Rev. David Holwick ZG
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 15, 2000
2 Corinthians 5:10
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I. The Judgment Day.
A. Scary to stand before a judge.
1) (attending a small town court in Massachusetts)
2) People plead, bring evidence, talk too much.
3) Consequences can be grave.
B. What would it be like to appear before God himself?
1) More than 80% of Americans believe it.
(#4434 - Times-Mirror, 1993)
a) "Get out of Hell free" card by "True" skeptic.
b) Actual attitude of many believers (and non-).
2) Jack Chick tract, "This Was Your Life."
a) Every deed is exposed before everyone, including your
mom.
b) Who would want that?
C. In reality, judgment begins with Christians.
1) Jesus speaks often of his servants giving an account of
their efforts.
2) Everyone faces judgment, not just evil people.
II. The judgment seat. 2 Cor 5:10
A. Bema imagery.
1) Raised platform on which sat a judge or ruler.
2) They spoke to crowds, gave awards, or rendered verdicts.
B. A place of accounting.
1) We will all give an account of our lives to Jesus.
a) Romans 14:12 - "each of us will give an account of
himself to God."
b) Luke 19:11-27, parable of the minas.
c) Matthew 25, sheep and goats.
2) We will all be examined. 1 Cor 4:4-5
a) In same way Pilate examined Jesus.
b) "Appear" in 2 Cor 5:10 also means "be exposed."
3) The quality of our work will be tested. 1 Cor 3:13-15
a) "bad" means "worthless."
b) Only what is solid and valuable survives the fire.
III. What about our sins being forgotten?
A. Old Testament promises.
1) Sin forgotten:
JER 31:34/HEB 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
PSA 103:11-12 For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he
removed our transgressions from us.
MIC 7:19 You will again have compassion on us; you will
tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities
into the depths of the sea.
2) Understandably popular with Christians.
3) Metaphorical - impossible to divide east from west.
4) But Paul tells us the good and bad is brought before Bema.
a) Therefore God has not completely forgotten it.
B. Judgment is a past event for us.
1) The moment we believe, our condemnation passes. John 5:24
a) Cross of Jesus is sufficient to save us completely.
2) The death of Jesus covers our past, present and future sin.
a) Our status will not be judged, only our quality.
b) But not something to take for granted.
C. Acquittal does not mean there is no assessment.
IV. What is assessed.
A. Unconfessed sins?
1) Some interpreters put big stress here.
2) It is even suggested those with many unconfessed sins miss
out on the Millennial reign of Christ on earth.
3) But even our unconfessed sins are forgiven by Jesus.
B. Good deeds only.
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.
(Bibliotheca Sacra, V137 #545, Jan 1980, page 38)
C. Good and bad deeds.
1) "Good only" seems to be whitewashing other clear passages.
2) Jesus.
a) Every word counts. Matthew 12:36-37
b) He even mentions whippings - for teachers.
3) 1 Cor 11:31 - judge yourself first, or Jesus will.
a) Overall moral character is most in view here.
4) Reward is one hundred times more valuable than work we do.
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.
2) Each of us will stand alone before Christ.
C. The Bema should motivate us.
1) Jesus always 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.
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 4434 National and International Religion Report, quoted in "Signs of
the Times," August, 1993, page 6; quoted further in Rev. Brett
Blair's Illustrations By Email, www.sermonillustrations.com,
December 1998.
This and 16,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
Study Notes
I. Will Christians experience negative judgment?
A. Four opinions.
1) The sin of Christians is forgiven and forgotten.
a) We are not judged.
2) The confessed sin is forgiven, unconfessed sin is judged.
a) Some even argue particularly sinful Christians miss
out on the Millennium.
3) Our sin are forgiven but our works for Jesus are judged.
a) Debated whether only rewards are dished out.
1> Jesus mentions crowns, and whippings (=stripes).
4) Our sins are judged but there is no fear in it because
we are saved by blood of Jesus.
B. Public exposure of unconfessed sins?
1) Some see it as place of humiliation.
2)
II. Foundational truths.
A. When we accept Jesus, our sins are dealt with at the cross.
1) Unrepeatable.
2) We cannot pay for our sins (in sense of atonement) in this
life or the next.
a) No purgatory.
b) Sin forgotten: Isa 44:22, Ps 103:12, Mic 7:19, Heb 8:12,
Jer 31:34
c) Not condemned: John 3:18, John 5:24, Rom 8:1
B. As Christians, we still sin until we die.
C. Our actions matter. Accountability.
D. Sins forgiven and forgotten - Heb 10:17-18
E. There are consequences for our sin.
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.
F. Christians judged.
1) 2 Cor 5:10 - what is due our actions, good and bad.
2) Col 3:24-25 - do wrong, pay for it.
3) 1 Cor 11:31 - judge yourself first.
G. Must not be judicial punishment.
III. Theology of judgment.
A. Bible teaches it.
B. Holy God requires it.
C. It is a present reality.
1) It takes place the moment we believe. John 5:24
a) We are justified (acquitted) right now. Rom 3:26
2) Unbelievers also stand condemned right now. John 3:18
D. Future judgment of Christians.
1) The righteousness we hope for is acquittal in the final
judgment. Gal 5:5
2) We must all appear before God's (Christ's) judgment seat.
a) 2 Cor 5:10; cf. Matt 12:36
3) Judgment Day holds no terror for believers. 1 Jn 4:17
IV. The reality of forgiveness.
A. "As far as the east is from the west."
1) If God forgets our sin, how can he bring it up for judgment?
B. The death of Jesus covers our past, present and future sin.
1) But not something to take for granted.
a) False disciples think they are genuine, and forgiven.
V. Nature of final judgment. Berkhof
A. Various viewpoints:
1) Liberal - spiritual, invisible, endless process.
a) Purely metaphorical.
1> Not necessary, because all are judged at death.
b) Immanent in history.
2) Conservative - a literal, future event.
a) But God can judge through history. (verses, Berkhof)
B. Chronology
1) At death only. No final event. (see above)
2) Multiple judgments.
a) Dispensationalism. (for critique, see below. Berkhof)
1> Judgment of saints at Parousia.
2> Judgment of nations at end of Tribulation.
3> Judgment of wicked after Millennium. (Great White Throne)
3) One final judgment. Berkhof
a) Bible speaks of one final event.
1> Called the "Day" of Judgment.
John 5:28-29, Acts 17:31, 2 Pet 3:7, Matt 7:22, 2 Tim 4:8, Rom 2:5.
2> Day a thousand years?
b) Righteous and wicked judged together, separated.
Matt 7:22-23, 25:31-46, Rom 2:5-7, Rev 11:18, 20:11-15.
c) Judgment of the wicked occurs at Parousia and revelation of Jesus.
2 Thess 1:7-10, 2 Pet 3:4-7.
d) God does not judge nations "as nations," but only individuals.
Matt 25:31-46.
C. Timing
1) Relationship to eschatological events:
a) At end of present world.
1> Concerns whole life of every person.
Matt 13:40-43, 2 Pet 3:7.
b) Associated with Parousia.
Matt 25:19-46.
c) Follows immediately after resurrection from dead.
Dan 12:2, John 5:28-29, Rev 20:12-13.
d) Relationship to new earth:
1> Before.
2> During: 2 Pet 3:7, Rev 20:11.
3> After: Rev 21:1.
4> Cannot be determined. Berkhof
2) Duration.
a) Day:
1> "Day of judgment." Matt 11:22, 12:36.
2> "That day." Matt 7:22, 2 Thess 1:10, 2 Tim 1:12.
3> "Day of wrath." Rom 2:5, Rev 11:8.
A> Not necessarily 24 hours. Berkhof
B> "Day of Lord" not to be identified with Millennium. Berkhof
1: A day can be a thousand years, but references to
"day of trouble" indicated judgment is focus of
"day." Berkhof
VI. Who judges.
A. Work of Triune God.
B. In a special way the work of Christ. Matt 25:31-32, John 5:17, Acts
10:42, 17:31, Phil 2:10, 2 Tim 4:1.
1) A reward for his atoning work.
2) Part of his exaltation.
C. Angels assist him (limited role). Berkhof
Matt 13:30,41,42, 24:31, 25:31, 2 Thess 1:7-8.
D. Saints co-judge with Christ. Ps 149:5-9, 1 Cor 6:2-3, Rev 20:4.
1) Condemn the world by their faith?
2) Concur in judgment of Christ?
3) Active participation in judgment. Berkhof
1 Cor 6:2-3. Believers are capable of judging now, will do it on Last Day.
VII. Standard of Judgment.
A. Revealed will of God is standard.
B. Depends on person.
1) Salvation does not differ in kind, but in degrees.
a) In bliss of heaven.
b) In punishment of hell.
2) Privileged are more responsible.
Matt 11:21-24, Rom 2:12-16.
C. Depends on religious classification.
1) Pagans judged by law of nature.
2) Jews in OT judged by Mosaic law.
3) Christians judged by law of Christ.
D. Content of judgment.
1) Works.
Matt 11:22,24, Luke 12:47-48, 20:47, Dan 12:3, 2 Cor 9:6.
a) Sins.
1> Every secret thing, idle word.
Rom 2:16, 1 Cor 4:5, Matt 12:36.
2> Even forgiven sins. Berkhof
b) Righteous acts.
E. Aspects of judgment. Berkhof
1) God analyzes all works and thoughts.
a) Concept of "books."
1> Plural.
Dan 7:10, Rev 20:12.
2> Book of Remembrance for the saints. Mal 3:16
A> Same as book of life?
B> Reflects omniscience of God?
C> God's private record of predestination?
3> Differences in books.
A> One set is deeds, other is destinies.
B> One is statute book (=Bible), other is God's private
book of predestination.
2) God passes sentence.
3) God executes the sentence.
VIII. Who is judged.
A. Two parties. Berkhof
1) Spiritual beings.
a) Satan and his demons.
b) Fallen angels.
Matt 8:29, 1 Cor 6:3, 2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6.
c) Good angels?
1> Hard to prove. Some point to 1 Cor 6:3. Berkhof
2) Humans.
a) Saved ones only. (Pelagians)
b) All humans, good and bad.
Eccl 12:14, Ps 50:4-6, Matt 12:36-37, Rom 14:10, 2 Cor 5:10, Rev 10:12.
1> Christians included.
A> Sins revealed as pardoned sins.
B> The righteous appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Matt 13:30,40-43,49, 25:14-23,34-40,46.
c) Unsaved only.
1> Dispensationists.
A> Rom 8:1 - Believers do not come into condemnation.
B> Christians are pardoned of all sins, they will not be revealed.
1: Forgiven and forgotten.
a: They are revealed as forgiven sins. Berkhof
2> No. John 5:24 - Believers are delivered from condemnatory judgment. Berkhof
IX. Christians will face judgment, as well as non-believers.
MAT 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give
account on the day of judgment for every careless word
they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and
by your words you will be condemned."
MAT 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and
all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in
heavenly glory.
25:32 All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate the people one from another as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the
goats on his left.
JOH 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but
does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not
come to judge the world, but to save it.
ACT 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the
world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has
given proof of this to all men by raising him from the
dead."
ROM 14:10 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.
ROM 14:11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says
the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue
will confess to God.'"
ROM 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of
himself to God.
2CO 5:10 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.
HEB 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment,
HEB 10:30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to
avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge
his people."
1PE 4:5 But they will have to give account to him who
is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1PE 4:6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached
even to those who are now dead, so that they might be
judged according to men in regard to the body, but
live according to God in regard to the spirit.
1JO 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so
that we will have confidence on the day of judgment,
because in this world we are like him.
1JO 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear, because fear has to do with
punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.
REV 11:18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has
come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for
rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints
and those who reverence your name, both small and
great--and for destroying those who destroy the
earth."
REV 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened. Another book
was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were
judged according to what they had done as recorded in
the books.
REV 20:13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and
death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them,
and each person was judged according to what he had
done.
REV 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the
lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
REV 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
_______________________________________________________________
Samuel L. Hoyt
==============
The issue at the bh'ma is therefore 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 while 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 deems worthy of reward. Not only is the purpose of this event future manifestation, but it also should serve as present motivation for contemporary godly living. ...
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.
_______________________________________________________________
Expositors Commentary
2 Corinthians 5:10
_____________________
In v. 10 we find a second and secondary reason for Paul's eager striving to win Christ's approval. Not only was there his destiny with Christ (v. 8), but there was also his accountability to Christ (v. 10) requiring his compulsory attendance before the tribunal of Christ. From 1 Corinthians 4:5 we see that this involves not merely an "appearance" in the court of heaven (cf. Rom 14:10) but the divine illumination of what has been hidden by darkness and the divine exposure of secret aims and motives. The person thus scrutinized will then receive an equitable and full recompense ("what is due him").
Of whom is this attendance required? It is true that all men are accountable to God their maker and judge (Rom 2:1-11). In this context, however, Paul is thinking primarily, if not exclusively, of the Christian's obligation to "give an account of himself" (Rom 14:12). Appearance before Christ's tribunal is the privilege of Christians. It is concerned with the assessment of works and, indirectly, of character, not with the determination of destiny; with reward, not status. Judgment on the basis of works is not opposed to justification on the basis of faith. Delivered from "the works of the law" (Rom 3:28), the Christian is presently committed to "the work of faith," "action stemming from faith" (1Thess 1:3), that will be assessed and rewarded at the bema ("tribunal"). Yet not all verdicts will be comforting. The believer may "suffer loss" (1Cor 3:15) by forfeiting Christ's praise or losing a reward that might have been his.
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The Illustrated Bible Dictionary
I. The judgment of Christians.
A. Christ at his coming will judge his people.
1) Matt 25:14-30,31-46; Luke 19:12-28; 1 Cor 3:12-15;
2 Cor 5:10; 1 Pet 1:17; Rev 20:12-13
B. Christians will be judged in respect of their stewardship of
the talents, gifts, opportunities and responsibilities.
1) 1 Pet 1:15-17 -
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all
you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work
impartially, live your lives as strangers here in
reverent fear.
2) It is a fatherly judgment.
a) It does not endanger our standing in God's family.
b) It has all of God's understanding and compassion.
c) It is not to be taken lightly.
3) It is exercised by Christ at his coming.
___________________________________________________
Discipleship Journal
A. The Judgment Seat.
1) Bema.
B. A place of accounting.
1) We will all give an account of our lives to Jesus.
2) We will all be examined.
3) The quality of our work will be tested.
4) Our works will be evident to all.
C. Rewards to the victors.
1) Reward is one hundred times more valuable than work we do.
2) Our character (more than individual acts) is assessed.
D. Sobering thoughts.
1) It should motivate us.
2) Our lives count for something now.
3) Each of us will stand alone.
4) These truths should help us live in fear of God.
a) A healthy dose is good.
___________________________________________________
HOLWICK COMBINED COLLECTION Number: 302
TOPICS: Judgment, Life After Death, Accountability
TEXT: Matt 18:23-35, Matt 25:31-46, Mark 3:28-30, 2 Cor 2:15, John 3:18-20,
Rom 1:18, Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1, 1 Pet 4:5
SOURCE: "I Believe In The Second Coming Of Jesus"
AUTHOR: Stephen Travis
DATE: 1-1-88
ILLUSTRATION:
Two destinies lie before all humans. Jesus spoke vigorously about judgment.
Sometimes topic is abused: Jonathan Edward's "Sinners in the Hands of an
Angry God" is quoted.
But judgment is a necessary message. We will all be held accountable. Our
actions are significant. We are free to reject God.
1. Judgment, a present reality. John 3:18-20, Rom 1:18.
2. The final judgment. Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1, 1 Pet 4:5.
Includes all people.
Is according to works.
3. Grounds of judgment.
Disregard for poor.
Possible to be religious and yet ungodly.
4. Outcome of judgment.
*
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HOLWICK COMBINED COLLECTION Number: 305
TOPICS: Judgment, Destiny, Condemnation, Free Will, Predestination, Hell
TEXT: Gal 6:7-8, Matt 25:34,41
SOURCE: "I Believe In The Second Coming Of Jesus"
AUTHOR: Stephen Travis
DATE: 1188
ILLUSTRATION:
Our response to Christ determines our destiny. We reap what we sow.
"It is not God's desire to condemn, any more than it is the purpose of light to cast shadows. But shadows are inevitably cast when someone stands in the way of the light."
Matt 25 shows how God's plan is salvation (v 34), but condemnation is meant for Devil, not men.
New Testament teaching on predestination. Passages show salvation is God's act, out of grace. But it never teaches double-predestination.
Jesus always spoke of human destiny in a way to provoke decision. It is practical, not theoretical. "The doctrine of hell is not about Judas or Stalin. It is about you and me." But the fact that emphasis is practical should not be construed to mean it is not real.
#305
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