The Judgment Seat of Christ

In our series entitled, "So You're Dead... Now What?" I will be speaking about judgment. When most Christians read that word in the scriptures, we incorrectly think it only pertains to nonbelievers. But that's not true. All believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not to determine whether or not they will go to heaven, but to give an account for their deeds, both good and bad. Christ will reward those who have remained faithful and persevered in the faith until the end. In the Traditionalist “view, all who are Christians will be rewarded, and some more than others. What this has created is a false version of Christianity where complete commitment is optional. And if you barely make it into heaven, all that you will lose is a higher degree of blessedness. But all will be blessed. Could it be that this happy ending has lulled many into thinking they can continue their lukewarmness with no eternal consequences to pay?” (The Reign of the Servant Kings, pg 23).

I am aware of the traditional understandings of the kingdom ages to come that have all true Christians reigning with Jesus Christ and no real accountability for unfaithfulness. And I believe that such teaching is not only tragic, but leaves the believer with a false sense of security and a huge lack of understanding! Jesus didn't teach a loose, watered down, lukewarm form of faith. His emphasis was on living your faith fully, as a matter of lifestyle, not as a practice when it's convenient. And there was no deviation... the exhortation was to remain steadfast, to be faithful servants who share His love and grace in everything.

The writer of the book of Hebrews was addressing Christian Jews who were tempted to return to the old ways of Judaism. But doing so would be turning their backs on Christ and failing to remain steadfast until the end. Listen to this warning to these believers.

Hebrews 3:12-15
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers [companions] of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

These were true Christians. They had been born again and had received the Holy Spirit. But now it appears that they were in jeopardy of forfeiting their co-heirship with Christ! In this often neglected (even more so, highly misinterpreted) warning, we find that only those who persevere until the end are the companions with Jesus in the coming age.

Addressing "brethren," the writer to the Hebrews warns against hardening one's heart through sin and separating oneself from fellowship with God. To do so is to forfeit intimate companionship with Christ.

God has prepared a lavish wedding banquet for the son. In Him, God was fully pleased. Jesus, the Son, desires to share this glory with companions, as a bridegroom wishes to share the joy of his wedding with his guests. Israel was God’s chosen nation where the invitation to participate in this joy was first proclaimed by the prophets. These men of God were spitefully treated and many were put to death. So, in God’s wrath, Jerusalem and around one million of its Jewish inhabitants were destroyed in 70 A.D. by Roman armies. Then thru Peter and continuing thru Paul God further extended an invitation to the glories of co-heirship with Christ to the Gentiles.

In 2 Corinthians 5 we see one such person who responded to the invitation, however he appeared before Christ, the groom, unprepared. We see from this passage that only those who are prepared for privilege and glory at Christ’s coming will be invited to participate. For those who are not faithful, the privileges of Christ’s intimate companionship, and from co-ruling authorities and glory with Christ will be forfeited. And there will be great grief and regret among these people until eventually, all tears will be wiped away by God (Rev 21:4).

Notice also that the when man without a wedding garment is confronted with his lack of preparation for the joy of this feast that he has nothing to say. When the unfaithful Christian, now sinless, is met with the judgment for his actions, he will experience the shame of knowing that such consequence is merited. And he will not try to talk his way out of it. And Paul goes on to say that this man will “receive the things done in [his] body” which were “bad” (2 Cor 5:10).

Listen, living the life of a "sold out" disciple of Christ is not an easy walk. It takes hard work, consecration, discipline, and endurance. Walking with Jesus is the experience of intimate fellowship with Him. And being arrayed in white at the coming of the Groom (Jesus) is the exclusive glory He merited through His righteousness, faithfulness, and suffering. So do not neglect the personal responsibilities we have in our own spirituality.

Every Christian has the opportunity to share in Christ’s glory and rule over the universe in the coming ages. Likewise, every Christian also has the sober possibility of failure, resulting in undesirable punitive consequences. Christians are robbed of God’s greatest motivations unto consecration when they are told the anti-Scriptural pronouncement that all Christians will reign with Christ. That just ain't so.

(Much of this blog is from Antonio da Rosa's "Free Grace Theology".)

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