You can also listen to this devotion on YouTube: Final Judgment.
Why do believers face a final judgment if Christ paid for our sins?
1. Judgment isn't the same as punishment. The punishment for sin is death, but believers receive eternal life (Romans 6:23).
However, Scripture says God still judges believers (Matthew 12:36; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4).
2. Just as we suffer consequences for our sins here on earth even though we're forgiven, perhaps our final consequence is a thorough understanding of how much our sins hurt God (e.g. Genesis 6:5-6).
It seems right that we'd have opportunity to express our sorrow for sins we overlooked here on earth.
3. Christ promises to wipe away every tear in heaven (Revelation 21:4). Perhaps our last tears will be at the final judgment. How wonderful to know we won't carry that burden for eternity.
When we stand before the judgment seat of God, Christ will explain that our names are written in the Book of Life because of what He did for us (1 John 2:1; Revelation 20:11-12).
Amen!
One of my readers asked this question in an email, and I thought it was important enough to cover in a Bible Love Note. If you have any questions you'd like answered in a Bible Love Note, please let me know. ~ Gail
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There are a few Bible teachers who suggest that the final judgment will not deal with any sins of believers, only rewards or lack thereof. Scriptures like 1 Peter 4 and others listed above don't lend themselves to that interpretation.
Here are some other Bible teachers' explanations of The Final Judgment:
John Piper on The Final Judgment
Got Questions on The Final Judgment
Billy Graham on The Final Judgment
To do a short Bible study on this devotion, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.
Bible Love Notes
1. Judgment isn't the same as punishment. The punishment for sin is death, but believers receive eternal life (Romans 6:23).
However, Scripture says God still judges believers (Matthew 12:36; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4).
2. Just as we suffer consequences for our sins here on earth even though we're forgiven, perhaps our final consequence is a thorough understanding of how much our sins hurt God (e.g. Genesis 6:5-6).
It seems right that we'd have opportunity to express our sorrow for sins we overlooked here on earth.
3. Christ promises to wipe away every tear in heaven (Revelation 21:4). Perhaps our last tears will be at the final judgment. How wonderful to know we won't carry that burden for eternity.
When we stand before the judgment seat of God, Christ will explain that our names are written in the Book of Life because of what He did for us (1 John 2:1; Revelation 20:11-12).
Amen!
One of my readers asked this question in an email, and I thought it was important enough to cover in a Bible Love Note. If you have any questions you'd like answered in a Bible Love Note, please let me know. ~ Gail
--------------------------------
There are a few Bible teachers who suggest that the final judgment will not deal with any sins of believers, only rewards or lack thereof. Scriptures like 1 Peter 4 and others listed above don't lend themselves to that interpretation.
Here are some other Bible teachers' explanations of The Final Judgment:
John Piper on The Final Judgment
Got Questions on The Final Judgment
Billy Graham on The Final Judgment
To do a short Bible study on this devotion, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.
Bible Love Notes
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I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word: Wisdom for Life. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first 4 devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" or "read sample" on Lifeway or Amazon.
I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.
Thank you so much for this explanation which you put so simply.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your 1-Minute Bible Love Notes.
Are there different levels of eternity based on the works a Christian does on earth?
ReplyDeleteWe're told that there are different levels of rewards in heaven, but we don't fully understand what that means. 1 Cor. 3 talks about Christians who build on the foundation of Christ in meaningful ways and receive rewards because of it. And it talks about Christians who don't build in meaningful ways and receive no rewards even though they are saved.
DeleteVery good message and perfect timing as i am no longer feel just repentance as I did when i first believe, but now I'm experiencing repentance for things done in the flesh since being born again 20yrs ago. God bless you brother
ReplyDeleteEveryone is judged,even if your a Christian ,faith alone does not save you if you practice sin , even Satan believed but yet was casted down from heaven .
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, although I might word it slightly differently. Simply believing in Jesus is not the same as asking Him to be our Savior and Lord. Genuine faith saves and those who have genuine faith don't live sinful lifestyles. They may sin, but they repent and seek to live lives that please the Lord.
DeleteGail: God Bless you for your ability to cause us to take a look at where we stand in the eyes of God. We need this reminder to help us walk the Christian way every day before we have to stand before our Almighty God. You are a blessing and amazingly fearless of what people think. You, my sister, speak Gods Word which will not return void.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your encouragement, Judy/Kayla.
DeleteGod says He will remember our sins no more after we are forgiven by Him. I believe on Judgment Day we will be standing with Jesus and not judged but rewarded. Look it up. It says so in the Bible and God never contradicts Himself.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, If you read the Scripture references in this devotion which are direct quotes from God's Word, they confirm the truths in this devotion. I wouldn't say it the way you've said it (i.e. "Look it up") because that's sounds kind of condescending, but I do encourage you to click the links and read the passages that are linked.
DeleteIn addition, you might want to read my devotion on figurative language because when God says he "forgets" our sins or "remembers them no more" it means that we are no longer held responsible for them, just as someone "forgets" a financial debt we owe. If God literally didn't remember our sins, that would mean we know more than God and He wouldn't be omniscient. So there is no contradiction. We are judged for our sins, but we are not held responsible for them if we have asked Christ to be our Savior.
https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2017/01/we-must-define-forget-correctly-as-it.html