Passing In Review Series

PASSING IN REVIEW

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-11

Anyone who has been in the military is familiar with “pass in review”. The pass in review has been a long-standing military tradition that began as a way for a newly assigned commander to inspect his troops. It refers to that moment in a military parade when the troops are reviewed by their commander and any dignitaries with him. The unit that performs the best is normally recognized by being awarded a commendation. Units who do not measure up to the expected standard are expected to drill more in order to improve by the next PIR. Pass in review also provides the opportunity to present decorations and awards to individuals and units that are deserving of such recognition. One day, every believer will “Pass in Review” before their Supreme Commander. 2 Corinthians 5:10 could be rendered “For we must all ‘pass in review’ 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.” Unlike the military PIR this review will not be based on the merits of a company (a denomination) or a battalion (the church) but will be an individual review as each of us stand before our Lord and give account of our life in Christ.

We need to understand what will not be part of this review, what will be reviewed, and what will be the outcome of the review.

I. What will not be reviewed

A. Your life before coming to Christ

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2. Louise Fletcher Tarkington wrote “I wish that there were some wonderful place – Called the Land of Beginning Again, Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches, And all of our poor selfish grief, Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door, And never put on again. We should find all the things we intended to do, But forgot and remembered too late; Little praises unspoken, little promises broken, And all of the thousand and one Little duties neglected, that might have perfected, The day for one less fortunate. It wouldn’t be possible not to be kind, In the Land of Beginning Again, And the ones we misjudged, and the ones whom we grudged, Their moments of victory here, Would find in the grasp of our loving handclasp, More than penitent lips could explain. So I wish that there were some wonderful place, Called the Land of Beginning Again, Where all our mistakes, and all our heartaches, And all of our poor selfish grief, Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat at the door, And never put on again.”

3. There is such a land. It is called Regeneration. We enter that land spiritually when we are born again, and all who are thus born again shall enter that land eternally when Jesus comes again. In the eternal Regeneration of Christ’s Kingdom, earthly things shall "be dropped, like an old shabby coat at the door, and never put on again." Hallelujah! --Duane V. Maxey

4. Ephesians 4:22, 24 “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts... on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

B. Your sins

1. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

2. Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

3. Concerning the believer’s sins, Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote: "Although his sins have been judged at the cross and will not be brought up again, at the judgment seat of Christ his works or service will be judged." Therefore, we see that in the life of the believer there is a threefold judgment: (1) as a sinner, his judgment at the cross is past (Rom. 8:1); (2) as a son, the believer must judge himself and confess his sins, or else expect chastisement (1 Cor. 11:31-32; Heb. 12:7); and (3) as a servant, a future judgment awaits the believer at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3:9-15; Rom. 14:10). – copied

4. Horatio Spafford expressed this truth when he wrote, “My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

5. No believer will ever be judged for his sins, for the sins of every believer have already been judged and punished in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. But every believer will “pass in review” as to his life and service.