When "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality," it will in fact be the "incorruption," the "immortality" that has been gained from following the Lord. Righteous works that are performed in, through, and by the saint, as Christ enables him to overcome the death against which he struggles continually in the world, result in eternal resurrection life.

In the fourth chapter of II Corinthians, Paul describes how the tribulations that fell on him produced a response of resurrection life from within him:

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (II Corinthians 4:10)

The process of victory coming forth from affliction created for Paul a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17).

In the following chapter (II Corinthians, Chapter Five) the "weight of glory" is shown to be a "house" from Heaven, that is, a body that will clothe our present body:

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)

The "building of God," the "house not made with hands," is the "fine linen" of Revelation 19:8, and the "garments of salvation" of Isaiah 61:10.

Paul then goes on to speak of the Judgment Seat of Christ, saying we will receive the things done in our body (II Corinthians 5:10).

If we, through the Lord Jesus Christ, bring forth deeds of righteousness and holiness, these deeds become our incorruptible body of eternal life that will redeem our mortal body at the last trumpet.

If we do not bring forth deeds of righteousness and holiness, do not enter the formation, reconciliation, and union stages of redemption, no body of life has been formed. Therefore it is impossible for us to be changed from corruption into incorruption at the last trumpet.

If we sow to our flesh we will reap corruption in the Day of the Lord.

In the preceding pages we have discussed the timing of the Judgment Seat of Christ, giving our point of view that we are going through judgment now.

There are some verses that give the impression Paul regarded the Judgment Seat of Christ as taking place in the future:

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)

There are other passages that suggest the Judgment Seat of Christ is taking place now:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick [living] and the dead. (I Peter 4:5)

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)

We would suggest that the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a special trial of Christians that takes place during a (supposed) time period between the first resurrection and the appearing of Christ. The term refers, rather, to the evaluation of every person of the world and takes place at any time Christ chooses. Even the living may be judged (I Peter 4:5).

To be continued.