The Coming Judgment of the Believers

Both the righteous and the unrighteous will face the judgment seat of God.

The earthly works of humans will go through the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). The fire test is used to determine whether fire protection products meet the minimum protection criteria. If the product burns, then it is destructible and should not be used as a fire-fighting equipment. If a product does not burn, then it is considered indestructible, and can be used as  fire-fighting equipment. The flame test, on the other hand, is used in Chemistry to identify unknown elements based on their color when pass through the fire. Iron, for example, imparts a gold color in the flame test. Calcium shows brick red and copper shows bluish-green. It is traditionally believed that fire test established the innocence of baby Moses among the courts of Egypt. Giorgio Barbarelli, popularly known as Giorgione, painted the Test of Fire of Moses. Jewish traditions tells of a story of Moses when he was presented to the Egyptian court. When Moses was recovered from the Nile River, he was first presented to the Egyptian court. When Pharaoh placed his crown on little Moses’ head, Moses threw the crown on the ground and trampled it. Because of this act, the members of the court believed that the child Moses was a threat to the crown and would later overthrow the kingdom. In order to find out if Moses is indeed dangerous, he needed to be tested. Two royal plates were held before Moses. On one plate were pieces of gold, while on the other were pieces of glowing coal. The child Moses chose the coal and placed a piece in his mouth, severely burning himself. To Pharaoh, this proved Moses’ innocence.

The same test of fire will evaluate the quality of human deeds on earth. Here we see that fire differentiates between gold and wood, silver and straw, precious stone and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). The precious elements withstand the fire, while the destructible ones are consumed. The human deeds that were done for God’s glory withstand the fire, while human acts that were not done for God’s glory were consumed. Only the human works that please and honor God can be acceptable during the judgment. The works of darkness and unrighteousness, the works of self and disobedience will be deemed rubbish and unacceptable.

As we are constantly undergoing the tests of fire in our lives, the Lord hones and polishes our lives through trials and afflictions (1 Peter 5:10). Scripture tells us that the purpose of trials and afflictions is to improve the quality of our spiritual lives (Proverbs 17:3). The result of God’s trials and afflictions, testings and manifestations, is the achievement of the highest and purest quality of obedient and righteous life in Jesus Christ (Job 23:10).

In the end, what was molded into pure gold, will come our indestructible on judgment day. Our lives, once molded into the spiritual quality that God demanded, will not be consumed by the test of fire,  but will come out pure, indestructible and worthy of God’s reward. After the judgement through fire, our deeds in Christ will either prevail or be consumed, and so we either reap our reward or lose our reward. If our deeds come out as gold from the test of fire, then we will receive our reward (1 Corinthians 3:14). Our patient service on earth, our exercise of love and compassion, our seeking the Lord’s will in our lives, will all be rewarded.This is our hope in life.This is our goal in life.

If our deeds come out as flammable, the fire will consume our deeds, and we lose our reward (1 Corinthians 3:15). If our deeds do not pass the fire test of God, then we will not receive our rewards, even though we will inherit eternal life.

If believers, lay leaders, and ministers deliver the gospel message not founded on the will of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, then the gospel message should be disapproved, rejected because the message does not bear the light and the heat of the fire of God’s word. The deeds, the message, the labors, and the pains of serving the Lord will all end up unrewarded when these acts were inconsistent with the will of God. Believers will be saved, not because of the acts worthy of human praise or of intellectual gospel message, but because of the promise of everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ. As human acts, deeds, possessions, etc. are consumed by fire, only the everlasting virtues and gifts and fruits of the Spirit will prevail.

Believers are not saved by material possessions, in fact, believers can not bring these treasures to everlasting life. Believers can not boast of their earthly achievements, the applause of humans, the respect of humans and the veneration of humans, as these will all be destroyed by the fire. Think of the believer as someone whose home and house is totally burned up, and he alone escapes, but loses all about him.

How are the spiritual leaders and teachers judged?

There is a scriptural truth that we can not afford to miss. The judgement is heavier upon the shoulders of the spiritual leaders and teachers (James 3:1). As leadership in church is a great privilege, it comes with an even greater responsibility. Our God will hold teachers, pastors, ministers, and leaders more responsible during the judgment. Church leaders and preachers are in position of either drawing the faith of the brethren toward Jesus Christ or driving them away from Him.

The Daily Bread has a story about the author Mark Twain who was often outspoken about his bitterness toward religion and the practice of faith. Sadly, it was the church leadership that played the biggest part in his hostility to the Bible and the Christian faith. As Twain grew up, he knew preachers and deacons who owned slaves, and worse still, these leaders and deacons abused these slaves. He even knew ministers who used the Bible to justify slavery. He heard believers use foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was never able to understand the bad teaching and poor example of certain church leaders.

Church leaders can not afford to be judged wrongly. That is why, apart from the leaders, teachers, and pastors praying for the church, the church also needs to pray for the pastors, teachers and leaders (James 3:17-18).

The rewards of the faithful are not reaped on earth.

Scriptures teach us that the only time believers can truly reap the heavenly reward is when they leave the world. It is only through death that believers can receive the rewards of eternal life (Psalm 116:15). Although for some, death is sorrowful and morbid, but the death of the believers is a time for judgment, rest and reward (Revelation 14:13). It is only through death that believers in Christ can enjoy the rest and the rewards that He has promised. So in the same way as the Lord delights in the death of the faithful, we too should consider death as a homecoming, not a total, desperate loss.

The believers are definitely not rewarded on earth. In fact, the believers are hated and persecuted in the world. Jesus Christ made it known to the apostles that the world will persecute the saints, the believers, the faithful (Matthew 24:8-10). But Jesus Christ offers comfort, despite the persecutions in the world (Matthew 5:10-12).

The rewards of the saints reaped in heaven are far glorious than any worldly rewards. Martin Luther once said, “If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!" Martin Luther believed that all the worldly rewards are nothing compared to the rewards of the saints in glory. He also believed that His rewards in Heaven are not based on His credentials but based only on the merit of God’s grace upon his life.

Furthermore, Charles Hodge shared the following regarding the rewards of the saints. “Scriptures teach that the happiness or blessedness of believers in a future life will be greater or less in proportion to the service of Christ in this life. Those who love little, do little; and those who do little, enjoy less.”  What will matter in Heaven is what we have done for Jesus Christ while we are on earth. He will reward us in Heaven according to the proportion of our devotion and service to Him.

Charles Stanley in his wonderful book Eternal Security, wrote “Some believers will be entrusted with certain privileges; others will not. Some will reign with Christ; others will not (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21). Some will be rich in the kingdom of God; others will be poor (Luke 12;21, 33). Some will be given true riches; others will not. Some will be given heavenly treasures of their own; others will not.” Stanley ends by saying “Privilege in the kingdom of God is determined by one’s faithfulness in this life. It is true that there will be equality in terms of our inclusion in the kingdom of God, but not in our rank and privilege.

The heavenly rewards are give to those who diligently seek God.

Scripture reminds us that it is impossible for believers to please God when they do not have faith (Hebrews 11:6). With faith, believers receive the reward from God. But this reward is gained through spiritual training. And with spiritual training comes the reward that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Athletes in Rome receive a crown of laurel. Laurel is an aromatic, evergreen shrub whose leaves are made into crowns to celebrate victories and achievements. But the crown that believers will receive in Heaven is far more precious. Other than the truth that the crown is everlasting, the crown of reward is for all who train for the race of life (1 Corinthians 9:24-26). The apostle Paul encourages us that as long as we run the life of life faithfully, we will all receive the prize. The crown is everlasting, and it is for everyone who believes, obeys, perseveres, and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The reward of heaven is a great promise to the believers.

Everything that the believers have done through the Lord will be rewarded in heaven.

Philip Yancey in his book Disappointment with God, shared a story about the great Scottish preacher and writer, George MacDonald. McDonald was talking with his son one day, and the conversation turned to heaven and the prophets' version of the end of all things. His son told the preacher, "This story about heaven seems too good to be true, Dad." A smile crossed MacDonald's whiskered face as he replied, "Nay, my son, the gospel of heaven is just so good, it must be true!"

Found in Moody’s Anecdotes, was an old legend of a swan and a crane. A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails . For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in stupid wonder and then inquired:"Where do you come from?" "I come from heaven!" replied the swan. "And where is heaven?" asked the crane. "Heaven!" said the swan, "Heaven! have you never heard of heaven?" And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City. She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the hosts who live in the other world, but without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane. Finally the crane asked: "Are there any snails in Heaven?" "Snails!" repeated the swan; "No! Of course there are no snails in heaven." "Then," said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the lake, "you can have your heaven. I want snails!"

This story, although a mere fable, has a deep truth underlying it. How many a young person to whom God has granted the advantages of a Christian home, has turned his back upon it and searched for snails! How many a man will sacrifice his wife, his family, his all, for the snails of sin! How many a girl has deliberately turned from the love of parents and home to learn too late that heaven has been forfeited for snails!

An unknown author once said, "As a boy, I thought of heaven as a city with domes, spires, and beautiful streets, inhabited by angels. By and by my little brother died, and I thought of heaven much as before, but with one inhabitant that I knew. Then another died, and then some of my acquaintances, so in time I began to think of heaven as containing several people that I knew. But it was not until one of my own little children died that I began to think I had treasure in heaven myself. Afterward another went, and yet another. By that time I had so many acquaintances and children in heaven that I no more thought of it as a city merely with streets of gold but as a place full of inhabitants. Now there are so many loved ones there I sometimes think I know more people in heaven than I do on earth."

The rewards of the believers are waiting in heaven. Believers not receive our rewards in heaven if they do not work out their faith and salvation here on earth.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below”.

The Biblical Viewpoint of the Judgment of the Unrighteous

There are three inescapable appointments in life. We can not escape death, we can not escape resurrection, and we can not escape judgment.

The scriptures is very clear about death. The Scripture teaches that while death is sure (Ecclesiastes 7:2; Hebrews 9:27), it is to the believer great gain (Philippians 1:21). Death, even, cannot separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). As death is considered the last enemy of humans (1 Corinthians 15:26), the death of believers is a reunion with the Lord (Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). 

Everyone also has an appointment with resurrection and judgement. No one can escape these, as no one can, morbid as may seem, escape death. As our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and as we believe in His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:13-19), we have our hope for eternal life. Resurrection is a promise of Jesus Christ Himself (John 11:23-26). Beacuse resurrection is considered as an ultimate total transformation of the believer’s life (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44), it becomes the believer’s yardstick or guiding principle of life (Acts 24:15-16).

The certainty of the God’s judgment was proclaimed by Paul when he wrote the believers about our standing before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10).

There was a story written about a young couple who just moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the washed laundry outside.'That laundry is not very clean', she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap'. Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her  neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.  About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: 'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? The husband said, 'Well, honey, I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.'

The way we live our life is mirrored by this story. What we usually see when we watch others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. As believers, we tend to look through impure windows of our lives when we too quickly judge others.

As humans have the tendency to quickly judge each other. Too painful in fact, to see that we do so even when we do not have the right to judge other. In judging our neighbor, our brother, our sister, or even our enemy, we are actually making ourselves as gods. But there is another kind of judgment that we all need to understand in life. There is a far more essential form of judgment by Jesus, and our form of our personal judgment and not even our incapacity to judge, all fall short of the judgment that Jesus Christ will administer. We call this the White Throne judgment, where the Righteous One, who is Jesus Christ, will judge both the righteous and the wicked with the justice of His holiness.

The judgement seat of Jesus Christ is both for those who believed in Him and those who rejected

Him.

As believers, we believe that we will all die (Hebrews 9:27-28). And we have realized that some of us already did. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the dead shall face the judgment of God. For those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10), this is even more of a promise of salvation from judgment. For the judgment of the believers is not the punishment of torment, but the commendation of an eternal reward (Matthew 25:46).  The believers will be judged separately, or differently from those who did not believe (Matthew 7:21-23).

There are two destinations for the souls of humans after they pass through the judgment seat of

Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ judges humans, He will separate the righteous and the redeem from the wicked and the disobedient (Matthew 25: 31-32).

After the souls of humans pass through the judgement seat of Jesus Christ, the souls go to their eternal destiny: heaven (John 14:2; John 3:5) or hell (Revelation 21:8: Matthew 25:46).

It has been told that one day, when then Vice President Calvin Coolidge was presiding over the Senate, one senator was so mad at another senator that he cursed at him saying "go straight to hell". The offended Senator complained to Coolidge, who as presiding officer, immediately looked up from the book that he had been reading through while listening to the heated debate. Slowly and confidently, Vice President Coolidge said, "I've been looking through the rule book,and you don't have to go to hell." (Crossroads, Issue No. 7, p. 16).

What does this story teach us? There is an eternal lesson in life that we can glean from the response of Vice President Calvin Coolidge. We can actually decide not to go to hell at all! Inversely, we can decide to go to heaven instead! Our eternal destiny is either reaped in heaven or spent in hell. We have the choice not to go to hell. We have the choice to go to Heaven.

It is heaven or hell (Matthew 25:46). There is no in-betweens. There is no scripture in the Bible that say that humans can stay in a temporary place to wait for heaven. There is no scripture in the Bible that say that humans can stay in a temporary place while their family members appeal for them on Earth in order to get to Heaven. Indeed, the Bible does not say something about the purgatory. But the Bible is clear in telling us that there is Heaven waiting for those who have faith in Jesus Christ and those who obey the will of God (John 3:36; Acts 4:12).

While heaven is prepared for those who believe in Jesus Christ (Luke 23:43; John 14:3), hell is prepare for those who (Mark 9:43: Revelation 21:8).

Hell is real as heaven is. Scriptures describe for us what hell is.

Hell is a blazing furnace, a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:41-42). The experience in hell is described as accompanied by “weeping and gnashing of teeth”. It is an eternal torment. To speak about hell is not to create a morbid, scary or bizarre feeling among us. This is the time for us to realize its reality as a warning, rather than experience its reality in hell itself.

Hell is an eternal fire, and everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41). It is prepared for the Devil and his angels. We can look at hell in an inspiring perspective. Hell was created not for us but for the Devil and his cohorts. But because of sin, we have become the children of the Devil. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. If Jesus Christ destroyed the work of the Devil then we should be redeemed from the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8).

Hell is an unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43). The fire in hell is unquenchable. The fire in hell is ablaze for eternity. This is the biblical description of hell as a consequence of the disobedience of the  will of God. Other religions teach that the body of humans will be eradicated or annihilated upon death. Since they believe that after death is the ultimate end of humankind, these religions teach the world that there is no hell at all.  

Hell is a tormenting fire (Luke 16:23-24). The fire of hell is not only and eternal, unquenchable fire, it is in fact tormenting (Matthew 13:40-42). Hell is a tormenting fire, but it is unquenchable. What the unbeliever can do in hell is merely weep and gnash their teeth. The unbeliever can not afford to do anymore than these.

Hell is an everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is an eternal punishment. It is an eternal destruction of man, since man will be shut off from the merciful presence of God.

Scriptures are very clear in identifying who will be judged for hell.

Scriptures tell us that the hypocrites and spiritual pretenders are bound for hell (Matthew 23:29-33). Jesus Christ denounced the hypocrisy of the people who worship God through teaching and observing the law of God but in reality they do not worship God but themselves. Extracted from the Moody’s Anecdotes is a feature that would illustrate the Biblical description of hypocrisy: Some years ago a remarkable picture was exhibited in London. As you looked at it from a distance, you seemed to see a monk engaged in prayer, his hands clasped, his head bowed. As you came nearer, however, and examined the painting more closely, you saw that in reality he was squeezing a lemon into a punch bowl! What a picture that is of the human heart! Superficially examined, it is thought to be the seat of all that is good and noble and pleasing in a man; whereas in reality, until regenerated by the Holy Ghost, it is the seat of all corruption (John 3:19).

Those who rejected Jesus Christ are bound for hell (John 3:36). The Bible tells of the plan of God for humankind. The plan is simple. God will send His only Son to redeem the world from sin. God planned that Jesus Christ will die for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ knows that the shedding of His blood will bring the world remission from sin. But the heart of humans is basically wicked that it can not received Jesus Christ. The heart of humans is outright depraved that it can not believe in the worthiest plan of God. The heart of humans is a heart of stone; it can not recognize the love of Jesus (Psalm 14:1). The judgment of God will come upon those who are selfish, indignant and disobedient, the doers of evil (Romans 2:8).

The sad thing is upon death, whether it brings fear or not, the judgment is inescapable

(Revelation 20:15). If we are without salvation, if we are without Jesus Christ in one’s life, if we are  without the real experience of redemption, our entity can never be found in the book of life. If we do not belong to the book of life, the we belong to the book of death. The judgement of hell awaits us if we miss this great offer of salvation (Revelation 21:8).

The judgement of the unrighteous is the result of the rejection of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ offered His life as a sacrifice for salvation. Jesus Christ would not offer relief for rejection. When He returns, he will judge both the righteous and the unrighteous. When will Jesus Christ receive His investment for salvation (1 Corinthians 6:1-2)? But mankind always finds excuse in putting off for tomorrow the salvation timely for the day.

There is a fable shared by William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew published in 1975. This fable tells of three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and to ruin humans. The first said, "I will tell them that there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God." The second said, "I will tell men that there is no hell." Satan answered, "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin." The third said, "I will tell men that there is no hurry." "Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin men by the thousands."

The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.

The only hope for unrighteous is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came into the world, He came as a Savior (John 3:17). When Jesus Christ resurrected into Heaven, He resurrected as the Son of God (John 11:25-26). When Jesus Christ returns into the world for the second time, He will no longer be a merciful Savior, but a righteous Judge (Revelations 19:11). Jesus Christ will be a righteous judge and rewarder of the faithful and believers. He will be a righteous judge and punisher of the unrighteous and unbelievers.

Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is He your Savior? Or is He your judge? Is Jesus Christ your personal Savior and Lord? Or is Jesus Christ your Judge and your Punisher?

The Lord reminds us that in Judgment nothing else beside our righteousness in Jesus will matter. It is only our salvation and righteousness in Jesus Christ that will determine our eternal destination.

Non-Christians often ask Christians, "But how can the God of love allow any of his creatures to suffer unending misery in hell?" The question actually should be, “How can He not? The fact that God is love makes hell necessary. "Hell," as E.L. Mascall once said, "is not compatible with God's love; it is a direct consequence of God’s love."E.L. Mascall stresses the fact that the very God who loves us is the one who respects our decisions. God loves us, but He does not force His love on us. To force love is to commit assault. God allows us to decide. God loves us, He encourages our response, He woos us, He pursues us, He urges us, but He does not force us, because He respects us. Going  to Hell is not about God’s hatred, it is about our own choice to spend our life in eternity there. It is not God’s choice at all.

To end, I wish to paraphrase John Hanna’s words when he said: “No one who is ever in hell will  be able to say to God in anger, "God, You put me here!" No one who is in heaven will ever be able to proudly say, "God, I put myself here!"