A few weeks ago we took a look at the do’s and don’ts of judging others on earth whether they are Christians or not.
Two weeks ago we looked at the certainty of the judgment that is awaiting those whose faith and trust was not in Jesus at the time of their death.
Today we’ll be taking a look at the judgment that awaits the saints on the great and final day of judgment.
There IS a judgment day coming … even for Christians!
So, just who will be judged as Christians? There seems to be in the Bible a book that is used to determine who are the righteous ones going to be with the Lord and who are not.
This Book of Life is referred to 8 times in the Bible.
Some of these we read the two weeks ago when we were talking about the judgment of those whose faith and trust is not in Jesus at the time of their death.
First, let’s take a brief look at the verses about those whose names are not found in the Book of Life:
Revelation 13:8
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”
Revelation 20:15
“Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
OK. Since we are looking at the judgment of the saints today, let’s just settle who is in the Book of Life and who is not.
If you are “in Christ” at the end of your life you are in the Book of Life and your eternal destiny is in heaven with the Lord.
If you are NOT “in Christ” at the end of your life your name will not be found in the Book of Life and your eternal destiny will be in the place prepared for the devil and his angels, separated from God, for all of eternity.
Quote John 15:5-8 and explain briefly about being “in Christ.”
So, let’s say you ARE in the Book of Life at the time of your death; what about your judgment?
Revelation 20:11-12
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
ALL of the dead are judged according to what they have done! Not just the unrepentant sinner but everyone!
I thought that when I was saved all of my sins were forgiven, never to be remembered again! Well, that is true, but what about the actions of your life after you are saved; what about them?
What a great question! And the question itself kind of reveals what we think about judgment, doesn’t it?
Does this verse ever imply that only the bad things we do will be recorded in the books that are opened?
If we look at this in the context of the Christian and the rest of the Scriptures there are two inseparable facets to what is recorded; the deed and the attitude of the heart!
You do something bad with a good intention
You are dancing in praise to the Lord and you hit your neighbor in the nose
You do something bad with a bad intention
You pretend you are dancing in praise to the Lord and you hit your
neighbor in the nose
You do something good with a bad intention
You help someone in need with the intention of getting noticed and gaining
praise
You do something good with a good intention
You help someone in order to bring praise to God and to extend His grace
to someone in need; to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven!
So, we as Christians WILL be judged according to what we have done since we came to know Jesus as our Savior!
So, what do we see in these three Scriptures?
What about those whose name IS found in the book of life?
OK. So, being in the book of life is critical
Revelation 3:4-5 (NLT)
“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and His angels that they are Mine.”
So, is it possible for someone who was “in Christ” and whose name was written in the Book of Life to forsake Christ and be removed because they were not victorious?
What about Psalm 69:28 (NASB)?
“May they be blotted out of the Book of Life. And may they not be recorded with the righteous.”
Just as John 15:5-8 says that a person may choose to not remain in the Vine, which is Christ, so the name of that person may be removed from the Book of Life when they choose to abandon their faith in Jesus.
Another Scripture in Philippians speaks of the names of the believers being in the Book of Life.
Philippians 4:3 (ESV)
“Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”
OK, so just to recap, everyone will be judged according to what they have done “in the body” meaning while they were alive.
Only those whose names are found written in the Book of Life will gain entrance into the eternal presence of the Lord. Why is that?
In Revelation 21:27 (HSCB) John is describing the New Jerusalem
“Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life.”
Why is that?
What will the result of the unrestrained fruit of the Holy Spirit be?
Galatians 5:22-23a
“… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”
In hell the Holy Spirit will be absolutely absent! Totally! What will that spoiled fruit be like?
Hate, misery, war, agitation, meanness, wickedness, betrayal, rudeness, out of control in all of these traits and the knowledge that it will never end or even get any better.
How does it work with these two forces trying to co-exist on this earth now?
That is why the Lord will not tolerate even one bit of evil in heaven.
So, what does this all mean to us knowing that we who are “in Christ” will also be judged according to what we have done in the body since we came to Christ?
How will we what we have done be judged?
Matthew 22:37-40 contain the answers!
Matthew 22:37-40
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love God. Love others!
These commandments are not just for time but for eternity!
To the unsaved, these are oxymoronic! Just love yourself. Look out for “number one”. If you don’t take care of yourself who will?
In Heaven these will be as natural as breathing!
When we come to know Jesus as our Savior these two all encompassing laws start to take on a glimmer of sense.
As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus we become more aware of how we are obeying/disobeying these over arching laws of God.
As we commit ourselves to knowing all of God that we can possibly know and to becoming as much like Christ as we possibly can these take on greater and greater importance in our lives.
And, when we get to heaven, these will just seem natural! The way God intended us to live and relate to Him and one another from the beginning!
So, what about this week?
Did you spend time with God, in worship, in His Word, in prayer, in fellowship with other believers?
Did you see someone in need and help them for the sake of Christ?
Did you hear or read about the plight of persecuted Christians and respond in the name of Jesus to help rescue those who are under the threat of death or those who are starving or languishing in pitiful foreign orphanages or roaming the streets of India because their family line is considered to be next to animals?
Our deeds are recorded. They will be brought to light!
Oh that we would be compelled by a great love for God and nothing else!
What a tremendous impact could be made upon this poor, sick world!
There’s a song by Point of Grace called “What’s He Gonna Say About Me?”
What's He gonna say about me
When He weighs the works that I have done
Against the words that I have failed to speak
What's He gonna say about me
When the chaff is sifted from the wheat
Will there be evidence that I believed
What's He gonna say about me
What's He gonna say
What's He gonna say
And, that’s a great question! Although it’s a little bit inaccurate!
When the books are opened, what are your deeds going to say about you?
There is no Fifth Amendment on the great day of Judgment!
What are your deeds going to say about you?
There are many great rewards for those who live faithfully and with all strength for Jesus!
2 Timothy 4:8
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”
James 1:12
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
1 Peter 5:4
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
I cannot express the words of hope that well up in my heart when I think about these crowns. Not because of the notoriety that I will receive if I am found worthy but knowing that Jesus was pleased with my life. That I brought joy to His great heart.
What a great future we have if we are found to be in the Book of Life!
