Judgement for Our Deeds?
Shortly before Paul tells us that we are new creations in Christ and that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, he says something that may sound scary. Let’s take a look at that, shall we?
2 Corinthians 5: 10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (NASB95)
At first glance this verse can instill fear, doubt, uncertainty, even guilt. Fortunately, as righteous children of God we know that Father does not use such means to get His point across to His children. Certainly we have all done some bad deeds, but let’s take a look at a couple of examples from scripture to see if we can notice a pattern in Father’s treatment of His children.
Hebrews 11:11 (NASB95) “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”
This is the Sarah who when God made the promise did this:
Genesis 18:12–15 (NASB95) “12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ 14 “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.””
We read in several places in scripture of Abraham’s great faith. How he trusted God and his faith was credited to him for righteousness. One place we see this is in James 2:23 (NASB95) “…AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.”
Genesis 16:4 Tells us that Abraham, “…went in to Hagar, and she conceived…” (NASB95)
Genesis 12:17–19 (NASB95) Recounts how Abraham’s misbehavior resulted in Pharoah being punished. “17 But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.””
Of Moses, perhaps the most revered man in Jewish history, God has this to say, Hebrews 11:24–26 (NASB95) “24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” A few chapters earlier we also find this passage, Hebrews 3:5 (NASB95) “Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;”
This is the same Moses who murdered an Egyptian in an act of vengeance and hid the body, as we read in Exodus 2:11–12 (NASB95) “11 Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
Acts 13:22–23 (NASB95) says that King David was a man after God’s own heart. “22 “After He had removed [Saul], He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ 23 “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,”
Father promised that Jesus would come from David’s line and that the throne would be in his line forever. This is the David who did these awful deeds:
2 Samuel 11:2–5 (NASB95) “2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. 5 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am pregnant.” Now skipping down a bit, “2 Samuel 11:14–15 (NASB95) “14 Now in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 He had written in the letter, saying, “Place Uriah in the front line of the fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and die.” Uriah did die.
We know that Father does not fake Himself out. He knows and sees the truth, yet each of these people is praised by God. Each is considered to have had great faith. Each enjoyed great blessing. Each is given as an example of the kind of person that pleases God.
In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul has this to say. 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (NASB95) “11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
Here is my take on this passage. Works that we do in the flesh are of no value. They are burned up, consumed, and never count for anything at the judgement. Works done through the Spirit are the ones that last. These, in my view, benefit us in eternity. I do not believe that Father has called us to walk by faith for no reason other than proving that we believe Him. I think there is more to it than that. I think that walking by faith prepares us for the way we will live with Him. I think it improves our character in ways we cannot understand this side of eternity, but that benefit us in the world to come.
When we get to the judgement, Father will see us exactly as He sees Sarah, Abraham, Moses, and David. He will see us this way because that is exactly what we are. Because we are in Christ, we are holy, righteous, blameless and beyond reproach.
Judgement need not be the cause of fear for you, Saint. 1 John 4:15–18 (NASB95) tells us that “15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
You are in good hands. You are a saint in the hands of a loving God
Grace and peace to you.
Larry
E3 Ministries (LarryEiss.com)
