The Judgment Seat of Christ or The Great White Throne Judgment (Part 1 of 2)

Hello Friends!

Welcome to a new 2-part Daily Devotionals series titled “The Judgment Seat of Christ or The Great White Throne Judgment”

In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon summarizes what life should be all about:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all – Ecclesiastes 12:13

Thus, the conclusion of the “whole matter” of life is to "fear God" and to "keep His commandments" in honoring Him with our Christian walk – life style.

Although King Solomon wrote this entire book to ultimately remind us of what he sums up in three little words – “all of life is vanity!” He also faithfully warns us of this sobering truth:

For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil – Ecclesiastes 12:14

Yes, even the “secret things” we do will be brought “into judgment.” All our of deeds – “good” or “bad” – will be brought into God’s Holy and Righteous judgment. This truth will be very real to each of us at the judgment of God we will all face… One day…

Please join us over the next couple of weeks as we learn more about this very important topic. Today we will consider the judgment of God upon the believer…

The Judgment Seat of Christ or The Great White Throne Judgment

The Word of God is very clear. Every person's works – whether that person be “saved” or “lost” – will be brought into the righteous judgment of God…

The Judgment Seat of Christ

For the saved person their personal works will be judged at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" as described by the Apostle Paul to the Romans:

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ – Romans 14:10

And again to the Corinthians:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad – 2 Corinthians 5:10

Paul also describes for us the procedure at the “judgment seat of Christ” in that it is for Jesus Christ to judge the believer’s “labor”:

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor – 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire – 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

The Apostle John also promises that we will receive "rewards" and "crowns" that we then cast at His feet in thanksgiving for the things that our Lord has done for us:

the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne… – Revelation 4:10

These "rewards" and "crowns" are the “good works” we've “done in the body” by His power and for His glory – “gold, silver, precious stones.” However, we will suffer “loss” for those “works” we do in our own power and for our own glory – “wood, hay, straw.” Jesus Christ will be the “righteous judge” over all of our “works” – whether they are "good" or "bad.”

In closing:

Let me remind you, the Word of God is very clear – we're not saved by works, but by “grace through faith”:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9

Although we are not saved by our “works,” we were created ”for” the “good works” that the Lord has ordained – “prepared beforehand” that we should “walk in them”:

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:10

It is the "works" that we have done for the Lord in which He will judge the Christian at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”…

Praise the Lord!

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we investigate The Great White Throne of God to better understand the Lord’s perspective concerning His future judgments on all of humanity… Believers and Unbelievers.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><