It is believed and taught by many Christians that after people receive Christ they will not pass through judgment.

However, the Scriptures teach plainly and in several places that every person who has ever lived will be judged, including the believers in Christ. Each individual will be rewarded according to his deeds, according to what he has done during his lifetime on the earth.

To those who would protest that Christians are not included in Romans 2:6 (above), let us point out the verse that follows:

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7)

It seems clear that Romans 2:7 is addressing Christians (unless we are prepared to believe it is non-Christians who gain eternal life by "patient continuance in well doing").

If Romans 2:7 is speaking to Christians, it is likely Romans 2:6 also is referring to Christians—and, in fact, to all people.

Every individual who has ever lived will be judged and recompensed according to his or her deeds.

The Scriptures state that judgment begins with the saints and the afflictions and tribulations that come upon them are Divine judgment.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17)

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: (II Thessalonians 1:4,5)

The above two verses inform us that the saints are judged, the judgment takes the form of chastening, and the Day of Judgment has been operating since the coming of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire (the fire of Divine judgment).

Although the Day of Judgment has not as yet fallen upon the world the saints are being judged. The ax is being laid to the root of the trees today. The Lord is thoroughly purging His floor. The Church is being baptized with fire. The Lord has come, in this sense, and is sitting as a refiner and purifier of silver (a purifier of our redemption, in that silver, in the Scriptures, symbolizes redemption).

The Lord Jesus told us that those who believe in Him are not judged.

He that believeth on him is not condemned [judged]: but he that believeth not is condemned already [already has been judged], because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [and into judgment comes not]; but is passed from death unto life [but has passed out of death into life]. (John 5:24)

To be continued.