Bible Study

So many things in this life have no eternal value. It will profit us nothing to live for earthly pleasures, but Jesus has a reward for those who live for Him. In this study, Daniel Kolenda reveals how our works are beneficial to the Kingdom. 

“My friend, this is real. How you live matters. What you do during your life matters. And you will give an account for it.” 
– Daniel Kolenda 

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (PART 2)

We will all give an account for the things done in the body—“whether good or bad”—a point that confuses many people. “Does this mean that we’re going to answer for our sins again? Is God going to dredge up those sins from the bottom of the sea where He buried them, and thrust them back in our faces at the Judgment Seat of Christ?” Emphatically, unequivocally, and categorically: No. That would insult the Spirit of grace and the glory of the cross. It would contradict Scripture. Sins that God forgives—sins under the blood of Jesus Christ—are gone forever. You will never be judged for them again. God has cast them into the sea (Mic. 7:19). Isaiah says, “You have cast all my sins behind your back” (Isa. 38:17). Essentially, God is saying, “I have put those sins in a place where I will never see them again. They are gone and we are marching forward into a totally renewed view of your future!” 

So then, what does Scripture refer to when it says that we will give an account for the things that we’ve done, good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10)? The Greek words translated “good” and “bad” in this passage are agathos and phaulos. In this context, these words do not refer only to morally good or bad deeds. Rather, they imply an evaluation of “beneficial” versus “worthless.” This is a very important point. My friend, you can be saved, you can be forgiven, you can be on your way to heaven, and still live for worthless things—and many Christians do! It’s so easy to get caught up with the cares of life, the day-to-day activities, the pointless amusements, and worthless distractions that consume the days, weeks, months, and years of our lives yet have no eternal worth! 

Yes, we will all give an account one day. But this reckoning will not deal with individual sins already forgiven by God. Those sins are gone. No, we will give an account for the way we lived our lives as redeemed children of God—for the things we did with the time, opportunities and resources God put into our hands. 

Remember the parable of the servants who were given talents by their master? When the master returned from his journey, he wanted an account of his investment in their lives. Then each received a reward according to what he had done (Matt. 25:14-30). It will be the same for us. Christ’s Judgment Seat will not be like a kindergarten award ceremony where everyone receives the same reward so no one feels left out. No, some will receive more reward than others. And some will even be ashamed. 

In Revelation 22:12 (NKJV), Jesus said, “Behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” We must make this crucial distinction. When it comes to salvation, it’s not about works at all. But when it comes to eternal rewards, it is all about works. It does matter what you do and it does matter how you live. In eternity, some are going to have greater status than others. That may sound unfair. But do you think that someone like Mother Teresa who spent her whole life giving to the poor and sacrificing herself for others is going to receive the same reward as some guy who spent most of his life sitting on the couch playing Xbox? That would be unrighteous and our God is a righteous judge. Hebrews 6:10 says that God is not unjust; that He will not forget your work and the love that you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. That means it would be unrighteous for God to forget your work. 

The Scriptures are clear. God will reward each of us according to our work. And that day is close at hand. He is coming quickly and His reward is with Him. But what does that look like? What kind of rewards are these? How does this reward system operate? 

… To be continued