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.
II. What will be reviewed
A. Daniel Webster, the noted American statesman, once said: “The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind is that one day I will have to stand before a holy God and give an account of my life.” It is sobering indeed that all Christians must “appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
B. In order for anyone to appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, one must first be born again, washed in blood of Christ. At this judgment, our works will be judged for rewards, not to validate salvation.
C. 1 Corinthians 3:13 “each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
D. What will be reviewed at the Judgment Seat of Christ is the "sort" of work that we have done while on this earth: "and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is." At the judgment seat, the quality of our works will be judged. God is interested in and holds us responsible for the QUALITY of our Christian service.
E. Christ will give rewards based on performance in the kingdom.
F. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear 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.”
G. The Greek word translate in verse 10 as “Bad” is “Kakos” meaning worthless.
H. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost said, ’’The judgment is not to determine what is ethically good or evil, but rather that which is acceptable and that which is worthless. It is not the Lord’s purpose here to chasten His child for his sins, but to reward his service for those things done in the name of the Lord" (Things to Come, p. 223).
I. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (HCSB) “If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.”
III. What will be the results of the review
A. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (HCSB) “If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.”
B. The rewards for enduring quality
1. Crowns – Symbols of victory, authority, and responsibility
• 1 Corinthians 9:25 “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”
• The Crown of Righteousness – Good Conduct Medal – 2 Timothy 4:8
• The Crown of Life – Purple Heart / Medal of Honor – Revelation 2:10
• The Crown of Glory – Meritorious Service Medal – 1 Peter 5:2-4
• The Crown of Rejoicing – Recruiter’s Ribbon – 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
• The Incorruptible Crown – The Legion of Merit – 1 Corinthians 9:25
2. Accolades and Commendation (Distinguished Service)
• Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
C. Loss for works that don’t pass muster
1. 1 Corinthians 3:15 “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
2. If a person’s life in Christ is characterized by that which has been done operating in the flesh, living life the way they want not by the Holy Spirit’s leading his/her works will be burned up, he/she will suffer loss; he/she will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." And will be embarrassed at the BEMA.
3. 1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
4. James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
5. Those are fools who depend on man’s estimation, so as to reckon it enough to be approved by men, for then only will the work have praise and recompense—when it has stood the test of that day. - John Calvin
D. Are you ready to pass in review?
IV. The Final Pass in Review
A. When the military passes in review they are judged to determine if they meet the standard of the military inspectors designated by the commander. In like manner every one of us is going to face the judge, Jesus Christ. For the believer it is before the BEMA for the world it is before the Great White Throne.
B. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after the judgment.”
C. At the Final PIR all unsaved mankind will stand in review and hear the dire words “depart from me…I never knew you.”
D. Revelation 20: 11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
