The Judgment to Come
"So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know" (Acts 25:10).
"Where are you?"
This was the first question God after the first two humans fell into sin. It is a question that requires a self examination and that reveals the answer of one's standing before God.
Every person will make their own judgments and be judged by others throughout their lifetime but it is the judgment of what God sees and says that matters most. Everyone will eventually have to give an account of their life before God and nothing will remain hidden.
While on earth, some people will make good judgments and some people will make bad judgments. It is wise to remember that if we judge ourselves than we will not be judged or at least our judgment will not have to include all the things that were already dealt with while on earth. The Bible says, "It is appointed for every man to die and then comes the judgment" (Heb. 9:27) and that "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).
The word judgment "krino" means a punishment or decision which one passes on the faults of others. When we stand before God, we are all going to have to give an account for our lives. But before then, we will have many times where we must deal with the judgments of others on this earth.
The Apostle Paul was under trial before the Roman leaders who were appeasing the false charges made by the Jewish religious leaders who wanted to see him put to death. Paul was willing to suffer for the cause of Christ and knew that Jesus had prepared him for such things but he also knew that the truth was on his side and he had certain rights as a Roman citizen.
As the newly appointed governor wanted to examine Paul to see "if there [was] any fault in him," Paul knew that his true judge was not any man or ruler but God Himself. Paul had preached at an earlier time that [God had] "appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
He knew he was guilty of many things calling himself the "chief of sinners" when writing one of his letters but because he knew that he trusted in Jesus he was more concerned about his witness before these leading officials so that they would be convicted of sin and drawn to Christ. Thus, he did not feel disappointed...because he knew that all of this was appointed by God.
Jesus taught that when He would leave His disciples, the Holy Spirit would come and "...He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:8-10).
For those that have believed and received Christ, we can praise God that our judgment has been dealt with on the cross of Calvary when Jesus died and was punished in our place. O what a wonderful salvation we have in Christ and how happy are those who have been forgiven!
As Paul awaiting Caesar's judgment seat, Paul was ultimately living his life to be made ready for a different judgment, known as the judgment seat of Christ, where his works would be tried in the fire to see what sort of work it truly was and whether he could receive a reward for it or not.
"...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 Cor. 3:13-15)
Every person will either face the Great White Throne Judgment or the "Bema" Seat Judgment of Christ. The true measure of a person's life will not be based on what degree of success he found here on earth or in how many things he possesses but rather in whether He trusted in Christ and how he obeyed His commands and gave honor and glory to God.
Since Christ is building His Church and thus expressing and expanding His kingdom through those who are now under His righteous reign, it is essential that we take heed how we build and participate in what God is already doing on the earth today. For there is coming a day when every word, thought, motive, and action will be considered and examined by the Lord and He will will reward each one based on whatever was done IN HIS NAME and BY HIS SPIRIT and FOR HIS GLORY!
This is why Pauls could say, "For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God" (1 Cor. 4:5)
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
"Where are you?"
This was the first question God after the first two humans fell into sin. It is a question that requires a self examination and that reveals the answer of one's standing before God.
Every person will make their own judgments and be judged by others throughout their lifetime but it is the judgment of what God sees and says that matters most. Everyone will eventually have to give an account of their life before God and nothing will remain hidden.
While on earth, some people will make good judgments and some people will make bad judgments. It is wise to remember that if we judge ourselves than we will not be judged or at least our judgment will not have to include all the things that were already dealt with while on earth. The Bible says, "It is appointed for every man to die and then comes the judgment" (Heb. 9:27) and that "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).
The word judgment "krino" means a punishment or decision which one passes on the faults of others. When we stand before God, we are all going to have to give an account for our lives. But before then, we will have many times where we must deal with the judgments of others on this earth.
The Apostle Paul was under trial before the Roman leaders who were appeasing the false charges made by the Jewish religious leaders who wanted to see him put to death. Paul was willing to suffer for the cause of Christ and knew that Jesus had prepared him for such things but he also knew that the truth was on his side and he had certain rights as a Roman citizen.
As the newly appointed governor wanted to examine Paul to see "if there [was] any fault in him," Paul knew that his true judge was not any man or ruler but God Himself. Paul had preached at an earlier time that [God had] "appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
He knew he was guilty of many things calling himself the "chief of sinners" when writing one of his letters but because he knew that he trusted in Jesus he was more concerned about his witness before these leading officials so that they would be convicted of sin and drawn to Christ. Thus, he did not feel disappointed...because he knew that all of this was appointed by God.
Jesus taught that when He would leave His disciples, the Holy Spirit would come and "...He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:8-10).
For those that have believed and received Christ, we can praise God that our judgment has been dealt with on the cross of Calvary when Jesus died and was punished in our place. O what a wonderful salvation we have in Christ and how happy are those who have been forgiven!
As Paul awaiting Caesar's judgment seat, Paul was ultimately living his life to be made ready for a different judgment, known as the judgment seat of Christ, where his works would be tried in the fire to see what sort of work it truly was and whether he could receive a reward for it or not.
"...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 Cor. 3:13-15)
Every person will either face the Great White Throne Judgment or the "Bema" Seat Judgment of Christ. The true measure of a person's life will not be based on what degree of success he found here on earth or in how many things he possesses but rather in whether He trusted in Christ and how he obeyed His commands and gave honor and glory to God.
Since Christ is building His Church and thus expressing and expanding His kingdom through those who are now under His righteous reign, it is essential that we take heed how we build and participate in what God is already doing on the earth today. For there is coming a day when every word, thought, motive, and action will be considered and examined by the Lord and He will will reward each one based on whatever was done IN HIS NAME and BY HIS SPIRIT and FOR HIS GLORY!
This is why Pauls could say, "For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God" (1 Cor. 4:5)
ACTS IN ACTION CHALLENGE POINTS
- What will you place your trust in when you stand before God?
- What needs to change before your day of judgment comes?
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