The Judgment seat of Christ will be one of the most embarrassing times for many believers. The reason for this may be as simple as just a lack of knowledge, or a, “living on the edge” philosophy. We as pastors and mature Bible students need to teach our congregations basic Bible knowledge and Christian living, because most of this problem is simple ignorance and lack of proper Biblical understanding. Thus we need to teach, and then repeat in order to undo what I will call many years of “good Grace” teaching.
First of all, let us look at the fundamentals of this judgment, and what the Bible has to say about this event. In 2 Cor. 5:10 we read, “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”. This verse tells us that this is a judgment of our works. The judgment is not to see if we will lose our salvation, because scripture is clear that we will not lose our salvation. In 1st Cor. 3:15 we read, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Salvation is not the issue. We can never lose our salvation once we are in Christ. In Romans 5:1 we see, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” The peace that we have in Christ assures us that we shall never lose this salvation. Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Good works are to be the results of salvation. Paul tells us this in Phil. 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The working out is not the salvation, but the works after the salvation. This is the main problem with the body of Christ. We are so strong in proving that we do not need works to be saved that we have destroyed all need of works, even after salvation. We don’t work to prove anything, but to show our appreciation for what Christ has done.
Ephesians 2:8-9 shows that salvation is not by works, yet verse ten is not to be left out — “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” The concept of good works is a simple one. Remember the promise “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” The first thing that God will do at the judgment seat is to burn the chaff. In 1st Cor.3: 13-14, we read, “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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” This reward will be based on our knowledge of the truth, our personal testimony and the way we have lived this known truth. The scope of this is the whole person, and not just our ability to know this truth. In other words, did we walk the walk? As we grow in the Lord, we need to serve Him because of our love for Him. In Romans 5:8-10 we read, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The love that Christ has for us is proven when He went to the cross. Even if there was no judgment or reward for faithfulness, His love alone in what He has done for us should motivate us to live a life for Christ.