2Corinthians 5:10
Our Judgment
For Christians, the following Bible verse should raise some concern. It tells
of an absolute for us all. Let me break it down into parts.
"We" - The Christians….
"must" - Having no choice, The Christians absolutely will partake in this.
"all" - Absolutely no exceptions, each and every individual absolutely Christian
will.
"appear" - To be present at a predetermined place.
"before the Judgment Seat" - This place will be a place of trial, examination,
inquiry.
"of Christ" - Previously known to us as Savior, Redeemer, Master, and Lord; now
He becomes our Investigator and Judge.
"that everyone may receive" - That we might be given as a reward, a compensation,
or a payment
"the things done in this body, according to that he hath done" - This reward will
be determined on the basis of our life lived after salvation.
"whether it be good or bad" - The examination is to determine whether we obeyed
in that life or disobeyed.
If that verse doesn’t raise concerns, you are either awesomely spiritual or
incredibly inert!
As Christians, when we speak of heaven, we usually speak of pearl gates, celestial
city, sunless days, strolls with the angels, and reunions with family. Who says,
"I see you at the Judgment Seat?" Yet the Judgment Seat is just as real as the
remainder of heaven.
The term Judgment Seat (in the Greek) is used several times in the New Testament.
1. Jesus stood before Pilate at the judgment seat. \\#Matt 27:19, John 19:13\\
2. It appears that Paul stood before a judgment seat no less than 3 times.
a. Two are recorded. \\#Acts 18:12, 25:6\\
b. Paul appealed to stand before Caesar’s judgment seat \\#Acts 25:10\\
From the use of the term, it would appear that when one stands before a higher
authority who has power to examine one’s life, as well as, power to give or take
away, he is standing before a Bema Seat or a Judgment Seat.
Paul is telling us that every believer has to stand before God, the Supreme
Detective, who will either give something to us or take something from us,
depending on what we have done for Him after our salvation.
Understand, this is a judgment of the Christian’s life and works, not of the
soul and salvation. The fact that they are at the Judgment Seat means they
are in heaven and have eternal life!
I do not know the things that God will look at on that day, but I can imagine
some areas that He may consider when He judges us.
I. God may consider our abilities.
A. The field of abilities is a very unleveled playing field.
1. All Christians do not have the same abilities.
2. Hence, I do not think God will expect the same results for all
Christians.
B. There are many Scriptural passages on which I base that thought.
1. \\#Mark 12:41-44\\ The story of a woman who was not judged on what
she gave but on what she kept.
2. \\#Luke 19:11-27\\ The story of several noblemen, each was given
ten pounds, but each earned different amounts with that ten
pounds.
a. The Lord gave a reward to all regardless of what they had
earned.
b. All were given the same, but all were not expected to earn the
same.
3. These examples indicate to me that God will consider our abilities
at the Bema Seat.
C. Of course, God knows our abilities. He gave them to us.
1Cor 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body,
as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again
the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble,
are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon
these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should
have the same care one for another.
1. God sets us in the body as He chooses.
2. It would appear that God would not expect the little toe to
accomplish the same as the hand.
3. In fact, comparatively speaking, the little toe would have little
to show for its life time of service.
4. However, I expect that as long as the little toe has carried its
share of the body’s weight, God is pleased with the little toe.
D. Every Christian needs to take a long, hard look at their life.
1. We are living our life and using our abilities for something.
2. Are we using them to accomplish what God wants us to do?
II. God may consider our opportunities.
A. Again, opportunities is an unleveled playing field.
B. As we each have different abilities, we each have different
opportunities.
1. Opportunities are dependent on a lot of factors.
2. Where you live,
who and how many live nearby,
the resources you have,
the abilities you have,
the attitude of those you have to work with.
3. It would be my guess that God has never planted a Christian in a
totally perfect place, but neither has He ever planted on in a
totally barren place either.
C. I believe there are four types of opportunities.
1. Some doors are more closed.
Re 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things
saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he
that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.
2. Some doors are mostly open.
3. There is the cracked door.
1Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are
many adversaries.
a. This is the door which is neither widely cracked nor widely
opened.
b. The key to the cracked door is what you do while you can
determines which way it will swing.
4. There is the closing door.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the
night cometh, when no man can work.
III. God may consider our effort.
A. This is one area where everyone is on a level playing field.
1. We all need to work smart and we all need to work effectively.
2. Our abilities help us accomplish more in those areas.
3. However, sometimes those have little bearing on the results.
B. In those cases, we must just work hard!
Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say
unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird
thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt
eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?
I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded
you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to
do.
1. Here we have a land owner who must have had had only one or two
servants.
2. The servant in the story worked all day in the hot sun.
3. At night, he had to work in the house.
4. Here is a picture of work that will never get finished no matter
how hard you work at it.
5. In such a situation, what are we to do? Work hard!
C. With greater resources, one can probably find an easier way to get a
task done, but for the poor man…
1. …there is only one way to get a ditch dug.
2. …there is only one way to get a toilet clean.
3. …there is only one way to clear a field.
4. It is through hard work!
IV. God may consider our faithfulness.
A. Here is another level playing field.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found
faithful.
1. To my knowledge, this is the only requirement God has ever placed
on one who would serve Him.
2. God does not hold try out or examine resumes.
3. God does not appear to be looking for the brightest, the most
gifted, the most creative, the most talented, the most
experienced, or the most successful.
B. In fact, God seems to look for the opposite.
1Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God
chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
C. As long as God considers faithfulness as His criteria, there is the
option of a reward to every believer!
1. A blind man can be as faithful as a seeing man.
2. An old man can be as faithful as a young man.
3. A poor man can be as faithful as a rich man.
4. A uneducated man can be as faithful as a well educated man.
5. A talented man can be as faithful as an incompetent man.
V. God may consider our intent.
A. The Bible does tell us that God sees the heart.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
1. God can see past what we do to what we intended to do.
2. This is an ability that no human judge has.
B. How might God use this ability?
1. He might use it to determine what we meant to do even if what we
do turns out all wrong.
2. He might use it to determine what we would have done if we had
more opportunities.
a. Some will run out of time before they do what they wanted.
b. Some will run out of finances before they do what they wanted.
c. Some will run out of people before they do what they wanted.
3. Have no fear.
a. God has the ability to see more than what you DO.
b. He has the ability to see what you WOULD HAVE DONE.
VI. You will notice that I did not list our results.
A. If God does judge on results, I believe it will be the least important
of all factors.
B. Why?
1. Because God alone is responsible for the results.
2. We are responsible for the work.
We will stand before Christ and be judged. Are you prepared to stand before
Him today with what you have done? If not, you have this second, you better
get started.
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
