Wait, Christians are judged, too?!?

Last week's podcast ended on a high note - Christians won't have to stand in line at the Great White Throne Judgment. But in a verse tucked away in Paul's letter to the Corinthians he writes, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2Corinthians 5:10). So, which is it? Do we face judgment or not?

Today's podcast will clear that up.

Blessings,
Fritz.

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105)

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Good morning everyone and welcome to 15 minutes with Fritz, where Scripture meets the sidewalk. I tried to end last week's podcast on a high note. We were talking about the Great White Throne judgment where the dead will be judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. We discovered that there will be no distinction regarding little sins and big sins. The outcome will be the same for each person in attendance eternity in the lake of fire, the result of God's wrath for those who choose to reject him. Well that's certainly not the high point. But I also mention another book, the Book of Life. I explained that our names get entered into the book of life when we give our hearts to Jesus, and He promises that to all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God. As a result, we won't experience that awful day of judgment, that terrible eternal sentence the lake of fire. Thank you, Jesus. That's the high note I was referring to. Now, it would be great if our story ended there, meaning that I don't need to concern myself with facing judgment according to what I have done. The only thing I need to concern myself with is walking through the gates of heaven. But as I was preparing for this week's podcast, our book The one hundred most asked questions about heaven, hell and the afterlife, it referenced a verse from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians that seems to contradict that very statement. Listen to what it says. We Christians must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Wait a minute, that sounds an awful lot like that great white throne judgment. The high point we just experienced because we avoided that awful event has just been dashed because the Bible says we still face judgment. It seems like we're jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Why would God do that? Well, before we begin complaining to God we need to hear the entire verse. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. I'm not sure that's much help because it still sounds an awful lot like the great white throne judgment. We need to understand the difference between being judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books and receiving what is due us for the things done while in the body. Thankfully there are some key differences. When we give our hearts to Jesus and repent of our sins, we were fully and completely cleansed. We were redeemed and forgiven for all of our sins. So when God looks at us now, he sees a different person, one whose sins have been taken away, and as such we are under the promise that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Therefore we won't stand before the judge attempting to justify ourselves, trying to convince him that we deserve entrance into heaven, because Jesus already did that for us. As Alastair Begg said in his famous sermon about the thief on the cross, when the supervisor angel asked on what basis are you here? The thief answered because the man on the middle cross said I could come. So if we're not being judged about whether we deserve heaven, what are we being judged for? If we're already redeemed, why are we standing in front of a judge? Paul tells us quite clearly at the end of the verse I read before, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. This judgment isn't about entry into heaven. This will be a time when our works are discussed. In other words, how did we use the resources God gave us? Did we use them for His glory or were we more interested in making ourselves look good? What was the motivation behind the things we did? Was it to gain power or wealth or popularity? Or did we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit and put Christ first in the things we did? How we answer those questions determines whether our works are considered good or bad. Now thankfully there's no punishment at the end, no lake of fire if we have to answer no to any of these questions. This judgment focuses on rewards, either gaining them or losing them. So let's take a look at the rewards as they are described in the Bible. Let me read from the first chapter of the book of James. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. In other words, when we are faced with difficult circumstances when there seems to be no hope, and yet we remain faithful to God, trusting him, acknowledging that our times are in his hands, there is a reward waiting for us. In Paul's second letter to his young protege Timothy, he writes I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. We are promised another crown, this one is called the crown of righteousness, when we live our lives in anticipation that Jesus Christ will return some day. Paul used an athletic metaphor for this next crown. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. When we exercise self control and discipline in our Christian walk, similar to an athlete, our reward will be a crown that will never fade, one that will last forever. There is also a special award for those who lead others to Christ. Speaking to those he witnessed to at Thessalonica, Paul writes What is our hope, our joy or the crown in which we glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. The last crown is reserved for spiritual leaders. To the elders among you I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers, not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Now I'd like to point out a few interesting things about these rewards. First, they are all the same. Billy Graham's crown won't be more grand than the woman's crown who led her neighbor to Christ. Alistair Begg's crown will look exactly like the one given to the faithful pastor of a small church in rural Pennsylvania. And while the apostle Paul endured beatings and jail time after his conversion, his crown will look the same as the young athlete who is teased about his Jesus one t-shirt. Second, we will all have to wait before receiving them. In today's world we receive instant gratification through likes and comments when we post something on Facebook. We order something from Amazon and it arrives the next day, and we don't even need to leave the comfort of our living room sofa. But the things I have to wait for tend to be more gratifying. Waiting deepens trust and develops faith. Waiting teaches me to trust God and recognize His perfect timing. And so these crowns will be given long after our work on earth is finished, and they will be very satisfying. Last, notice there are only five of them. There are five things God wants us to focus on during our life on earth. Endure trials and hardships faithfully, recognize Jesus is coming back and live our lives accordingly. Live to please Christ rather than the world. Tell others about Jesus, and if you are a spiritual leader, lead willingly and humbly. These should be our priorities. I want to close with a discussion about what we're going to do with these crowns after we receive them. Will we wear a different one each day as we walk the streets of gold in heaven? Or will we build a little display case in our mansion? Well, rather than letting our imagination guide us, let's see what the Bible tells us. The apostle John was given a glimpse into heaven, and he reveals something to us in the book of Revelation. After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. There before me was a throne with someone sitting on it. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. Let's pause here for a minute. John is describing a scene in heaven where God is seated on his throne surrounded by twenty four elders. These elders were wearing white robes with crowns on their heads similar to the ones we will be receiving. As we read on we are told what they will do with those crowns. The twenty four elders will fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. Now get this, and they lay their crowns before the throne. Why will they do that? Because they say you are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created. In other words, they acknowledged that the crowns they received were only possible because of the generosity and grace from the one who sits on the throne. It wasn't because of any gifts or talents they possessed, it was because God gave them those gifts, and so He deserves all the credit. He deserves the reward, not us. So your takeaways today are these. Take the steps necessary to have your name written in the book of life and avoid the judgment that results in the lake of fire. Repent of your sins and believe in who Jesus is and what he did on the cross. Ask him into your heart and surrender to his perfect will. Once you have done this, live your life for him and look forward to the day when you will be rewarded and willingly give those rewards back to Him. Let's pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, we humbly acknowledge that it is only by your grace that our names can be written in the book of life. We also recognize that our meager attempts at pleasing you are worthless without your help. Empower us today to yield to the Holy Spirit and let you work through us to accomplish your purposes for your glory. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant, brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will. May He work in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

This is the end of our podcast, but it's not the end of our story. Thank you for listening.