“We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due them, for the things done in the body, either good or bad.” - 2 Corinthians 5:10
“Don’t go to hell!” That was the title of a video that YouTube recommended I watch; I’m trying not to take that personally. The content of the video was a street preacher standing on a soapbox, decrying the sinfulness of everyone around him. With vigor and venom, he ranted:
“You will all be judged! You will be judged before Christ and all the ways that you have forsaken His will be called to account. His will is perfect and righteous, and He has prepared a place of eternal darkness for those who live apart from him. So Repent! So that you can stand in the final judgment and not be condemned.”
For many people, descriptions of wrath and condemnation come to mind when we approach the topic of judgment. Judgment is inherently condemning. Christ’s judgment of humanity, therefore, is about casting away all that does not meet his holy standard. Appearing before Christ’s judgment, therefore, is a fearful proposition.
But is this what Paul meant? Was Paul saying that Christians ought to be afraid of that moment when we stand before Christ’s glory? Is Jesus the dour-faced judge who will pour over all the bad and horrible things we have done? Will Jesus hurl divine retribution upon us if we so deserve? This seems to betray the very good news that Paul continually proclaims in his second letter to the Corinthians.
This is not what Paul is saying at all. In fact, Paul’s point is that the judgment of Christ is antithetical to the condemnation-based judgment of the world. Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). Thus, the judgment seat of Christ is the way of hope and life. Below are three reasons why we don’t need to fear being judged by Jesus.
What Is the True Meaning of Christ’s Judgement?
We are always in theological danger whenever we excise a verse from its context. This is often what is done with the verse above. We read the statement about appearing before Christ’s judgment in complete isolation. Yet when we do so, we can mistakenly interpret this verse to mean that Christ’s judgment is to be feared. After a life of faith, we may still end up before Christ’s judgment and find ourselves condemned.
When we think this way, we easily slip into works-based righteousness. We believe that we need to placate the angry judge and that the work that we do on earth helps us earn our place before God. Yet this is not what Paul is saying, and it goes against the foundations of our faith. Scripture is clear that we are saved “Through faith, by grace, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a gift given by the nail-pierced hands of Jesus.
It is because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we live in confidence before God. Paul writes, “God who made us for this purpose (to be clothed with life) has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 5:5). The Holy Spirit within us guarantees that we are destined for eternal life through the graceful love of Jesus. Christ’s judgment, therefore, is an expression of hope and grace. Given the Spirit’s assurance of what lies within Christ’s judgment, we live our faith lives in confidence, trusting the Spirit’s testimony. Christ’s judgment is something we look forward to.
What Lessons Can We Draw from Corinth’s Approach to Judgement?
Judgment was well known to the Corinthians. Corinth was a major City in the Roman Empire, a center of trade and commerce, philosophy, and debate. The city was also well known for having a large, ornate marble structure called the Bema Seat. The Bema Seat was the place where trials and accusations would be heard; it was a place of judgment and condemnation. In fact, during his first visit to Corinth, Paul himself was hauled before this very judgment seat. The Book of Acts records,
“While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 'This man,” they charged, 'is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” - Acts 18:12-13
Paul stood before Gallio's judgment seat as one accused of a crime, awaiting the judge’s verdict. This is the judgment seat of the world. The judgment seat of worldly power is one of condemnation and death. It serves only to render a verdict on one accused. As much as we might give voice to the adage that “all are presumed innocent,” this is not how worldly judgment works. Judgment is inherently accusatory, and the one who stands accused has their sins and misdeeds aired before the judge.
For Paul, the judgment of Christ is a reversal of the typical way the judgment seat was understood. Paul is convinced that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). On the cross, Jesus has removed every voice of accusation over our lives. Furthermore, Paul writes “Who will bring any charge against God’s elect, it is God who justifies!” (Romans 8:33). Such statement produce confidence in us that we will never be separated from the love of God in Christ.
When we stand before Jesus, we don’t wear an orange jumper and stand accused. We stand free in a love that illuminates who we are as people made in his image, who participate in his death, and who have the Holy Spirit as a downpayment.
Why Should We Embrace Christ’s Judgement with Joy?
Appearing before Christ’s judgment seat is not something to be feared but embraced. It is a moment of life, not death, and grace, not condemnation. Furthermore, Christ’s judgment serves to reveal who we are as the beloved children of God. When Paul writes that we must “appear” before Christ, he uses a word that means “To be revealed – to be made known, to be illuminated.” Christ’s judgment reveals us.
Scripture is consistent in the gospel message: Jesus is not an angry judge needing to be placated. Jesus doesn’t critique us; he doesn’t pour over our lives with a red pen circling all our infractions. Jesus’ final judgment over our lives is a moment of grace wherein, with astounding intimacy, Jesus reveals the depth of his love for us.
If we think that the end judgment is a moment of reckoning by which we are weighed on the balance of divine retribution, we will always be afraid. We will never know where we stand before God, and even though we may talk about grace and love, we will always question if we have done enough to tip the scales positively. And while it is true that we must always ‘make it our goal to please him” (2 Corinthians 5:4), we do so out of love, not fear. It is the love of Christ, not the fear of him, that urges us on.
Ultimately, it is good news to hear that we will be judged. This message gives us hope because Christ's judgment is further testimony to his unyielding love for us. Christ’s judgment is the moment by which we are ushered into eternal life.
Make no mistake; you will be judged, and it will be glorious. Hallelujah.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Mint Images - Tim Robbins
