Judgment Seat of Christ – Not For Christians
So there’s this message about Christians standing before Christ on judgment day and giving an account for everything they’ve done in the body, rather good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Contrary to the popular church message Christians are not going to be a part of this judgment. Here’s why:
First, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is DUE for the things done while in the body, whether GOOD OR BAD.
First, the unbeliever – How many GOOD deeds has an unbeliever done? Well according to Romans 3:10-12 none have.
There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, not even one.
And this is why we can safely say Revelation 20:11-15 describes the judgment of unbelievers.
Vs 12 ‘The DEAD were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books’.
Vs 13 ‘and each person was judged according to what they had done’.
2 Corinthians 5:10 also says we will receive what is due for the BAD things we did. So we have to ask ourselves how many bad deeds will the Christian be judged for? Well first let’s define what a bad deed is. Bad deeds are sins. What did Jesus do about your sins? Jesus died for them. He forgave your sins. He remembers them no more. As far as the east is from the west He washed them away.
Romans 4:8 tells us
“Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will NEVER COUNT against them”.
So either these verses are literal and our sins are dealt with or the verse in 2 Corinthians totally contradicts the gospel message. If we actually got what was ‘due’ what would that be? Well, the bible tells us the wages of sin is death. We never read about a watered-down payment, such as less jewelry in heaven, smaller houses, or lesser power.
The truth is you have a once for all forgiveness and the lamb of God has TAKEN AWAY your sins (John 1:29). So on judgment day, a believer will be presented with no bad deeds and the unbeliever with NO good deeds. No grey area – this is a black-and-white judgment 2 Corinthians is referring to, and there is a specific outcome. In John 3:18 Jesus himself said, “he who believes in me is not judged”. In Romans 8:1 Paul said, “there is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ”.
So yes, there is a judgment day, but if you’re in Christ you will not be recompensed for good or bad, but rather you be judged by the righteousness of Christ.
The same writer of that letter also tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:30
“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.”
Serving is a wonderful thing to do, and we all have that desire in our hearts, but this idea that God needs us and He can’t work without us is just not true.
Acts 17:25 ‘And he is NOT served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
So why do good and avoid evil if we’re not being paid back? Simple: God changed you and now He lives in your heart. Your desire is to avoid sin (even if you struggle) and to do good. It’s who you are. Old things have passed and the new has come. If you’re a believer you can rest with the full confidence that the day you take your last breath will be the day you are with the father. No trial. Just wrapped up in the loving arms of Jesus.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
