Judgment Seat of ChristSample

 Judgment: Relevant or Relic?   

There is nothing more repulsive than a judgmental heart overflowing with chronic criticism. And though human judgments are flawed at best and corrupt at worst, God’s judgments are as wonderful and perfect as He is. Consequently, as His Son’s disciples we should not avoid learning about them, rather, we should strive to understand and appreciate them. Among the reasons for confusion around this topic, is that for many, God’s judgment seems to undermine other doctrines they hold dear. For example, didn’t Jesus say, “… he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life,” (John 5:24, NKJV)? Conversely, Paul stresses that, “… we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10a, NKJV). Though these statements seem contradictory, they are not as they refer to different judgments. 

Though spoken of in the Old Testament, God’s judgments are not relics of the past, they are emphasized in the New Testament as well, revealing His glory. Remember that Jesus said the Father has, “…given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22, NASB) and “…in righteousness He judges and wages war” (Revelation 19:11, NASB). All judgment, both now and future, fall under the jurisdiction of our Lord, who died on the cross and shed His blood for the salvation of the world. Presiding over time and eternity as the great judge, there could be nothing more relevant than this theme as Christ embodies the unfathomable fusion of justice and mercy found in God’s nature.