Jesus is Coming Again Pt. 26 Jesus Will Judge Our Service For Him.

Jesus will return to judge the quick and dead. 

2 Timothy 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

Giving a charge to someone is conferring a serious, religious duty upon that person. As I noted previously, Paul was busy preparing Timothy to assume greater responsibilities in the Church. 

Why? Because Paul knew that he would be executed for his faith in Jesus Christ, sooner rather than later.

Paul reminded Timothy that the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father in heaven, were upon this young minister of the gospel. 

Every pastor, teacher and evangelist needs to have a sense of awe, and to feel the weight of their calling. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and living by its truth as a good example to others, is both a wonderful and solemn responsibility. 

Being a Pastor, teacher or evangelist is never some casual thing. It is a way of life.

What is our motivation for loving and serving God? Paul tells us. It is that when Jesus Christ appears, He is going to judge the quick and the dead. 

When will this happen? This will occur after the resurrection of life and the rapture of the church. 

The quick are all believers who are alive at the return of Jesus Christ and the dead, are those who died having faith in Jesus Christ. 

Acts 10:42-43  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  

The apostle Peter also referenced Christ judging the quick and the dead, when he finished preaching to Cornelius' household.

Believers in Christ will not be judged at the same time as sinners. 

Psalm 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Believers will not be judged at the same time as Christ rejecting sinners. The Psalmist makes it clear that the ungodly people shall not stand in the congregation  with those who trusted Jesus Christ. 

The resurrection of damnation and final judgment will occur at least seven years after the resurrection of life and the rapture of the Church.  

All believers in Christ shall appear at the judgment seat of Christ. 

Romans 14:10-12  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

The judgment seat of Christ for the believer, is from a word that refers to the place where an Olympic judge passes out medals to the athletes, based upon their performance.

In like manner, each believer in Christ, after the resurrection of life and rapture of the church, will stand before the Lord. Our service and motivation for serving Jesus will be judged. 

This is not a judgment of our sins, for they were judged at the cross of Christ (See Colossians 2:13-14).

Will we be rewarded by Christ, or suffer a loss of reward?

1 Corinthians 3:10-15  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11)  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12)  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13)  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14)  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

Paul explains the judgment seat of Christ in more detail. We will give an account to Jesus for our service and motivation for what we have done as Christians. 

Our works will be classified as gold, silver, or precious stones, meaning that how and why we served Christ, was done with a right heart. 

Our works could be classified as wood, hay or stubble, meaning that how and why we served Christ was done with a wrong heart. 

All our works and service for God will be tried by fire, and only that which abides the testing fire, shall receive a reward. If our service is consumed by the fire, then we will suffer a loss of reward. 

Paul makes it clear, that this judgment is not about sin and salvation. It is about loving and serving God as we ought to, versus loving and serving ourselves.

Thus, Paul was used by the Lord to provide the motivation for serving and loving God with a right heart. 

Here is how to serve God rightly.

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.   

Because all these things are true, Paul gives Timothy a charge to preach the Word. He must preach it when it is popular to do so and preach it when it is unpopular to do so. 

He must preach truth that confronts the sins of each generation. He must reprove and rebuke those who live in sin, with a patient, longsuffering spirit. Why? Because God is patient, longsuffering and forbearing with us.

Each believer in Christ can preach the word. We can do this by our words and actions. We must make sure that the way we choose to live aligns with the scriptures. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Let us remember that Jesus is coming again and that he is going to judge the living believers along with those whom He will resurrect from the dead.

Let us seek to have the sunshine of God's Word in our hearts each day, for this will show us what to do and how we might love and serve God.

Let us remember that we will all stand before this judgment seat of Christ, and that we should not be judging other Christians, nor should we be speaking ill of them. 

We should never sow discord among the church and should always set our affection on things above, not things of this world.

Let us strive to live for God's glory each and every day, that we might hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" from the lips of our Lord. 

Let us rejoice in the Lord and let us worship Him in Spirit and in truth. 

Bob