Judgement Seat of Christ
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8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
Intro
Last week I spoke about hell and eternal judgment – not the easiest subject to speak on but one that nevertheless is necessary. Ezekiel chapters 3 and 33 say that if we do not warn the wicked then we are responsible for their non-response. And the fact is last week we discovered, for sure, that the majority of those on this planet will end up in the lake of fire. I think that this subject, though terrifying, is one of those subjects that we needed to get back to...back to the truth of the Bible. When we rediscover the doctrines of the Bible revival is not far behind. The doctrine of Hell relates to those who are unbelievers. Maybe we have thought about what becomes of us. If unbelievers have to stand before the Great White Throne and give an account what happens to believers? Today’s sermon is about the Judgment Seat of Christ.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
It is bad enough to know that what becomes of unbelievers but 1 Peter makes it clear that we, as Christians, will also experience judgment. And those who are righteous will barely escape. Christians do not rely upon their own righteousness for we already know that there is not one who does good, no, not one. But we rely upon the righteousness given to us in Christ Jesus. And even though we have His righteousness we are still barely saved. We have passed from death to life already and so have escaped the condemnation of hell.
This is what I want to talk to you about today. If we really recognise that one day we will have to give account to Jesus for the way we have lived our Christian lives then what does that do to us? We sing many songs about looking forward to seeing Him face-to-face and I understand that sentiment for we will be full of praise for our Saviour who has done it all for us. However, there will be a day when we see Him and we will have to give an account to Him. This very thought should be enough to change us, move us, cause us to repent, to get rid of those things in our lives that are clearly a distraction. But that day is going to be more than judgment for the bad in our lives. The fact is we are already forgiven for all our sin if we have confessed it to God. That day is not going to be a judgment of our sin – for God has deliberately forgiven and forgotten them – but it will be a day when both sin unconfessed will be exposed and a day when the good we have done will come to light. It will be a day that the injustices that have been done to us will be revealed and rewards given out as a result.
One of the ways we will see a Christian’s reward grow is through persecution. And no matter where we live our lives: whether with family, at work, at college, on the internet and so on it is expected that persecution will come to us if we are standing up for Jesus.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Every Christian then should receive a reward from God because all Christians will be persecuted.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Our society today cannot tolerate biblical Christians. In fact, no society has put up with them but the fact is that perhaps more than ever we are seeing persecution on the rise. When we take a stand against homosexuality, against gay marriage and so on, when we say hell is a real place that must be avoided at all costs, when we say that men and women are naturally evil we are not welcome in society. Jesus said that the world
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
The world today loves Rob Bell for his stand with them saying that homosexual marriage is a move of God. This man has rejected biblical Christianity and instead made God in His own image. Compromise is a road easily travelled and can carry many others along. As time goes on the road will get narrower and narrower as Christians also get duped because they lack foundation in their lives – and be those who will lose their reward when they stand before Jesus.
We are going to be persecuted – and the whole world will turn against us for, as we have read, the world will hate us. The world will hate us. We want the world to like us, to love us but the fact is that if we are Christians who seek to do what God wants then we are not going to be liked. All the acclaim that comes from the world, all its glory will not be given to us. If we are looking to boost our self image in the world then we can go and get it – but it will be at the expense of our lives in God.
It seems to me to be a waste of time trying to get praise from the world and praise from others because the wages are too small. Yes, we can get the world’s approval today but soon it will forget you. We might get a commendation, even a medal from the Queen but what good is that when we die?
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Being hated by the world, then, in the end, is not to be avoided at the cost of our godly lives. The rewards of the world will pale into insignificance compared to the rewards given by the King of Heaven. The world can give us money, can give us fame, can give us all that we could want but the price is a high one to pay. We can take our pay now from the world but it will result in low pay in Heaven.
6 The New King James Version. 1982 (Mt 5:11–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
I do not say that as Christians we can lose our souls however the point is well made – the topsy turvy world of God is not the way of the world. Lose your life for Him and you find it. But if you love your life more than Him then you will lose it. The world hates us but do we hate the world? James has some very strong words: James 4:4: "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 8” Suddenly we who are friends with the world find ourselves in the opposing camp. But friendship with God means we do not desire the things of the world: 1 John 2:16: "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 9” We easily get sucked in to what the world has to offer not realising that this makes us unfruitful and unprofitable in God:
19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Living for the world means that when we stand before Jesus we will gain no reward.
What will that day before the Judgement Seat of Christ bring?
That Day will bring all things to light – all injustices, all hurt, all damages. Everything will be out in the open – nothing will be hid anymore. Those who received the acclaim of the world their fruits will be evident to all, that is, there will be little or no fruit and therefore little or no reward but those who went about quietly doing the will of God, who suffered at the hands of others, will receive a reward far surpassing anything on earth and will also be justified before all that their deeds were done in God. I want us all to receive a great reward from God but I cannot get it for you – we are all responsible for how we get this reward. Please don’t get to Heaven by the skin of your teeth.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15: "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 11”
And here are the keys for greater rewards:
1. No self-justification. God can justify you but it may not happen this side of Heaven. (Matt 5 as read earlier).
2. No public deeds – but private ones: Matthew 6:1-6,16–21: " “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do
11 The New King James Version. 1982 (1 Co 3:11–15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 12”
3. Keeping His Word: Psalm 19:8–11: "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the
12 The New King James Version. 1982 (Mt 6:1–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 13”
4. Doing good deeds: Matthew 10:42: "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” 14”
What are the rewards?
We know we don’t deserve a reward because it is God working through us when we allow Him but nonetheless we will be given our wages. And He pays better than anyone can here on earth.
Heaven is not the reward by the way – this is a gift which came with the gift of salvation. Heaven cannot be earned. However, the reward that we receive will have been earned as it is a form of wages. When we stand before Him though we will say: Luke 17:10: "‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”15”
But nevertheless we will receive rewards, praise and crowns if our works are not burned up with fire.
Praise from Jesus: well done, good and faithful servant (Matt 25.23). This, perhaps, is the greatest reward of all – at the Judgment Seat, before all, publicly acknowledged that we have lived our lives for Him. Well done! To hear these words will be a dream come true.
2 Timothy 4:8: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 16” James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 17” 1 Peter 5:4: "and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 18”
Crowns are a sign of royalty – and this reward is proof that we will reign with Him. How incredible!
Conclusion
I spoke of the fact that we will be persecuted, that we will suffer, that we will be unjustly treated and accused. But we know God will justify us in the end and comfort us from all distress. Let us throw off anything that gets in the way of receiving a reward from Jesus...knowing He will come when we are not expecting Him and so should remain faithful, knowing a Day is coming when we will give Him an account of our lives, a Day when we should hear Him say: Well done!
Revelation 22:12: "“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.19”
2 Corinthians 5:6–13 ESV6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
I wonder what we think when we consider the Judgment Seat of Christ. What it is we are expecting. The passage we read in 2 Corinthians is interesting for it has a mix of terror and of love. [It is a passage that would be avoided if it was not in the lectionary and even though it is I suspect most sermons will avoid this particular passage and concentrate instead upon the Gospel of Mark but even there it talks of a sickle harvesting the souls of Christians.]Is this something we should be concerned about? In one sense this is the hope of the Christian – we want to actually go home to our Lord and whilst we live in our bodies we are not with Him in a tangible real sense. But secondly the fact that we are going to go home to be with Jesus means that we ought to live as those who will not be ashamed at His coming or at the judgement. For all Christians will appear before the Judgment seat of Christ and give an account of what we have done since we became disciples.There is, of course, another terrifying judgment that will happen to those who are not Christians at the Great White Throne which is found in Revelation 20.11-15 – if their names are not found in the Book of Life they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire – you do not want to be at this judgment – and if we have put our faith in Christ we will not be. But we still will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ.Paul speaks of this judgment in his earlier letter to the Corinthians:1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (NKJV) — 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. What we can deduce from all this is that at the judgment seat of Christ will not be judged as to whether we have eternal life and Heaven or not for these are gifts of God for those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but instead we will be judged according to our service and work for Christ. That is why Paul says that it is their aim, and therefore should be ours also, to be well pleasing to Him. The second thing we can deduce about the judgment seat of Christ is that it is not for punishment. Let me say again – if we are fortunate enough to be standing before the judgment seat of Christ we will not be punished for anything: How come? Well, the penalty for sin has already been paid for in full at the cross of Christ with His precious blood. Our sin has been separated from us as far as the East is from the West. We do not need to fear any kind of punishment.So, what is the Judgment Seat of Christ for if it is not for punishment? It is for rewards or loss of rewards. The judgment seat of Christ is like an athlete competing for the Olympics. If he or she loses, they are not punished – can you imagine that – being punished for losing?! We try to comfort them with meaningless words like;“it was the taking part that counts” – but in the Olympics you are either a winner or a loser – a loser loses the medal that they could have earned, and all of their effort was expended for nothing – for who remembers the loser? What we need to do is win for we can all be winners but not all of us will be. Some will receive a reward and others will not. In the verses I read in Paul’s first letter it revealed that there are two types of Christian lives, both of which will be tested by fire to see what kind lasts: The first type is one that builds upon the foundation of Jesus in their lives with gold, silver and precious stones. This is the type that lasts, that is going to last for eternity and have eternal value. This is the kind that wins the race.What is this kind of life? Well, it means that such are walking in fellowship with Christ day by day, walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, maintaining a fruitful prayer life, delighting in Christ’s Word, loving Christ’s church, being zealous in Christ’s work, separating from the wicked things of the world and refusing to conform to its standards, separating from false teaching, being a godly husband or wife, raising children to serve the Lord, and winning souls to Christ. All of these things are gold, silver, and precious stones before the Lord and will be richly rewarded for these are of eternal value. The second type of Christian life is wood, hay and stubble. When these things are tested with fire there is little but ashes left. What kind of life is this? Walking in sensuality and indulging in sinful pleasures instead of walking in the Spirit, wasting time on insignificances and forgetting that life is short and that only that which is done for Christ will last, It is in talking about nothing, wasting an inordinate amount of time on such things as professional sports and video games and romance novels, spending money foolishly and not according to God’s will, loving the world and patterning one’s life after it, remaining as Children in one’s Bible knowledge instead of growing strong in the Scripture and learning to rightly divide it, hoarding one’s spiritual gifts instead of using them, neglecting the house of God, teaching things that are contrary to the Word of God, neglecting one’s responsibilities as a husband or wife or father or mother among many other things. Scripture has much to say about these aspects of life – they are things of this world. If we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ with just these things then we will rightly be ashamed before Him. We will not win any medals but Paul says we shall escape the fire of hell by the skin of our teeth. We will suffer loss but still be saved. The Apostle Peter puts it like this:1 Peter 4:17–18 (NKJV) — 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”My experience teaches me that Christians have a mix of things that will last and things that will not. But we should definitely be moving towards those who are building with silver, gold and precious stonesMany of the Old Testament saints were also a mixed bag within themselves and failed in big ways: Noah got drunk. Abraham doubted the promise of God at one point and laughed; he also lied about his wife. Sarah laughed at God's promise at one point. Jacob was a tricky man by nature, always trying to manipulate people and situations. Moses got angry and disobeyed God in smiting the rock and as a consequence could not go into the Promised Land. Gideon made an idol. Barak was too weak to lead the battle himself and had to follow a woman. Samson was immoral. Jephthah made a foolish vow and sacrificed his own daughter. David committed adultery and had a man killed in his attempt to hide his sin. Samuel did not raise his sons properly and they became corrupt judges. Why did I mention these people? So we could be encouraged that even the big names in the Bible failed and therefore it gives us hope we can make it too – but more than that; I mentioned them because they are all in what we call the Hall of Fame in regards to Faith in Hebrews 11. What do we find in that chapter? They are commended to us as people of faith – and their failures are not mentioned. We all fail at one time or another – some big ones, some small ones – we may lose our reward in these things – but we do not lose our salvation. He will bring us home.What will surprise us instead is what rewards we will gain for the smallest things. Jesus said in:Matthew 10:42 (NKJV) — 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” What are the rewards given to us for those things which do last? First there is a crown given to us.1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (NKJV) — 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.Revelation 3:11 (NKJV) — 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.Who wears crowns? Royalty. A crown designates who are Kings – and He will makes us Kings to rule under Him.We will be given treasures.Matthew 6:19–21 (NKJV) — 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. My favourite, though, is to hear the word of commendation from the lips of our Saviour:Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) — 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ I certainly do not want to see disappointment on the face of my Saviour and I hope you do not either.1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV) — 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.The Judgment Seat of Christ is a strong motivator to reconsider our lives and do what is right for it has to do with the fear of God. We are told in Proverbs that the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. When we consider that we will be judged what kind of lives should we be living? Will we be ashamed and only find out afterwards that we could have done so much more for Him? Surely the only way we can know for sure is in knowing the Scriptures and putting them into practice. Surely it is only in this we can find the way that pleases God.Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) — 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. His love for us; in saving us from the judgment that is coming upon this world and its people; in giving us eternal life, is also a powerful driving force for living for Him instead of ourselves. His pending judgment of us and His love by which He gave us salvation and Heaven as gifts by dying in our place to save us from a fate worse than death should cause us to be spiritual, to be busy doing the work He given each one of us to do, and to be faithful in doing it. A man named John Nelson Darby said: I think that my own history will be detailed before the judgment seat, and, parallel with it, the history of the grace and of the mercy of God toward me. The why and the how we did this or that will be manifested then. For us the scene will be declarative, not judicial… if we have walked according to the flesh, we must see how we lost in blessing thereby, and what loss we have incurred. On the other hand, the ways of God towards us, all ways of wisdom, of mercy, and of grace, will be perfectly known and understood by us for the first time. What a thought that we will see what reward was lost because of our foolish living but also see how much God has done for us throughout our lives without us even realising it. Amazing grace indeed. How shall we respond to knowing we will give an account of ourselves? What is our response?