
by Francis Dixon

(Scripture Portion: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-15)

Will Christians be judged? Yes, all Christians will be judged. Every believer is subject to a three-fold judgment which covers his past, present and future life:

  1. 1. As a SINNER: this judgment is PAST – look up John 5:24.
  2. 2. As a SON: this judgment is PRESENT – look up 1 Corinthians 11:28,31,32.
  3. 3. As a STEWARD: this judgment is FUTURE – look up Romans 14:10.

The moment anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, God saves him (Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10). No one deserves to be saved, and no one can ever do anything to merit salvation. Salvation is altogether of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5), and is bestowed fully and freely, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, upon all who accept Him. And because salvation is altogether of grace, when the Lord comes again, every Christian will be translated into His presence to be with Him for ever (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). But there are different kinds of Christians: faithful and unfaithful (Matthew 25:21); spiritual and carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1); diligent and careless (Ephesians 5:15-17). What does it matter, then, as to the kind of Christians we are if when the Lord comes again we shall all be caught up anyway? It matters very much, for:

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10), and there we shall “receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14), or we shall “suffer loss” (1 Corinthians 3:15) according to the kind of Christians we have been!

Christian, there is a great Examination Day coming – and you must live and work in the light of that day if you would receive “a full reward” – look up 2 John 8. It makes a tremendous difference what kind of a Christian you are. No believer will ever be judged for his sins, for the sins of every believer have already been judged and punished in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross (Romans 8:1). But every believer will be judged concerning his life and service, and this is the subject of this study.

1. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ we shall appear as we really are.

Down here we are never seen by each other as we really are; only God can see our hearts – look up 1 Samuel 16:7, and compare 2 Corinthians 5:10. This latter verse may be literally translated, “in our true characters.” In this connection, read Acts 5:1-10. Then notice in 1 Corinthians 3:13 that the fire is to try the kind of work we have rendered to the Lord – not the appearance of that work. In 1 Corinthians 4:5, we are told that the one thing which counts before God is reality, and that at the Judgment Seat of Christ He will make manifest our motives and reward us accordingly.

2. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ we shall have to give an account of ourselves and of our services.

Romans 14:12 tells us this. There are no exceptions, for Paul says, “each of us”; and the account we shall give is of ourselves – not of others. It will be revealed then:

  1. 1. Whether we have sought to live for God’s glory – or for self-pleasing (2 Corinthians 5:15).
  2. 2. How we have used our time (John 9:4; Ephesians 5:16).
  3. 3. How we have used our money, possessions, property (Matthew 6:19-21).
  4. 4. Whether we have been concerned to seek and to save the lost
    (2 Corinthians 5:11).
  5. 5. Whether we have been faithful in prayer (Luke 18:1).
  6. 6. All the words we have spoken…(Matthew 12:36).
  7. 7. Our attitude towards our brethren…(Romans 12:10; 14:10; Galatians 6:1; 1 Peter 5:5).
  8. 8. Our work will have to be accounted for (1 Corinthians 3:13).

3. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, everything that is worthless and empty will be burned up, and only that which can stand the test of fire will remain.

Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, and notice the two kinds of materials:

  1. 1. That which abides the testing of fire and which is purified by the fire (gold, silver, precious stones).
  2. 2. That which is easily burned up because it is worthless (wood, hay, stubble).

The life we live and the way we serve is one of two kinds – either that which will stand the test of fire, or that which will not!

4. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the purpose of the Judge will not be to punish unfaithfulness, but to reward faithfulness.

When the Grecian Games were over, the successful contestants would assemble before the Bema, or the Judges’ Stand. This was an elevated seat upon which the umpire sat to pronounce the results and to make the awards. You and I will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ in order that He may give honour, promotion and reward where it has been merited. Prize days at school are held, not in order to punish and degrade those who have not done well, but in order to reward those who have done well. How important it is for us to live and labour in the power of the Holy Spirit in order that we may receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14)! When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ:

  1. 1. Some will hear the word of divine approval (Matthew 25:21-23).
  2. 2. Some will receive promotion (Luke 19:17-19; Revelation 20:4).
  3. 3. All of us may receive crowns. Look up:
    1. 1. the incorruptible crown – for living a disciplined life (1 Corinthians 9:25).
    2. 2. the crown of life – for enduring trials (James 1:12).
    3. 3. the crown of rejoicing – for soul-winning service (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
    4. 4. the crown of glory – for shepherding the flock (2 Peter 5:2-4).
    5. 5. the crown of righteousness – for loving His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

5. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will be too late then to wish we had been more faithful, more zealous, more careful in our walk and witness.

Now is the time to see to these things – look up 1 Corinthians 11:31; 1 John 2:18!