Lesson Fourteen
Judgment Seat of Christ
Why Should I Worry About the Judgment Seat of Christ?
| A. | The focus on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most practical doctrines for everyday living in the Bible. Notice in the following verses how many practical character qualities are produced by focusing on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. | ||
| 1. | Patience (James 5:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 3:5) | James 5:7 Be patient therefore,
brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth
for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it,
until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. |
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| 2. | Peace (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) | 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not
have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. |
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| 3. | Joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19) | 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? | |
| 4. | Holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 John 3:1-3) | 1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he
may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our
Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. |
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| 5. | Confidence (Philippians 1:6; 1 John 2:28) | Philippians 1:6 Being confident of
this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. |
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| 7. | Righteous living (Titus 2:11-14) | Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. |
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| 8. | Faith even in difficult times (1 Peter 1:5-7) | 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: |
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| B. | The rewards you receive on Earth are all temporal and will perish. The rewards you receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ are eternal and will never perish (2 Corinthians 4:17- 5:4) | 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. |
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| C. | By constantly focusing on the Judgment Seat of Christ, you will naturally develop a desire to please God rather than men. Developing this attitude is the surest way to handle criticism and opposition (2 Corinthians 5:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:23). | 2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are
always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we
are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. |
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Key Memory Verses
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" 2 Corinthians 5:8-9.
"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" 1 John 2:28.
"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but god knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" Luke 16:15.
Additional Thoughts
In many churches today, some popular teaching are:
| 1. | God will judge Christians for the sin. | ||
| 2. | Christians will be judged for what they have done without regard for their motives. | ||
| 3. | Our rewards and losses are all received in this life. |
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.