Judgment and Reward
Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos
GOD - THE JUDGE OF ALL
The following is from The Spirit-Filled Believer’s Handbook by Derek Prince, Published by Thomas Nelson (April 20, 1993).
1) GOD'S JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO TRUTH (ROMANS 2:1-2)
2) GOD'S JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO DEEDS (I PETER 1:17)
3) GOD'S JUDGMENT IS WITHOUT PARTIALITY (ROMANS 2:11)
4) GOD'S JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO LIGHT (ROMANS 2:12)
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
What is the nature of the judgment administered to Christians (true believers) by Christ upon His judgment seat?
This will not be a judgment of condemnation.
John 3:18 (NIV)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 5:24 (NIV)
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
- True believers in Christ will never have to face a judgment of which the outcome will be final condemnation.
- The true believer in Christ will never need to be judged at all for sins he has committed.
- When a person comes as a sinner in faith to Christ, receiving Him as Savior and confessing Him as Lord, the whole record of that person's past sins is immediately and eternally blotted out by God, never to be remembered anymore.
Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
- Sins are wrong acts that are committed without any necessary reference to a know law: and are compared to a cloud.
- Transgressions are wrong acts committed in open disobedience of a known law and are compared to a thick cloud and are darker of the two.
- God's grace and power are more than sufficient to blot out both.
When a sinner comes in repentance and faith to Christ the first time the whole record of the sinner's former sins is thereby instantly and completely erased, and his record is clean.
If at any time thereafter the believer should fall again into sin, he needs only to repent and confess his sin. God erases that particular section of the record and once again his record is clean.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
These passages teach that if a believer in Christ sins and thereafter repents and confesses his sin, the record of the sin is erased and he himself is cleansed from all unrighteousness.
This is why the true believer in Christ need not fear final condemnation. God's provision both to cleanse the sinner himself and to erase the record of his sins means that there will be no record of sin remaining upon which any just judgment of condemnation could be based.
If, then, there is no possibility of final condemnation for the true believer, for what purpose will Christians be judged?
The answer is that the judgment of Christians will be to assess their rewards. The true believer will be judged not in respect of righteousness but in respect of service rendered to Christ.
The reason why the believer will not be judged in respect of righteousness is that: The righteousness of the true believer is no longer his own but the righteousness of Christ Himself, imputed to him by God on the basis of is faith.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (in him).
- Through this exchange we have become the righteousness of God in Christ.
- The believer receives salvation of this basis.
- It would be utterly illogical for God to judge, or even to call into question, His own righteousness imparted to the believer.
Conclusion: the judgment of Christians will deal not with their righteousness but with their service rendered to Christ.
The purpose: of the judgment will not be to decide upon either acquittal or condemnation but rather to assess the reward due to each believer for his service to Christ while on earth.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 45 (NIV)
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
This teaching is also found in
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Again, there is no doubt about the explicit teaching within this portion of scripture. It states, the fire shall try every man’s work.
Crowns
(Eternal rewards for faithfully serving the Lord)
The following is from http://www.eternal-productions.org/PDFS/Crowns.pdf
If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ then you have eternal life. The gift of salvation, purchased by Jesus on the cross, is freely given to all who will repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone. God’s gift is eternal and free.
However, though salvation is a free gift, there will be eternal rewards given to those who faithfully serve the Lord in this life. The Bible lists five crowns that the Lord will give for faithful service. The five are as followers:
1) Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
This is the victor’s crown. It will be given to those who have exercised self-control and kept their bodies in subjection to the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, these disciples restrain their appetites and lusts so as to be ready and available for ministry.
2) Crown of Rejoicing (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19).
This is the soul winner’s crown. Those who reach out and evangelize the lost will receive the Crown of Rejoicing.
3) Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).
This crown is for those who love the Lord’s appearing. Saints who eagerly await Christ’s appearing will receive this crown.
4) Crown of Life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).
This crown is for those who suffer, endure temptation, and yet still hold fast their confession in Jesus through tribulation and even death.
5) Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1-4).
This crown is for those who lovingly serve as overseers and faithfully teach God’s word and disciple others in the faith. They will receive the elder’s Crown of Glory.
Jesus wants you to receive a full reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 2:18; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11).
With these rewards we will apparently have the privilege of casting our crowns before His throne (Revelation 4)
“His Lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord’” (Matthew 25:23).
If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ then you have eternal life. The gift of salvation, purchased by Jesus on the cross, is freely given to all who will repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone. God’s gift is eternal and free.
However, though salvation is a free gift, there will be eternal rewards given to those who faithfully serve the Lord in this life. The Bible lists five crowns that the Lord will give for faithful service. The five are as followers:
1) Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
This is the victor’s crown. It will be given to those who have exercised self-control and kept their bodies in subjection to the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, these disciples restrain their appetites and lusts so as to be ready and available for ministry.
2) Crown of Rejoicing (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19).
This is the soul winner’s crown. Those who reach out and evangelize the lost will receive the Crown of Rejoicing.
3) Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).
This crown is for those who love the Lord’s appearing. Saints who eagerly await Christ’s appearing will receive this crown.
4) Crown of Life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).
This crown is for those who suffer, endure temptation, and yet still hold fast their confession in Jesus through tribulation and even death.
5) Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1-4).
This crown is for those who lovingly serve as overseers and faithfully teach God’s word and disciple others in the faith. They will receive the elder’s Crown of Glory.
Jesus wants you to receive a full reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 2:18; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11).
With these rewards we will apparently have the privilege of casting our crowns before His throne (Revelation 4)
“His Lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord’” (Matthew 25:23).
The Great White Throne
Revelation 20:11-15 New International Version
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 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. 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 they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
..In this vision the thought seems to be centered upon the fate of the wicked. the purpose is to show that, on the return of Christ, not only the beast and the dragon and their living followers are to be overthrown, but all their subjects and confederates, who previously have passed into the realm of death, are to partake of the same doom. The intention is to describe the complete condemnation and overthrow of evil before painting the picture of the age of gold.
He (John) declared that he "saw a great white throne." It is "great," as denoting the power of the Judge who sits upon the throne. It is "white," as indicating the absolute justice which there is dispensed. From the fact of this Judge "the earth and the heaven fled away," a figure of speech which denotes that heaven and earth are not worthy to stand before the infinite holiness of God.
"The dead, the great and the small," were seen "standing before the throne." It is implied that a resurrection had taken place. This resurrection is described in the following verse. At least, it is stated that "the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them." ..all who had passed under the power of death and had experienced the condition of the dead were to stand before the throne.
"They were judged every man according to their works." This is the main point of the message. Judgment is to be universal, and it is to be just. Each one will receive "according to what" he has "done in the body, ...whether it to be good or bad."
The judgment will be in accordance with clear evidence: "Books were opened:..and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works." The figure of written books denotes a record and a remembrance of all the deeds of each one who stands for judgment before the great white throne."
Another book is mentioned. It is "The Book of Life." Apparently this is the roll of those who are citizens of the New Jerusalem. Nothing is here specified as to their fate. Undoubtedly they are to enter upon eternal glory.
It is stated, however, that "if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
Such a statement cannot fail to strike the reader with awe. Nothing could be more solemn than this scene. Yet its purpose must be kept in mind. It is not intended to record merely the punishment of the impenitent, but to set forth the final defeat of all the enemies of Christ and his church.
"Death and Hades" also are "cast into the lake of fire." Both death and all its consequences are forever destroyed, The triumph of Christ is complete.
[Erdman's Expository]
Here is the ultimate end of all sin and rebellion against the authority and holiness of almighty God: to be cast forever into the lake of everlasting fire. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will escape this final judgment. The names recorded in this book are of those who during their life on earth availed themselves, through faith, of God's mercy and grace.
All those who put their faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice on behalf of mankind will already have been resurrected at the commencement of the millennium. They will have passed through their own appropriate judgment before the judgment seat of Christ - not for condemnation but to assess their reward.
It seems certain that the majority of those who appear before the great white throne will not have fulfilled the conditions for receiving God's mercy and will therefore be condemned to the lake of fire. [Derek Prince]
Click to Return to the Index Page
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 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. 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 they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
..In this vision the thought seems to be centered upon the fate of the wicked. the purpose is to show that, on the return of Christ, not only the beast and the dragon and their living followers are to be overthrown, but all their subjects and confederates, who previously have passed into the realm of death, are to partake of the same doom. The intention is to describe the complete condemnation and overthrow of evil before painting the picture of the age of gold.
He (John) declared that he "saw a great white throne." It is "great," as denoting the power of the Judge who sits upon the throne. It is "white," as indicating the absolute justice which there is dispensed. From the fact of this Judge "the earth and the heaven fled away," a figure of speech which denotes that heaven and earth are not worthy to stand before the infinite holiness of God.
"The dead, the great and the small," were seen "standing before the throne." It is implied that a resurrection had taken place. This resurrection is described in the following verse. At least, it is stated that "the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them." ..all who had passed under the power of death and had experienced the condition of the dead were to stand before the throne.
"They were judged every man according to their works." This is the main point of the message. Judgment is to be universal, and it is to be just. Each one will receive "according to what" he has "done in the body, ...whether it to be good or bad."
The judgment will be in accordance with clear evidence: "Books were opened:..and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works." The figure of written books denotes a record and a remembrance of all the deeds of each one who stands for judgment before the great white throne."
Another book is mentioned. It is "The Book of Life." Apparently this is the roll of those who are citizens of the New Jerusalem. Nothing is here specified as to their fate. Undoubtedly they are to enter upon eternal glory.
It is stated, however, that "if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
Such a statement cannot fail to strike the reader with awe. Nothing could be more solemn than this scene. Yet its purpose must be kept in mind. It is not intended to record merely the punishment of the impenitent, but to set forth the final defeat of all the enemies of Christ and his church.
"Death and Hades" also are "cast into the lake of fire." Both death and all its consequences are forever destroyed, The triumph of Christ is complete.
[Erdman's Expository]
Here is the ultimate end of all sin and rebellion against the authority and holiness of almighty God: to be cast forever into the lake of everlasting fire. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will escape this final judgment. The names recorded in this book are of those who during their life on earth availed themselves, through faith, of God's mercy and grace.
All those who put their faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice on behalf of mankind will already have been resurrected at the commencement of the millennium. They will have passed through their own appropriate judgment before the judgment seat of Christ - not for condemnation but to assess their reward.
It seems certain that the majority of those who appear before the great white throne will not have fulfilled the conditions for receiving God's mercy and will therefore be condemned to the lake of fire. [Derek Prince]
Click to Return to the Index Page
