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Christ’s Judgment Seat

2Corinthians: Paul's Most Underappreciated Epistle

Jan 27, 2019


by: Jack Lash Series: 2Corinthians: Paul's Most Underappreciated Epistle | Category: NT books | Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:9–10
I. Introduction
 A. 2Corinthians 5:9-10 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 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.
II. Paul here talks about the fact that each of us will appear before Christ on the last day, and He will reward us according to what we did in our lives.
 A. Those who spend their lives resisting the Lord, whether by showing no regard for the ways of the Lord, or by putting their faith in their own performance of them, will receive their just due, being cast into the outer darkness.
 B. But those who put their faith not in themselves but in Christ, their sins will be forgiven on account of Christ, and they will be received into the heavenly places and rewarded for the things they did for Christ in life.
 C. This means that there are degrees of reward in heaven.
 D. There are many references in the NT to this fact that each one will be rewarded according to what he/she has done..
  1. Matthew 16:24-27 The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
  2. Ephesians 6:6–8 “As servants of Christ, do the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord.”
  3. Hebrews 6:7–8, 10 “Land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned... 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”
  4. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:13
   a. Our deeds will not just be over and done. Our deeds done for Christ will follow us eternally.
   b. We will live with our good deeds and the rewards we receive for them for all eternity!
  5. Psalm 19:11 By them (God’s laws) is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
  6. 1Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
 E. There is a certain futility the world experiences in the things they do.
  1. But the believer knows his actions are meaningful — meaningful now as we serve God’s kingdom — and meaningful eternally!
  2. Our lives are crammed with the watchful presence of God. Everything we do & think is observed and recorded. One day each of us will answer for every word which came out of our mouth. And, in particular, the Lord remembers the good things we do, even after WE have forgotten.
III. How are we going to be rewarded? What exactly is the recompense/reward?
 A. First of all, the Bible is clear that our punishment was taken by Christ, and there is no more punishment for those who are in Christ. But on top of the inheritance which belongs to all true believers, there are rewards in the new heavens and the new earth based on what one did in life.
 B. The Bible describes these rewards in various ways, but none give us much concrete explanation.
  1. Wages/reward
   a. 1Cor.3:8 He who plants & he who waters are one, & each will receive his wages according to his labor... 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
  2. Commendation/honor
   a. 1Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
   b. Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
   c. Matt.5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
   d. Matt.18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
  3. Positions chosen/assigned
   a. Matt.20:23 “To sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
   b. Is it by appointment or is it by the good we do? “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph.2:10
   c. He is the One who works in/through us.“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil.2:12–13
  4. Authority/responsibility
   a. Rule over five or ten cities — Luke 19:12-26
   b. Luke 12:44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  (Cf. Matt.24:27)
   c. Matt.25:21, 23 Master says, ‘You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.”
  5. Treasure: Matthew 6:20 “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
  6. Heavenly friends
   a. Luke 16:9 Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
 C. Either we can’t comprehend it now, or He doesn’t want us to (He just wants us to trust Him).
 D. I don’t think there will be jealousy or envy. I think we’ll enjoy and celebrate those who rank higher than us in the heavenly kingdom.
 E. But Jonathan Edwards: We’d give anything to have done one more righteous deed for the Lord! 
  1. Beggar & king story: One day we’re going to wish we’d given it all to the King!
  2. God wouldn’t have said all these things if it wasn’t a big deal. If what we do here on earth doesn’t make that big of a difference in our eternal experience, I would be misleading for God to inspire all these things in His Word.
 F. We know that somehow the way we live our lives in Christ will have a major effect upon our eternal lives after the great resurrection. So much so that the NT is filled with exhortations to live in love, in obedience and in faith in order that we might gain much reward on that day & forevermore.
  1. There will be no “But you didn’t tell us the rules!”
   a. There will be no “You never told us it was going to mean all that!”
 G. Apparently there will be no second chances. What we do on earth will forever determine our place in the heavenly kingdom, once and for all. We have one short window.
  1. Social security: there is only one season of investment, one open window.
  2. The world thinks this is the only life. But we know that there is eternal life.
  3. But the world is partially right. This life is the only life we live whereby our eternal state is determined. Scripture never says we’ll earn rewards by what we do after we’re in heaven.
  4. Our rewards are earned in this life. Our deeds in this life fix our role and status in eternity. 
  5. This life is our test and we will live with the results for all eternity.
IV. Paul tells us that because of this, he has an ambition to please the Lord.
 A. 5:9-10 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 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. (Cf. Philippians 1:20)
 B. As Christians, we have desires and preferences. And we make plans. This is all well and good. But as Christians we also know that our desires, preferences and plans do not have the final say.
 C. As Christians we are "Not my will but God’s will be done" people. And so our desires, preferences and plans are not our highest ambition. Our highest ambition is always to honor Christ.
 D. This means that deeper and stronger than all the rest of our desires is a desire to be faithful to the Lord who redeemed us, to exalt Him by the way we live, to bring pleasure to the One who so loves us. This is the strongest desire of those who walk with Christ, stronger than any earthly desire.
 E. Paul, the one who tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1Cor.11:1), is a tremendous example of a vibrant ambition to please Christ above all things: “We make it our aim to please him.” 
V. Application
 A. What we do every day has eternal consequences.
  1. For God will not forget our works of faith, our labors of love, our steadfastness of hope (1Th.1:3).
  2. We have been saved not for a life of ease or despair or shame or fear. We have been saved for a life of love, a life of service in the power of Christ, a life all about Him instead of a life all about ourselves, working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil.2:12-13).
  3. We are foolish to not take God’s words seriously!
  4. We must not be careless about the way we live! We must take advantage of each opportunity.
  5. We must abide in Christ so that His life might flow through us in love and good deeds.
 B. There is a day coming which is more important than any other. It’s the day which really counts!
  1. The day when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ should dominate our every day.
  2. Martin Luther said there were only two dates on his calendar: today and that day.
  3. The people of Christ are supposed to be preparing themselves for this day:
   a. Revelation 19:7–8 The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
   b. There is a great wedding day coming. Are you preparing? – engaged couples
 C. Only what was done for Christ will matter. Everything else will burn up in fire (1Cor.3:13–15).
  1. All the things we did to look good in the eyes of others, or to feel good about ourselves, or gain some earthly advantage.
  2. Amy Carmichael story “Each one’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 done survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved.” – 1Cor.3:13-15
 D. This verse is full of challenge, but it’s also full of joy and promise!
  1. God doesn’t forget our work. God will vindicate us when we do what is right.
  2. “Jesus can repay from His own fulness all He takes away.” (T689)
  3. Song: Thank You For Giving to the Lord
  4. The beautiful deeds I’ve seen done in the name of Christ! That’s Jesus!