The Judgment Seat of Christ
Inevitable Judgment
The reality of judgment is an inescapable truth that resonates across the Bible. It is affirmed that every soul will, at one point or another, stand before God in judgment. Although believers in Christ stand forgiven, having been saved by His grace, they are not exempted from judgment.
If you are in Christ’s body, your sin has already been judged. Any endeavor before faith in Christ was, in essence, a pursuit in vain, governed by self-righteousness and sin (Rom 14:23, Heb 11:6). Yet, through Christ's sacrifice, He became sin for us and took upon Himself the judgment we deserve so that we could have eternal life and have His righteousness (2Co 5:21, Rom 3:21-26).
Additionally, as stated in Romans 14:10-12, those in the body of Christ are to appear before the judgment seat of Christ:
“[10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
However, it's paramount to understand that this judgment is distinct in its nature. It is not akin to Christ’s judgment of the nations prior to the commencement of Israel's kingdom, as delineated in Matthew 25:31-46, nor is it the great white throne room judgment of the wicked depicted in Revelations 20:11-12. The latter judgments weigh individuals based on their actions to decide their eternal fate. The judgment seat of Christ does not decide your salvation.
Judgment for Our Service
But a looming question remains: If our past sins and eternal life are not to be judged, what then is this judgment for?
In contrast to other judgments in the Bible, the judgment believers face concerns the sort of work performed in Christ’s body. As 2 Corinthians 5:10 asserts,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
In 1 Corinthians 3, we get more details surrounding this judgment. In 1 Corinthians 3:10, Paul describes laying the foundation of Jesus Christ, as a wise masterbuilder, according to the blueprints he received concerning Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25-26). We are additionally warned to take heed of how we build upon the foundation.
Paul continues 1 Corinthians 3:12-15:
“[12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. These concern the quality of materials: the sort of work that is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.
There is a fire that will try everyone’s work of what sort it is. If it builds and edifies the body according to right doctrine, it will endure and receive a reward. If the work doesn’t edify, it will be burned. Not the person, but the vain work.
Conclusion
In order to build upon the foundation correctly, we need to build with the doctrine that edifies the body in truth and love (2Co 12:19, Eph 4:15, Php 4:6-9). This work is eternal and abides through judgment. We need to know the blueprints for the church found in Paul’s epistles. We must understand what God’s will is today for the church to see souls saved and saints edified (1Ti 2:4). We need to study God’s word, rightly divided, in order to build correctly (2Ti 2:15).
If we fail to do so, our endeavors are fleeting and inconsequential. Such vain efforts will inevitably face the fiery trials of judgment and be reduced to ashes. Time, once squandered, cannot be retrieved, and lost opportunities remain just that—lost.
In Christ, your life is not yours. Your life was bought with the precious blood of Christ. In fact, it is your reasonable service to sacrifice yourself daily for the one who sacrificed His life for you (Rom 12:1).
“[19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” – 1Co 6:19-20
Don’t waste your life building yourself and others up with dead grass, that burns and blows away with the passing of your momentary life. You were made for more than that in Christ, so redeem the time you’ve been gifted.
“[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
