Romans

In reality, there is only one Judge, and He does not grade us on a curve, comparing our performance with that of others. He grades us by His standard of perfect righteousness. We either pass or fail. Anyone who has trusted Christ to pay his sin debt, passes, because he is given Christ’s righteousness. (II Cor 5:21) That is the only way to pass, for nobody else is 100% righteous. (John 14:6; Rom 3:10&22,23)

“We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” But if my sins are all paid in full and I am already totally forgiven in Christ (Rom 3:24,25; Col 2:13), FOR WHAT DOES GOD JUDGE ME? To answer this, consider some verses.

“…and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: …But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. …Now if any man build upon this foundation (of Jesus Christ) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (the presence of Christ) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; (the word of God) and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide…he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; ...” (I Cor 3:7-15)

It is our work for God that will be the issue at the judgment seat of Christ, not our sins. Our works determine our reward, not our salvation (Eph 2:8,9). Every work done with the wrong motive or doctrine will burn up when tested by the word of God (Jer 23:29) So at the judgment seat, after our mistakes are burned, only our truly good works remain and will be rewarded.

WHAT IS OUR REWARD? Colossians 3:24 says, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:” Every believer has an inheritance in Christ (Eph 1:11) but each inheritance is different. (I Cor 15:41,42) Our inheritance depends on the capacity that we have developed to function by faith in the word of God. (II Cor 5:7; Rom 10:17) In other words, it depends on how much we think with the mind (Spirit) of Christ, thereby letting Him live through us. (Gal 2:20&5:16; Rom 8:5,6,11) That is the ability we will need in order to reign for Christ in heaven (I Cor 6:3). When God fills the principalities and powers in the heavens with us, His body, (Eph 1:20-23) each body member will be capable of handling the position he is given. That position is his reward. We’re training here, for reigning there!

But we live in “the dispensation of the grace of God.” (Eph 3:2) Grace is unearned, undeserved favor. Grace and works are opposites and do not mix (Rom 11:6). We are saved by grace, (Eph 2:8,9) and we live under grace. (Rom 6:14) So then WHY would God want us to WORK TO EARN REWARDS??

God doesn’t! In fact, on our own, we can’t do anything to earn God’s favor. (Rom 8:8&7:18). But when we live by grace, motivated by gratitude and understanding, God’s thinking propels us and He does the good works through us. (Gal 2:20) God does the work and gives us the reward.

We are God’s “purchased possession” (Eph 1:14), bought with His blood (Acts 20:28; I Cor 6:19,20), so living for Him is only our “reasonable service” (Rom 12:1) and does not deserve a reward. (Luke 17:7-10) So when God offers to reward us for doing what really is our duty, that is not contrary to grace, that is grace!

WHEN ARE WE JUDGED? Are we each judged when we die? NO ! “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts”. (I Cor 4:5)

Our judgment happens when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:” (I Thes 4:16,17) “Then shall every man have praise of God” (I Cor 4:5) Our judgment is like an Awards Day. The whole body of Christ will be there to admire and cheer each member on.

(Vs 11.) This verse says every one will be judged. What about believers in other time periods? And those who do not believe? WHEN and HOW will they be judged?

In the kingdom on earth that Christ will set up after our time period, those of Israel who believe will be His nation of priests to rule the earth for Him. (Ex 19:5,6; I Peter 2:9; Rev 2:26&5:10) See in Luke 19:11-24 & Matthew 25:14-28 what Jesus said to them regarding their reward. In Matthew 19:27-29, Jesus told His disciples that they will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel in this kingdom. When Christ returns as Judge of the whole earth, they will be resurrected and receive their reward. (Dan 12:1-3; Rev 22:12; Is 40:10)

What about the Gentiles? Matthew 25:31-46 shows that, at that time, Christ will judge the other nations on the basis of how they treated His brethren, Israel. (Is 2:1-4; Zech 8:22,23) This is in fulfillment of Abraham’s promise of Gen 12:2,3.

In Rev 20, after 1000 years of Christ’s kingdom on earth, everybody left in hell is judged according to their works. In a just system, every sin must be paid for, so those who did not take advantage of Christ’s sin payment, must pay for their own sin in the eternal lake of fire. (Rev 20:12-15; Col 3:5,6). Some have greater sins than others and have accumulated more wrath. (John 19:11; Rom 2:5,6; Mat 11:20-24) For example, Jesus told the false religious leaders that they would “receive the greater damnation”. (Mat 23:14)

(Vs 12.) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” We need to be mindful of this, instead of criticizing what other believers are doing. (Mt 7:3; Jn21:21,22)