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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Judgment, Redemption, and the First Resurrection, #2
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (Romans 2:7,8)
The people called up at the last judgment will be judged according to their works—according to the choices they made throughout their lifetime on the earth. Those who have practiced righteousness will enter eternal life. Those who have practiced unrighteousness will experience wrath.
It is common Christian teaching that no individual will be saved at the last judgment because the dead are judged "according to their works," and all the works of man are evil. This is incorrect. It is a conclusion denied by numerous passages.
The Scriptures proclaim clearly that all human beings are judged according to their works. Every one of us must give an account of himself to God, whether or not he is a Christian.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)
Jesus described the last judgment as follows:
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29)
The division of the wheat and the tares is not between those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe in Jesus but between the righteous and the wicked. If receiving the Lord Jesus does not make us righteous in behavior, then the grace of God has not affected our personality in the desired manner.
The emphasis always is on what we have done, never on what we have believed. Those who do good enter life. Those who practice evil enter wrath.
There is no question that Paul believed he would be judged according to his works.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
The reason Christian thinking has become confused is that we do not distinguish between the judgment of Satan and the judgment of the individual. Satan was judged on Calvary and his works will be destroyed in the last days. Satan himself will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
However, the human being, whether Christian or not, will appear before Christ to give an account of his actions on the earth. This is taught clearly throughout the New Testament. He will not be cast into the Lake of Fire unless his works have been wicked.
The wicked are appointed to the Lake of Fire, including the wicked Jews, the wicked Christians, and everyone else who practices wickedness and does not repent. To believe otherwise is to be deceived.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27,28)
The above passage means every individual will give an account of himself to Christ after he dies. It states also that in the last days Christ will appear and remove sin from those who are looking for Him.
To be continued.