FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST?
A glorious declaration is sounded in Romans 8: 1: 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.' The word 'condemnation' can also be rendered 'sentence of judgment.' Does this mean, then, that because we are 'in Christ Jesus', and are forgiven and justified in Him, and are 'complete in Him' (Colossians 2:10), that there will be no judgment for us in the future? Some reason that way. But what saith the Scriptures? What is 'the Berean test' for this (see Acts 17:11)?
FIRST: THE GOD OF ALL GRACE SAYS THERE WILL BE A FUTURE JUDGMENT FOR MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S BODY! In Paul's final words, by divine inspiration, to Timothy, he testified clearly: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing' (II Timothy 4:7-8).
Now note carefully that 'the Lord' here (evidently the Lord Jesus Christ, as II Timothy 4:1 states) is called 'the righteous judge'. The term 'judge' here means one who passes sentence. Here Christ is described not so much as a magistrate to condemn or to exonerate, but to umpire or referee as in a game or a contest.
This same thought comes out other places in Paul's epistles. For example Paul's exhortation to Christians in their vocational employment says: 'And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve (or, serve ye) the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons' (Colossians 3:23-25). If these warnings don't carry the under-lying truth of the believer's personal accountability to God for what he does, then they are absolutely meaningless.
Elsewhere, the believer standing before 'the judgment seat (bema) of Christ' on 'the day of Christ' (also called 'that day' - II Timothy 1:18, 4:8) is presented by the Apostle as being a motive for godly living. Thus we read: 'For we must all appear (be made manifest) before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive (as a recompense) the things done in his body, according to that he hat done, whether it be good or bad (worthless)' (II Corinthians 5:10).
Because God has saved us and accepted us in Christ, and we stand 'complete in Him,' we desire to so 'walk worthy of the Lord unto pleasing Him in all respects'. We seek to so live, not to placate an angry God, but because we love Him and want to bring the most glory and pleasure to His heart possible. And then on 'that day,' we will hear His 'well done Thu good and faithful servant,' which in turn will all be 'to the praise of His glory' throughout the ages to come.
Beloved, let us so walk and work 'in the Lord' in daily yieldedness and trust so as to be 'crowned' on 'that day'.
Grace, Peace and Love, Pastor Hume
Daily Smile:
He who is without sin
Jesus saw a crowd chasing down a woman to stone her and approached them. "What's going on here, anyway?" he asked.
"This woman was found committing adultery, and the law says we should stone her!" one of the crowd responded.
"Wait," yelled Jesus. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Suddenly, a stone was thrown from out of the sky, and knocked the woman on the side of her head.
"Aw, c'mon, Dad..." Jesus cried, "I'm trying to make a point here!"
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