1 Corinthians  3_10-15      Are Christians Judged?

Rev. David Holwick  ZG               added to "Questions People Ask" series

First Baptist Church                    

Ledgewood, New Jersey                       

October 12, 2003  

1 Corinthians 3:10-15


ARE CHRISTIANS JUDGED?



  I. Which version of the Judgment Day?

      A. Arnold Schwarzenegger's version.


             In 1991 "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" was released.

                It took in $517 million at the box office worldwide.

             Machines take over the planet but one machine comes back

                in time to protect a future human leader.

             Since it stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current governor

                of California, we must give it serious thought!


      B. Jack Chick's version.


             His gospel tract "This Was Your Life" is highly popular.

                Average guy dies and stands before God.

             Every bad word and deed is revealed to every creature.

                Presumably, his mom is in the audience.


      C. God's version.

          1) Quite a few questions about it, even among Christians.

              a) I am preaching this sermon because someone asked.

              b) More than 80% of Americans believe it there will be a

                    Judgment Day.  (Times-Mirror poll, 1993)        #4434

          2) Main issues:

              a) Who is judged?

              b) What is revealed?

              c) What is the goal or purpose?

              d) What will happen to ME?


II. Judgment in the Bible.

      A. A single future day is envisioned.

          1) However, a few verses hint that our judgment is determined

                the moment we believe in Jesus - or don't believe.

                                                                John 5:24


      B. The judgment of all humans is clearly taught.

          1) Romans 14:12 - "Each of us will gave an account of himself

                to God."

          2) Both good people and bad, believers and non-believers,

                are judged.

          3) However, some passages seem to focus exclusively on the

                judgment of non-Christians (Rev. 20:12-15) while others

                   focus only on Christians (1 Cor. 3:10-15).


      C. The judgment of these two groups is very different.

          1) Non-believers are judged on the basis of their

                character and works.

              a) But no one is good enough to meet God's standard.

              b) They will fail the test and be rejected.

          2) Believers are judged on the basis of Christ's death on

                their behalf.

              a) We are forgiven and accepted by God.

              b) But is there more?


III. The extent of the judgment of Christians.

      A. Four opinions:

          1) The sin of Christians is forgiven and forgotten by God,

                so we are not really judged at all.

          2) Our confessed sin is forgiven, but unconfessed sin is

                judged.

              a) Some argue sinful Christians miss out on the Millennium.

              b) Roman Catholics say the purpose of Purgatory is to burn

                    away these unconfessed sins (as long as they are

                      little ones - big ones send you to hell.)

          3) Our sins are forgiven but our works for Jesus are judged.

              a) Perhaps only rewards are handed out.

              b) But Jesus mentions crowns and whippings (=stripes).

          4) Our sins and works are all judged but there is no fear in it

                because we are saved by blood of Jesus.


      B. My conclusion:

          1) The Judgment Day will be a privilege for Christians, not

                an ordeal.

              a) The penalty for our sins is paid in full.

              b) Our past, present and future sins are covered.

              c) We cannot suffer for our sins (such as purgatory)

                    because only the blood of Jesus can wash away sins.

          2) It concerns the assessment of our works but not our destiny.

          3) It concerns our rewards and not our punishment.

              a) Any loss to us is the loss of reward and praise from

                    Jesus, which is not something to be discounted.


IV. Wood or gold?                                  1 Corinthians 3:10-15

      A. Passage focuses on Christians, not unbelievers.

          1) We must have Jesus Christ as our foundation.            3:11

          2) If he is not, we are doomed.


      B. We can build differently.

          1) Some build with precious materials.

              a) Our character and actions honor God.

          2) Others use shoddy material.

              a) We pretty much honor ourselves.


      C. The Judgment Day reveals our quality.

          1) Fire has a dual impact:

              a) Gold and silver are purified.

              b) Wood and straw are consumed.

          2) Salvation is not in jeopardy.                           3:15

              a) Both are saved.

              b) However, one has little to show for it and

                    smells singed.


         Rev. Samuel Hoyt says it is not a question of sin to be

            punished, but rather a question of service.

         The believer's life will be examined and evaluated in regard to

            his faithfulness as a steward of the abilities and

               opportunities which God had entrusted to him.

         Faithfulness will be graciously rewarded.

         Unfaithfulness will go unrewarded.


         Thus the primary purpose of the judgment seat of Christ is

            to reveal and review the Christian's life and service and

               then to reward him for what God says is worthy of reward.


         The judgment seat of Christ might be compared to a commencement

            ceremony.

         At graduation there is some measure of disappointment and

            remorse that one did not do better and work harder.

         However, at such an event the overwhelming emotion is joy, not

            remorse.

         The graduates do not leave the auditorium weeping because they

            did not earn better grades.

         Rather, they are thankful that they have been graduated, and

            they are grateful for what they did achieve.


         To overdo the sorrow aspect of the judgment seat of Christ is

            to make heaven hell.

         To underdo the sorrow aspect is to make faithfulness

            inconsequential.

                                                                   #25716

  V. Sobering thoughts.

      A. Our sins have consequences.

          1) In this life.

              a) Current unconfessed sin results in loss of desire for

                    service.

              b) Results in loss of spiritual power.

              c) Results in loss of opportunity.

          2) In next life.

              a) We will miss opportunities of reward.


      B. Our lives count for something now.

          1) Every action, deed, sin, reveals your character.


      C. The Judgment Day should motivate us.

          1) Jesus spoke of human destiny in a way to provoke decision.

                It is practical, not theoretical.

          2) But the fact that emphasis is practical should not be

                construed to mean it is not real.


             Judy White Edelson wrote in Newsweek magazine:


             "I used to laugh about my mother telling me, 'That will go

                 on your permanent record.'

              I thought I had no permanent record.

              I was young and had a long, full lifetime in which to make

                 mistakes and explore endless possibilities....


             There IS a permanent record.

             It lives on in the memories of all the people you have come

                in contact with.

             It lives on in your own perception of yourself, coloring

                and flavoring who you become, what you expect to be able

                   to accomplish, and how you live your life.

             [I would add, it lives on in God's memory...]


             Every decision you make determines your tomorrow.

                Your future is in your past."                       #3308


      D. Each of us will stand alone before God.

          1) The holiness of your mother or father won't matter.

          2) A preacher in your family tree won't help.

          3) Only what you have done for Christ will last for eternity.



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Portions of this sermon are repeated from "Will Your Mom Find Out?" based

on 2 Corinthians 5:10.


SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


# 3308  "Your Permanent Record," Judy White Edelson, Newsweek Magazine,

           December 13, 1993, quoted in "Currents" in Discipleship

           Journal #81, May-June 1994, page 12.


# 4434  "Eighty Percent of Americans Believe in Judgment Day," National

           and International Religion Report, quoted in "Signs of the

           Times," August 1993, page 6; further quoted in Rev. Brett

           Blair's Illustrations by Email, www.sermonillustrations.com,

           December 15, 1998.


#25716  "Judgment Day For Christians," Samuel L. Hoyt, from article

           "The Judgment Seat Of Christ In Theological Perspective;

           Part 2: The Negative Aspects Of The Christians Judgment,"

           Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 137, #546, April 1980, page 125.


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