 All right, we're in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 1 through 11 and we're talking about the judgment of believers now and Related to the issue in a sense of the judgment of believers is the death of believers And these are questions that are often raised. We think about the death of believers The fact is that everyone dies. Everyone dies. When we look at scripture Both wise Solomon dies with foolish Nable right the rich man dies and Lazarus dies Herod dies and John the Baptist dies of the Lord Jesus Christ has died and you and I will die in Genesis chapter 3 verse 19 The Bible says for dust you are and to dust you shall return Everybody dies and after the fall of man Every entry in the genealogy of Adam in Genesis 5 ends with and he died and he died and he died And he died is the Lord making a point there with that everybody dies And the Bible speaks of our time here as Being very short that our death is rapidly approaching Psalm 103 verse 15 says as for man His days are like grass as a flower of the field So he flourishes for the wind passes over it and it's gone and its place remembers it no more The Bible speaks now of death and think about this as it relates to the believer the Bible speaks of death as a punishment for sin It's a punishment for sin Romans chapter 5 verse 12 the Bible reads it through one man sin entered the world and Death through sin and thus death spread to all men because all sin Romans chapter 6 verse 23 says that the wages of sin is death That to the believer if you think about this simple fact the believer might ask the question then Since believers are justified Since they are made right with God through faith in Christ and think about the implications of these things because Christ has paid in full our penalty and Christ himself died for us as our substitute Christ is a complete Savior not a partial Savior and he's left believers with neither guilt nor Punishment and so why is it that believers still die? Why do we still die? Why does God still lead us through that terrible ordeal of death? You know like Enoch or Elijah. Why doesn't God just take us off the earth? When he's done with us Put us in a fiery chariot take us home the uber chariot to take us to heaven Zap us to heaven whenever he's done with us. Why do believers die? Well, if you think about it now the difference lot or the answer to that question lies in the difference between the death of believers and unbelievers Death for the believer is very different than death for the ungodly I mean we want to write some of these things down. These are very simple and a simple overview Death for the believers very different than death for the ungodly one Believers immediately go to the Lord to be present with the Lord when they die Verse 8 says here in second Corinthians chapter 5. We are confident. Yes Well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord and we talked about the intermediate state We're absent from this body, but we go immediately to be with the Lord upon our death Secondly Believers enter into death knowing that it's a gateway to heaven It's just the entrance way into heaven Paul said to live as Christ and to die is gain And to depart and to be with Christ is far better but thirdly Believers know that the sting of death the power of death has been removed Death is not the end of life for believers But just the beginning of a perfect life. They'll now live for all eternity death is no longer punishment To the believer in essence death is reward To die is gain listen to Paul near his own death and see if you sense in Paul's statement And he remorse about dying. He said to Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4 verse 6 He said for I am already being poured out as a drink offering. He was nearing the time of his death He said the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race I have kept the faith finally You hear that word this Expectation finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness Which the Lord the righteous judge will give to me on that day and not to me only But also to all who have loved his appearing You know for all these good reasons We are confident aren't we as Christians as believers? Yes Well pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord Revelation 14 verse 13 says blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on We still haven't answered our question as we're considering this Why do believers then still die? There's a difference between the death of the ungodly and the death of believers How does that answer our question the explanation that we can gather from scripture is that for the believer rather than judgment or rather than punishment? death is the final culmination of fatherly Chastisements of God designed to sanctify his people Listen to this from Hebrews chapter 12 that relates to what we're talking about beginning and verse 6 Bible reads for whom the Lord loves he chasens and he scourges every son whom he receives You know similar to temporal judgments in life for the unbeliever Death is punishment For the believer Those temporal consequences even the temporal consequences for sin all work together for our good Don't they it's what the Bible says what the Bible promises to the people of God All things work together for the good of those who are the called according to his purpose I think of the many ways in which believers then are trained By the chastening of death Even the thought of death Even the thought of death has beneficial effect for the people of God Think of how humbling that thought is When you think about death doesn't make you think about your life It motivates you doesn't it the thought of death motivates you to mortify the flesh To overcome sin. It's a check on worldliness. It's a motivator to overcome it's to foster hope in Christ and to foster heavenly mindedness knowing that our days here are short it's a Supreme test of faith to test of trust and a test of hope to hope in him as we face death So all these good ways in which that chastening that final culminating chastening of God provides for a final sanctification of God's people now Just as Jesus Christ entered glory through the path of suffering and death and so do they whom he is not ashamed to call his Brothers in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27 the Bible says it's appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment Now in the very same way and thinking about this idea of the judgment for believers in the very same way a believer might ask Why does the Bible say then that believers enter into judgment? Why do believers then enter into judgment? Didn't Christ? pay our penalty Didn't the judgment That was allotted to us Fall on him on the cross hasn't Christ already been judged for us Now let's look at our text beginning in verse 9 and we'll answer that question Why do believers enter into judgment? verse 9 therefore We make it our aim Whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him know why Why verse 10 for because we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that Each one may receive the things done in the body According to what he has done Whether good or bad if you take a look at verse 9 here's how this fits with the Christian life these things sometimes are Thought by some to just be nothing more than intellectual exercises right just to Take a subject like this to learn the details learn the nuts and bolts But this is to impact the way that we think the way that we live We make it verse 9 our aim whether president or absent to be well pleasing to him Why what's the motivation? Because we're gonna appear before the judgment seat of Christ now for the believer We need to think through that and let that sink into our mind sink into our thinking sink into our hearts We're going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ that should be a motivating factor to Live for Christ to be well pleasing to him knowing this this idea of the judgment of the believer should Promote our sanctification in the same way that the difference between death for the ungodly and death for the for the believer Will be used by God the death of the believer will be used by God to sanctify his people how the thought of death Sanctifies his people in the same way the idea of judgment that believers will enter into judgment Should have a sanctifying effect on the people of God We need to be well pleasing to him Why verse 10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one of us appearing before the judgment seat of Christ may receive the things done in the body According to what he has done whether good or bad now. Let's make some observations in verse 10 beginning with this one first fact in verse 10 is that we must all appear all Believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ not just some believers But all believers for this reason theologians through the centuries have called this a general judgment It includes all believers Secondly considering observations on verse 10 notice where We will appear We appear before the judgment seat of our judge the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead it is appearing Other places For example this morning. We talked about John chapter 15 other places refer to God being our judge There is a sense in which will be judged by the triune God However, many texts and scripture refer to the Lord Jesus Christ being the one who's been allocated by God to judge the living and the dead that Christ is given Authority to judge and as we talked about this morning a little bit that authority to judge is a part of his exaltation it's a part of the Right if you will given to the king to on his throne execute judgment of the people Judgment then is one of the crowning honors of his kingship. Listen to John chapter 5 in beginning in verse 26 Where the Lord says for as the father Has a life in himself so he has granted the son to have life in himself and has given him Authority to execute judgment also Because of his position because of his title because he is coming is the son of man. Listen to Philippians chapter 2 verse 9 therefore God also has highly Exalted him and given him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus Every knee should bow of those in heaven and those on earth and this speaks of judgment right a full and final judgment of all believers unbelievers Every knee will bow of those in heaven and those on earth and of those under the earth and that every tongue should confess That Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father There's an aspect in which the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ is given to exalt the son Exalt the son of man, but thirdly Notice that we're gonna be judged according to what we've done in this life In verse 10 We're gonna receive the things done in the body According to what we have done whether good or bad So we're gonna be judged according to what we've done in this life whether good or bad The verse 10 explains that the standard of judgment the standard of the judgment for believers will be our works Our works the things we've done whether good or bad That's standard by which God judges our works is the revealed will of God his law According to the law of God then believers are judged according to their works for those who appear in judgment Entrance into or exclusion from heaven Will only depend upon whether they have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ or not This is where sometimes confusion comes in We are saved by grace through faith not of works less anyone should boast It is purely and entirely a gift of God, but we're judged According to our works whether good or bad everything we've done in the body so for those who appear in judgment Entrance into heaven or exclusion from heaven is based entirely on Whether or not they are clothed in the righteousness the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ And in that judgment as far as the standard of judgment goes for believers They're gonna be rewards. There are different degrees with respect to judgment there are different degrees both of the bliss of heaven and Different degrees of the punishment of hell and these degrees of judgment will be determined by what is done in the flesh Let me give you a couple of examples of that look with me at Matthew chapter 11 Matthew chapter 11 the standard of judgment is gonna be God's holy law According to his holy law, he will judge believers according to their works whether good or bad and Then according to those works there will be standards or degrees of reward For the wicked standard or degrees standards or degrees of punishment look at Matthew chapter 11 Drop down to verse 20. Just one example of this idea from scripture In verse 20 the Bible says that he began to rebuke the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done because they did not repent Verse 21 he says woe to you Karazin woe to you Bethsada For if the mighty works which are done in you had been done in tire and Sidon They would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes But I say to you it will be more Tolerable for tire and Sidon the day of judgment than for you and you Capernaum who are exalted to heaven will be brought down to Hades for the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom It would have remained until this day But I say to you that it shall be more Tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you you see the degrees of judgment I think the degrees of judgment here illustrated with these godless cities flip over a few pages Matthew chapter 25 Matthew chapter 25 and here with respect to the parable of the talents They get a sense from the parable of the talents that this also applies to the rewards That believers are given or not given the degrees of rewards for believers in judgment As told or described here through the parable of the talents look at verse 14 The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them To one he gave five talents to another two to another one To each according to his own ability and immediately he went on a journey Compare that if you will to places in scripture Where the Bible says that each one has given a measure of faith right same kind of principle They're given each one according to his own ability verse 16 And he would receive the five talents went in and traveled with them and made another five talents Likewise, he would receive to gain two more also, but he would receive one went and dug in the ground and Hid his Lord's money after a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them So he had received who had received the five talents came and brought five other talents saying Lord You delivered to me five talents look I have gained five more talents besides them as Lord said to him well done Good and faithful servant you were ruler over many things enter into or you were faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things enter into the joy of your Lord So it sounds like reward given to a faithful believer, right? verse 22 He also who had received two talents came and said Lord you delivered to me two talents Look, I have gained two more talents besides them his Lord said to him well done good and faithful servant You've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things enter into the joy of your Lord What does it mean there to enter into the joy of the Lord? Means to enter into the joy into the joy of the Lord. That's heaven. That's bliss, right? That's uh, that's That's the believer going to be with Lord verse 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said again, you've got here Two good and faithful servants entering into the joy of their Lord and you've got this third scoundrel here Who has a different destination? He received the one talent came and said Lord I knew you to be a hard man reaping where you have not sown Gathering where you have not scattered seed and I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground look there You have what is yours But his Lord answered and said to him you wicked and lazy servant You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest So take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents For to everyone who has more will be given and he will have abundance But from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away and look at verse 30 a judgment of the unbeliever and Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth So now explaining again back in of 2nd Corinthians here chapter 5 verse 10 We're looking at the standard of judgment standard of judgment God's holy law according to what believers have done in the body whether good or evil and That judged by degree Different degrees both of the bliss of heaven and of the punishments of hell God it says there will give to every man according to his due if we think about that judgment of believers and again through studying the word of God and Putting together if you will a systematic theology of judgment theologians have looked at three parts Three component parts of the judgment specifically here the judgment of believers the first part Concerning the judgment of believers is the examination of their works It's the examination of their works God in judgment for believers right for believers will bring to light the whole past life of man All that he has done in the body whether good or bad all right even the thoughts And the secret intents of the heart God is going to expose that even for believers. This is Symbolically represented in scripture as the opening of the books Talked about the opening of the books in Daniel chapter 7 or the opening of the books in Revelation chapter 20 a judge Usually has a book of his law and Then a record of those who appear before him now God is omniscient so God Perfectly and fully knows that record. He knows every thought. He knows every intent of your heart and in judgment in the examination of our works God exposes everything that we've done in the body whether good or evil and that's for the judgment of the believer and the judgment of the Unbeliever alike when you get that from verse 10 and second Corinthians here in chapter 5 First part of the judgment component part of the judgment is examination of their works second component of the judgment Will be a delivery of the sentence Will be a delivery of the sentence The day of judgment is a day of wrath for the ungodly and Of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God all must be revealed before the judge and There's a sense in which justice demands this God's justice in one sense God's justice will be vindicated on the wicked and God's justice will be glorified in his grace and his mercy to the believer But the sense of justice demands that all must be revealed before the judge The sentence pronounced upon each person as we look at these various texts will not be secret They'll not be known to that person only But since that we have from scriptures that it will be publicly proclaimed and in that The righteousness and grace of God will shine The grace and mercy of God to believers will be glorified a thirdly first You have the examination of the work secondly the delivery of the sentence and then thirdly the actual sentence the righteous will convey everlasting Blessedness and the wicked to everlasting misery so the judge will divide mankind into two parts as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats The final judgment determines the final state Of who will appear before the judgment seat either everlasting misery or everlasting blessedness now in considering these Points regarding the judgment. We still haven't answered our questions. Why do believers enter into judgment? Why do believers enter into judgment? Well first let's answer that question by saying what judgment is not What judgment is not? the final judgment for Believers or unbelievers the final judgment is not for the purpose of deciding What should be the future state of man? It's already been determined John chapter 3 unbelievers are condemned already The final judgment is not for the purpose of deciding what should be the future state of man Secondly, let's talk about what it is then the purpose of judgment is to display the glory of God in a final act of judgment God in glorifying himself on the one hand magnifies his holiness Magnifies his righteousness magnifies his justice and on the other hand magnifies his grace and magnifies his mercy Judgment is about the glory of God. Also in his capacity as judge Christ glorifies himself in saving his people fully and finally to the uttermost he Complaints their redemption so to speak he justifies them publicly and Saves them to the uttermost through this final act of judgment that's said in scripture that This will be revealed this judgment often to pardon sins. It's an error. It's not pardoning sins That has already been determined, but the Bible also says that men have to be judged for every idle word They'll be judged for every secret every secret 3 thing Romans chapter 2 every idle word Matthew chapter 12 There's no indication whatsoever. This is going to be limited to the wicked. So it includes believers who will be judged for every idle word judged over every secret thing and Moreover, it's evident from several passages that the righteous will stand before the judgment seat of Christ So if you think about this now in the judgment of the wicked, what is the purpose or the judgment of the believer? What is the purpose of this judgment? Why are believers judged? Why are believers judged? Why are they judged according to their works and why are the deeds Done in the body the evidence by which God judges them first is this The judgment this judgment the judgment of believers the final judgment of believers and unbelievers will declare Who is lost and who is saved based on their works? I think through that with me this judgment will declare Who is lost and who is saved according to their works? secondly The judgment and the judgment for believers will declare the measure of your reward According to your works the measure of your reward according to your works Now the first let's take point one and then point two and point one judgment will declare Who is lost and who is saved according to their works? The biggest problem for that with most people thinking about the judgment of believers is it seems to contradict Ephesians chapter 2 Seems to contradict that salvation is by grace through faith by grace. You are saved through faith that not of yourselves It is the gift of God not of works. Let's anyone should boast Salvation we know from scripture is not of works. You can't work to earn salvation work Your works don't earn you favor with God Your work doesn't merit debt from God or payment from God that contradicts grace and grace again in salvation It's given as a free gift received by faith and not earned by works So how is it then that the judgment will declare who's lost and who's saved? according to their works now the answer is in a couple of texts and a couple of sentences where our Deeds become the evidence brought forth in the court To demonstrate that our faith is real look at with me quickly at Matthew chapter 25 Matthew chapter 25 and in judging according to works. It's the works that demonstrate For believers that their faith is real for unbelievers that their faith is absent And that's evidenced in their works Matthew chapter 25 and we'll do this quickly just to give you an idea here For example look at verse 31 When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him Then he will sit on the throne of his glory all the nations will be gathered before him And he'll separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats He'll set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left Then the king will say to those on his right hand come you blessed of my father Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world Because verse 35 I was hungry and you gave me food because I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me I was in prison and you came to me sounds like entrance into the kingdom is based on works Not in an ultimate sense ultimately Entrance into the kingdom is based on faith in Christ By grace through faith Works are the evidence of that faith works are the evidence that that faith was real right in the same way Works of the ungodly prove the absence of their faith. He'll say to those in verse 41 He'll just say to those on the left hand depart from me You cursed into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels for I was hungry. You gave me no food I was thirsty. You gave me no drink. I was a stranger. You did not take me in and naked You did not clothe me in sick in prison and you did not visit me So again works look at John chapter 5 John chapter 5 and Again works either confirming and affirming genuine saving faith or works being the Evidence of a lack of genuine saving faith John chapter 5 Look down beginning at verse 29 28 Verse 28 do not marvel at this for the hours coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth Those who have done good To the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation again in life We're judged according to our works our works either prove confirm and affirm genuine saving faith or they Prove give evidence of the lack of genuine saving faith and that goes hand in hand with what we were talking about this morning in John chapter 14 doesn't it that genuine saving faith if it's a living faith will produce fruits Obedience in the life of a Christian if you love me you will keep my commandments. So it's the same kind of principle here We'll keep going just for sake of time so first the deeds that were judged by give evidence of Faith or lack of faith faith genuine saving faith in the life of the believer or an absence of faith in the ungodly secondly secondly our deeds Will be the evidence brought forth To demonstrate the varying measures of our obedience in faith for the purpose of rewards Our deeds will be used to judge for rewards. Okay, listen to this from 1st Corinthians chapter 3 Where Paul says in verse 8 he who plants and he who waters are one But each will receive his own reward according to his own labor Ephesians chapter 6 verse 8 Paul says whatever good thing each one does This he will receive back from the Lord So in other words salvation is by faith Rewards are by faith But the evidence of faith and the judgment of believers will be works that make sense Okay, so now our deeds Are not the basis or the foundation or the ground of our salvation Our works are the evidence of our salvation. They're not the foundation. They're the demonstration the evidence Heard this illustration. I thought this was very helpful from a pastor and he talked about the illustration of The two women if you remember this story from 1st Kings chapter 3 the two women the two harlots who brought a baby to King Solomon Remember that story, right? Both of the women claimed that the baby the baby belonged to them So they asked King Solomon to act as a judge between them two harlots one baby Who does the baby belong to right? So King Solomon had a tough decision King Solomon acted as the judge so He asked that a sword be brought And that the baby should be divided into Half given to one lady and half given to the other Otherwise judgment on the part of King Solomon The true mother cried out. Oh my lord give her the child and by no means kill kill it So Solomon knew instantaneously from the way that the woman responded whose the baby was where who the baby belonged to So now in that act of judgment, what was Solomon looking for? He wasn't looking for some act on the part of one of the two ladies that would earn The baby that makes sense He was looking for an act That would confirm or affirm or prove Who the baby belonged to who the child was born to That's the way that God looks at our deeds in judgment. He's not looking for deeds that Earn merit or earn favor or earn salvation. He's looking for works That prove we are saved prove that we have genuine saving faith The only purchase of our salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ Dying for us at Calvary and that death sufficient to cover All sin all penalty all judgment He is a full and complete and sufficient savior And we are saved by grace through faith alone But that judgment according to works, you know, it's interesting that as you look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 We saw there the application in verse 9 Therefore we make it our aim whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him These thoughts of appearing before the judgment seat of Christ should motivate us to obedience Motivate us to live a life of fervent love and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ to be well pleasing to him But then look at the application of these truths in verse 11 to the gospel In verse 11 knowing therefore the terror of the Lord We persuade men we are well known to God and I also trust are well known in your consciences You know in thinking about judgment And thinking about standing before our God who is a consuming fire We in thinking about these things and thinking about the righteous judgment of God knowing The terror of the Lord should respond by persuading men and I've you know thought on this passage before that in one aspect or often one reason why Believers aren't as faithful and evangelism as they should be Is because they don't know the terror of the Lord You know we've lose sight Of this aspect of judgment We lose sight of the terror of God in judgment And so we aren't roused to persuade men So that's you. That's me. We need to consider Holy God in his righteous judgment and persuade men. Amen. All right, let's pray Father in heaven, thank you for your word Thank you for the opportunity to walk through this passage Lord and thank you for the opportunity to think on these things. I pray Lord that we'd be continually mindful of them We would have our Feet firmly planted in your word Our hand to the plow and our hearts in heaven For your glory God in Jesus name. Amen