The Basis For Our Judgment

One of the most common warnings in the Scriptures is that God will judge
all mankind in the last day. Preparation for this day is the most
important activity of our lives. If God rejects us at the Judgment, then
absolutely nothing else in this life will matter. No amount of
possessions, fame or even love for another person will be worth hearing
our God say, "Depart from me" Matt. 7:23
 
Since this is such a serious subject, we all should want to know what we
can do to get ready for that day. Finding the right answers and acting
upon them now will determine whether we enjoy being in the presence of
God in heaven or suffer the horrors of hell for eternity. We could well
ask, "What must I do to be accepted at the Judgment?" Another way to ask
the same question is, "What must I do to be saved?"

We must begin answering this question with the foundation of our
salvation. To be saved, we must believe in Jesus. Without this, all the
good works one might do will not get him into heaven.  One of the most
common misconceptions people have today is that we are saved by faith
alone. Yes, faith is absolutely essential for our salvation, and the
Bible mentions it on numerous occasions, but whether God accepts or
rejects us at the Judgment is not based only on whether we believed in
Jesus.  

Even most of those who teach that we are saved by faith alone are not
consistent with their doctrine. When someone dies, at the funeral there
is usually an attempt to comfort the mourners by assuring them that the
deceased in now in a better place. On what is this based? Do you not
hear the speaker talk about how good of a husband, father, neighbor,
etc., the deceased was? They will always try to find something good the
person did while alive. They are admitting the obvious, that is, not
only must we believe in Jesus, we must also live an obedient life. This
is not to say we work our way into heaven. No man can do this. But we
must strive to conform our lives to God's standards, knowing it is still
by the grace of God we can be saved because we will fail to obey
perfectly.

There are several passages that describe the Judgment and how it will be
conducted. In all these passages, none of them say the basis for
acceptance or rejection is based on whether we believed in Jesus or not.
They ALL teach that Judgment will be based on our actions. Yes, we are
saved by faith, but the only kind of faith that saves is an obedient
faith (Romans 1:5 and 16:26). 

Matt 25:14-30  - The Parable of the Talents   Matt. 25:31-46 - The Sheep
and Goats This teaching is consistent throughout the Bible.

In the Beginning of the Bible: Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not
be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its
desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Before Abraham: Job 34:10-11 ...Far be it from God to do wickedness, and
from the Almighty to commit iniquity. 11 For He repays man according to
his work, and makes man to find a reward according to his way.

During the Law of Moses: Proverbs 24:11-12 Deliver those who are drawn
toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you
say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts
consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He
not render to each man according to his deeds? Jeremiah 17:10 I, the
Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man
according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.  (32:19)
Ezekiel 33:18-20 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and
commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns
from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live
because of it. Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house
of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.

The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 7:21-27 Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name,
and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them,
'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will
liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain
descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who
hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a
foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended,
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.
And great was its fall. Luke 13:6-9 ...A certain man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I
have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why
does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let
it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if
it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down. John
15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you
will be My disciples.

The Teaching of the Apostles Romans 2:5-10 But in accordance with your
hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself
wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of
God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal
life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory,
honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not
obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, 9
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew
first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone
who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 2
Corinthians 5:9-10 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or
absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in
the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Galatians
6:7-10 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh
reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the
household of faith. Ephesians 5:3-7 But fornication and all uncleanness
or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for
saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know,
that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no
one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath
of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be
partakers with them. Colossians 3:23-25 And whatever you do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord
Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done,
and there is no partiality. 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide
for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied
the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the
coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his
works. Hebrews 2:2-3 For if the word spoken through angels proved
steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just
reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which
at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by
those who heard Him, Hebrews 10:26-30 For if we sin willfully after we
have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who
has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or
three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will
he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted
the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and
insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is
Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His
people." James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and
bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's
religion is vain." 1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who
without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct
yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; Revelation
2:23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall
know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to
each one of you according to your works.

The Conclusion of the Bible Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead,
small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another
book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged
according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered
up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according
to his works.

Certainly, belief in Jesus will be a major issue, but this alone is not
enough! James was making this same point when he wrote that even the
demons believe (James 2:19). 

It is because of the fact that the Judgment will be based on our lives
is the very reason we need Jesus. None of us have lived in such a way
that we might be accepted by God because of our good works. All of us
have failed. We all are in desperate need of forgiveness. This is why
Jesus had to die. He paid the penalty that belongs to us so we might go
free. This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Yet, this good news does not mean we are free to not be concerned how we
live our lives. God never intended that His Son would die so that we
would only have to believe to be saved. The Bible still says: Hebrews
5:9 ...He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Writing to Christians, the Hebrew writer warned: Hebrews 10:26-31 For if
we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries... For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord will judge His people'. It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God".

Why do we have such a serious warning if our actions do not matter after
we become a Christian? 

Those who teach that all we have to do is believe to be saved at the
Judgment are deceivers who ignore many passages in God's Word to their
own destruction. They follow the words of their father who told Eve that
if she disobeyed: Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You
will not surely die.

Eve never stopped believing in God. Even then, belief alone was not
enough. Eve learned the hard way that the life we live also makes a
difference.

We Are Still Under the Law of Christ His Law must be obeyed! He is still
the King that all must bow to! Advantage we have today is that we live
under a system of Grace. We can be forgiven when we fail.

Luke 17:7-10 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending
sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once
and sit down to eat'? 8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare
something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have
eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank
that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think
not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you
are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was
our duty to do.'


Anyone can say they love Jesus. Jesus said: John 14:21 He who has My
commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

Do you truly love Jesus?




Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc