August 27, 2006
"The Judgment of Heaven"
Heaven—A Place Prepared For You—Part 8
Selected verses
The Judgment Seat of Christ:
1. All believers will stand before Christ as judge.
You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat... So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
—Romans 14:10-12
2. Our judgment will be after we die.
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
—Hebrews 9:27 and 28
"Are you waiting for Him?"
3. Believers will be judged according to the deeds in this life.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
—2 Corinthians 5:9-10
"What are you doing in faith and in obedience?"
4. Believers will be assigned responsibility based on what they did with the gifts and opportunities Christ gave them.
Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations
—Revelation 2:25-26
"Well done, my good servant!" his master replied. "Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities."
—Luke 19:17
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
—Revelation 22:5
"Jesus reverses our thinking (particularly in regards to our stature)."
What will be covered in our judgment?
1. Works
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
—1 Corinthians 3:10-13
2. Hidden things
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
—1 Corinthians 4:5
"What are the issues in our lives that are hidden and we want to keep that way?"
3. Leadership in ministry
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
—Hebrews 13:17
4. Use of our resources
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
—Luke 12:33-34
"The Lord has raised the standard of giving bar to 'grace giving.'"
5. Faithfulness and obedience
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
—1 Corinthians 9:26-27
"We must become 'if you say so, Lord' Christians."
6. At the end of our judgment we will receive rewards or suffer loss.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
— 1 Corinthians 3:14-15
"What will you be able to lay at His feet?"
Lifework
Carve out some time for personal evaluation. The purpose of this spiritual exercise is not to discourage you, it is designed to motivate you to get back in the race with renewed enthusiasm. If your building project is going poorly, tear out the worthless materials by confession and restitution. Examine each area of your life and practice giving an account. (Do you do your work as for the Lord? Are your attitudes at home consistent with your claim to be following Christ? Would you be comfortable with Jesus sitting next to you as you surf the web or watch TV? What would Jesus say about the way you use your money?)
"The Judgment of Heaven"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- If you had the opportunity to build a new home, what would it look like? Would it be classic or modern? Would it be spacious or compact and efficient? Would you choose to be part of a neighborhood or in the country by yourself?
- The Christian life is said to be like building a building. What kind of building are you? (custom home, tract home, skyscraper, shack, etc?)
Digging Deeper: Read 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 and Ephesians 1:1-14
Every Christian needs to remember that we will face the judgment seat of Christ. This event is not the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in the Book of Revelation. At the judgment seat of Christ we will be rewarded or admonished for the labor we give after our conversion. Take a few moments and discover the difference between our inheritance as Christians and our reward.
| Inheritance | Reward | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on: | Christ's work | 1 Corinthians 3:13-14 |
| Based on: | Ephesians 1:5 | obedience |
| Based on: | Faith | Matthew 25:23 |
| Cost: | Ephesians 1:7-8 | Revelation 22:12 |
| Being a: | son or daughter | Ephesians 6:8 |
| Condition: | 1 Peter 1:4 | Pending |
Applying It To My Life
- Given the clues about what makes good building materials, how do you need to change your building plans?
- How does Matthew 25:29-30 relate to 1 John 1:5-6 and Matthew 7:21? How do these verses challenge your faith?