The Bible speaks about the judgment of non-believers AND believers (Christians) (Hebrews 9:27). Many times, there is confusion or a lack of understanding on how Christians will be judged and even confuse the scriptures speaking about the judgment of the unsaved.
It would be helpful to define who a Christian is for it is Christians that we are discussing. A Christian is a person who has placed his faith in the work and person of Jesus, His death as payment for our sins, and Jesus’ resurrection. John 1:12-13 states “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Christians are those that are redeemed (Titus 2:14), that is those that have been released from the penalty of their sins by payment of a ransom which is Jesus’ death on the cross.
When Jesus paid the penalty that was ours to pay, all of our sins were forgiven, past, present and future. All our sins were future sins for we had not yet been born when He paid the penalty on our behalf. Those Christians who sincerely repent and are trying but sometimes fall into sin are forgiven. This occurred when the person confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed in their heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). We, as Christians, still live in this body of flesh that still bears a relationship to Adam by way of our birth (Romans 5:12). All Christians bear a relationship to God because of our new birth (1 Corinthians 15:22). Our new nature does not remove the Adamic nature that we inherit at birth. In fact, Paul states in Romans 7:21 that while we desire to do good, evil is present with us. Positionally, our relationship to Adam has been revoked as we were crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) but we must acknowledge that sin continues to dwell in us (Romans 7:17). To state otherwise is to deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8).
This is the paradox that Paul struggled with in Romans chapter 7. Paul declares that he does not do the good he wants but instead, he keeps doing the evil that he does not want to (Romans 7:19). In fact, chapter 7 is devoted to the struggle that Christians have between our heart that wants to serve God and our struggle with our flesh. This struggle that we endure is a battle that even Paul wrestled with.
Throughout God’s Word, Scripture teaches that while salvation is not based on works, God’s judgment is always the basis of a person’s deeds (Romans 14:12, Galatians 6:7-9, 2 Corinthians 5:10). In Romans Chapter 2, Paul is discussing two distinct groups of people, the redeemed and the unredeemed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (Rom 2:6-8)
Christians will stand before God so that we give an account to God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
This judgment does not involve a determination of our salvation for that was already determined when we placed our faith in Jesus. Nor does it involve punishment. There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1). Believers will be rewarded based on their deeds. Each believer’s work “will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1Co 3:12-15)
A believer’s judgment is not based on punishment but based on rewards. If the believer’s work is built on a foundation that survives, he will receive a reward. If the believer’s work is burned up, he will suffer a loss though he will still be saved.
Jesus will be the judge of all people, saved and unsaved. All unbelievers will be judged and punished according to their works. The unsaved are storing up wrath against themselves (Romans 2:5). The redeemed will give an accounting and will receive rewards based on their deeds if there is a foundation that will stand the test of fire. If not, the believer will lose rewards but will be saved. There is no punishment for the Christian as Christ bore the punishment for us.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
This post is adapted from an answer written for GotQuestions.org
13 comments
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Ed
August 29, 2012 at 8:21 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great post!
There’s a whole lot of people who falsely believe that they can become good enough to attain heaven through doing good works, and a lot of confusion over who gets judged for what. This post explains and clarifies things very well.
wdavison
August 30, 2012 at 4:28 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Ed -
Do you & Tishrei reside in the same World as myself.
What ARE you talking about when discussing Heaven. Have you experienced IT or is it just the brainwashing in your infancy that’s leading you along this false, transcendent path. My imagination is no less capable of ‘fantasmic’ thought than yours, but any NORMAL person appreciates the difference between DOGMA & REALITY!
We are not JUDGED by some almighty being. What a daft idea. No matter what we do in life, we all end up in OBLIVION. Consciousness is fleeting.
May the wisdom now amongst us – Rid us of this CLOYING FUNGUS
Let’s all rejoice in LOGIC’S ROLE – & bury the BUNKUM down a hole
Common sense is all one needs – Not passe’ – shrouded – Man-made creeds
Common Sense ??? – Get off thy perch! – Use EVERYDAY knowhow – & RESEARCH!
Tishrei
August 30, 2012 at 12:56 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Oh come on. You can’t be serious to think you can go to people’s blogs and do nothing but insult and expect some kind of dialogue.
Unless you want to enter into a discussion, your insults will no longer be allowed on this blog. I’m getting weary of you coming here for no other purpose other than to fling insults. I don’t do that to you and no one here has stooped to your level and flung insults towards you.
Ed
August 30, 2012 at 11:37 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hello wdavison!
First, I completely agree with Tishrei that insults are not conducive to having any sort of
meaningful dialogue.
“Do you & Tishrei reside in the same World as myself.”
According to the Bible, which is God’s Word, the answer to
that question is yes, we do currently reside in the same world, but we
are not of the same world.
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
You shared in another comment on a different post that you are older and nearing the end of your life in this world.
In the course of your life, have you ever been wrong or made a mistake in judgment?
I’ve made far too many mistakes and errors in judgment to place my faith in myself or in my understanding of the universe, or in any other man’s understanding of the universe for that matter.
God teaches in His Word that after we die, we will spend our ETERNITY in one of two destinations, heaven or hell. God does not desire that anyone should perish, so He sacrificed His Son that we may have eternal life through faith in Jesus. We may hate Christianity and Christians, as I once did, but yet Jesus also died for us and will forgive us if we choose to believe in Him.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
wdavison
August 31, 2012 at 9:18 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Come on – the pair of you – I would SERIOUSLY consider talking COMMON SENSE!
It would appear that neither of you are willing to answer straightforward questions about your BELIEFS.
Ed – you really are well & truly pickled in traditional folklore. I can’t see you EVER escaping its clutches to recognize REALITY in all of its BEAUTY & BRUTALITY!
The purpose of your blog seems to be to compliment each other & wallow in total Fantasy.
Please – The need to consult Biblical, Koranic or any other ancient fairy-tales in order to pursue a decent & considerate existence beggar belief. Most of us have absorbed the knowledge gained since those early times. Do not dwell in the past – Of necessity, we must profit from it – Not perpetuate it!
After quoting those Facts I’m expecting the CHOP!
If the questioner is a little too persistant, get rid of him.
If that is the way of your GOD may heaven help us.
Please post this & I’ll let you get on with your deceptive comments.
All the best to you both.
Paul
September 1, 2012 at 6:38 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Tishrei,
I’m the new guy here. I just wish to say hello and thank you and introduce
myself today. I believe we have a mutual friend (whose name will remain
anonomous)- hi Doug! Oops! And I believe we all have met on occasion a few
(too many) years ago. The next time you talk to our mutual friend he may
have a few nice things to say about me, at least I hope he does, smile
Most mornings, when I first fire up the computer, with a hot mug of ovaltine
in one hand and the mouse in the other, my cursor quickly points to Fruit of
the Word.com. When I do this I know that I will get, good solid wisdom and
answers from the Bible. I also enjoy reading your random posts, devotionals
and, if I am confused or unsure about a subject or topic that I’ve been
thinking about, I will always like to jump to Gotquestions.com Your website
style and design are easy to navigate and I appriciate the drop down Bible
verses – very nice.
Prayer, Fruit of the Word & ovaltine, the best way to start my day, its true
Your point of discussion re: Judgment – Christians and Non-Christians strikes
a cord. Both my mother & father were life long atheists but fortunately they
only moderately opposed my beliefs in Jesus Christ. If we did talk about God
it was usually only trivial and half-baked. With a kind voice and a smile I
once said, ” but dad, I have 2 fathers, an earthly father and a Heavenly
Father.” He just laughed and said, “do you still believe in that non-sense”
Both of my parents have passed on into eternity without God. Dear old dad
believed he would just pass on into eternal nothingness – oblivian. And my
mom believed she would become at-one-with mother nature, at-one-ment with
god, she use to say. Its too sad to think about but it was their choice.
I’m in agreement with your point of discussion – “There is no condemnation
for those who are in Christ.” (Romans 8:1) Because of Christ blood shed
from the cross we are forgiven. For the Christian it is,”The judgment seat
of Christ.” I will be judged for my deeds in the body, whether good or bad.
For non-believers it is, judjment according to their works – which is not
good enough for a Holy God.
What Ed said is very true – non believers do not believe the Word of God is
true. So where do you go with a discussion like that? My God is better than
your non-god? Well thanks for letting me share, and God bless you.
Paul
doug
September 1, 2012 at 9:17 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Good on ya, Mate! Glad you’re reading and absorbing what Tishrei and Ed post. I’ve known you for over 30 years and you’ve always been faithful and searching to stay on the right theological track. God bless you and keep you and continue to help you in your recovery from surgery.
Tishrei
September 1, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi, What a wonderful surprise to see you here.
It is sad when someone enters eternity without Christ for there is no turning back or changing their mind at that point. Believers will be judged but not the same as the non-believers.
I am truly sorry about your parents. I think about that with my family who does not know Christ. While they are still alive, they are muslims and it doesn’t look like they will ever come to faith (at least from my human perspective).
What Ed said that the unbelievers do not believe the Word of God is true, there is not much we can do. Only God can open their eyes so that they can see. We can only do one thing and that is to share the Good News. God takes care of the rest.
Ed
September 4, 2012 at 1:36 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Paul! Welcome!
It’s good to meet you brother!
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing about yourself and
your parents. I hesitate to even bring it up, because unsaved
loved ones and eternity really is too sad to think about.
My dad is 88 and a devout atheist who has instructed me to not discuss
“religion” with him. I can pray for him, and I know that with God,
anything is possible, but if my dad persists in his unbelief, it’s
too sad to think about.
My sister Ruth died in her early 30′s without having, to my knowledge,
saving faith in Jesus. Ultimately, however, when I sought Him, God faithfully
revealed Himself to me through His Word and in my life, and gave me faith to believe
that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.
He gave me faith that He works all things in accordance with His plan, and I can’t
improve on His plan because it’s infinitely good, so even with things that are too
sad to think about…….actually, especially with things that are too sad to think about,
we can trust Him and rest in Him.
thank you again for your thoughtful and kind comment Paul,
Ed
wdavison
September 2, 2012 at 1:38 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
An UNBELIEVER here -
At the age of 91, there’s nothing left to believe but that the end is nigh.
The only worries I have is the nature of departure. Certainly don’t want to be a burden to anyone, to suffer embarrassment of needing to be kept alive when only the mind is functioning. Far sooner be off to sample the grace of your GOD.
Please grow up Tish See you in OBLIVION!
Tishrei
September 2, 2012 at 8:55 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi, it is this type of statement that you make that makes it very difficult to engage in any meaningful conversation with you. It seems that your only purpose for coming to this blog is to insult those of us that place our faith in the only one who can save. I understand that you do not believe and to be honest, that is your right. What I don’t understand is why it bothers you so much that MOST of the population around the world believes in God.
As you said, you are at the tail end of your life and your only worry at this point is the means in which you will die. Actually, regarding death, that is the only thing that concerns me. I am not fearful of death. I am, like you, apprehensive as to how it is going to happen. There will come a point when you take that inevitable step into eternity that you will believe. I also am aware that you could say the same thing to me – that when I die, I will enter into oblivion as if I never existed. That’s fine but I seriously don’t understand why it irks you so much that the majority of the world does not believe as you do.
I remember a few months ago we had a long conversation with respect to science. You read ONE book that convinced you that there was no God. I was willing to provide you with several books written by renowned scientists who were “NON theists” (thought I would use your terminology) that came to the conclusion that it was simply not possible that the world came into existence out of nothing. I was willing to meet you halfway but your only response was that the ONE book that you read was enough and then you returned to insults.
Why don’t you try engaging me in conversation without the insults. I’ve actually have had meaningful conversations with atheists. I am EXTREMELY reluctant to ban you from this site despite the insults and more than likely I won’t do it. I just don’t know what you hope to accomplish with your insults. Whether it is on a Christian site or any area of our lives, when we insult people, they are not likely to see things your way. In fact, most people would either walk away or go on the defensive. That is what people do when they are attacked verbally.
I am sure that you will come back with a smart-aleck and insulting response but I’m going to say it anyway. You are at the last part of your life and it really would not hurt you in any way to at least take a look with an open mind at what the Scriptures have to say. You have nothing to lose. I would be willing to answer your questions and I am sure Ed would be too. At the very least, you would understand why Christians believe even if you do not.
Paul
September 5, 2012 at 3:14 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Ed,
Thank you for your welcome and sharing about your family, I have, and will pray for your Dad.
Tishrei and your ministry, a friendly co-op, will benifit many thousands of people around the world (including me), to learn good theology and doctrines of The Faith. Your excellent work and your faithfulness to God speaks for itself, the Gospel keeps moving on!
I am a retiree, living in Thailand for about 5yrs now. I’m 63yrs old, (a young old man, my wife tells me) and I was born and raised in So.Cal. My world view is Christian – God reached way down in the bucket of life and saved me through the ministry of Pastor John Mac Arthur, at Grace Community Church. I was baptised and publicly confessed my faith on Sept 25th 1978 at GCC (yes I remembered my baptism date). I then continued to grow in my faith at Grace Church.
At Grace Church I was a member in good standing and served in the music ministry through the Career Department. I was a part of the men’s leadership and discipleship program for about 10yrs and was taught proper bible study methods for the purpose of teaching. But my strong point was in music and I shared a music ministry, within the Career Department, with a wonderful Christian woman
My most recent bible study (not finished) is on the wisdom of Solomon from – The Book of Proverbs. The topical study theme is, Got wisdom? – Get wisdom. There are only two roads to choose in life. You can choose the wide road of folly, which is what Adam and Eve chose to do or you can choose the narrow road of wisdom which is what Jesus Christ, the second Adam, did. The wide road is the path of least resistance and leads to destruction. The narrow road is the path of assurance and paradise restored.
Tishrei, Doug and myself are long time friends. They are my Christian brother and sister here on earth but we will walk the streets of gold together, one fine day. I love them both enormously!
From Thailand, the land of smiles.
God bless you, Paul
Tishrei, Doug and myself
wdavison
September 5, 2012 at 1:44 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Tishrei – How did you come to believe that there is some superhuman being keeping an eye on each & every one of Mankind’s individual actions?
The mysteries re the creation of this truly amazing Universe will NEVER be fathomed. Mankind will go extinct still trying to get a handle on it. However, our curious minds will never give up the pursuit. As of now our only aid to understanding is by using the common sense of science. Anyone claiming to know the mind of the Creator has to be living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Gods are of the mind only.
I am no smart-aleck. Just an ordinary bloke who has taken a interest in this subject since retirement, trying to counter the false, tedious & devious proclamations that are rife in the realms of religious Dogma.
I am tickled pink when a person claims a belief in such obvious tosh that is patently all Man-made, generated & kept alive by Impostors who know about as much as I do re some ‘figmentary’ God – damn all!
No wish to keep repeating texts already posted on this blog. They all come from the following – http://www.absurdbelief.info – Please have a look at these 3 web-pages & absorb what is written. FULL of FACTUAL illustrations re the silliness of God-belief & its Origin – the latter, no more than an early conceive of ignorance & apprehension – Perpetuated thro millennia by Impostors – Preying on credulous naivety.
The few passages quoted from those pages you condemn as pure insults. You have never attempted to try to refute any of the facts contained therein because, using plain common sense, there are none.
It has ALWAYS been Nature’s way that living a Life is by the utilization of everyday experience & research – ie – the use of pure evidential communal common sense. How on Earth does belief in an unknowable God help in that ESSENTIAL respect.
Tishrei, To get by, you use common sense every day of your life. Why do you discard it in order to believe that something unknowable will keep you on the straight & narrow? Giving credence to ancient Biblical or Koranic texts re the origins of correct human behaviour, is false. Natural Evolution has kept us up to date with Ethics & Morality ever since our grasp of reality took hold.
Gods are quite definitely surplus to requirements!
FINAL INSULT – I now expect you to get down on hands & knees & pray for my salvation!
Whilst recognizing it as a futile act, thanks are still applicable.
C’mon Tishrei – Let’s have a giggle!