People are judged after they die, according to the Scripture. If we are willing to die in the Lord, even though yet alive in the flesh, we will be judged at that time.

It is important for the reader to understand that we are not speaking now of the judgment of the guilt of our sins, for the judgment concerning the guilt of our sins took place on the cross. We are considered to be guiltless provided we walk throughout our lifetime in the light of God's will (I John 1:7). We are without condemnation as we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:4). Our guiltlessness depends on our abiding in Christ (John 15:2,6; Hebrews 3:6,14).

Neither are we referring to the judgment of the choices that we make and our resulting actions, as God calls us to various levels of glory in Himself, or to ministry, or to other acts of obedience. We are not speaking of the integrity or faithfulness of our family or business decisions.

The rewards or punishments to be given to us in terms of our choices and actions cannot be determined until we die physically. The appraisal of our personality is not valid until we die. We must finish our course before our score can be assigned to us; and our rewards or punishments will be given to us when Christ comes.

There is considerable confusion about the manner in which Christians will be judged. The current Christian teaching that, unlike the remainder of mankind, the Christian will not be rewarded precisely according to his works, is based on a misapplication of John 5:24 and is unscriptural, misleading, dangerous, and destructive (II Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 2:23; 22:12; I Corinthians 4:5).

Carefully consider the following:

Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 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 2:6-8)

If the above passage is speaking only to the non-Christians, then it is true that eternal life can be gained by the non-Christian on the basis of patient continuance in well doing.

If the above passage is speaking only to Christians, then it is true that Christians who do not obey the truth will receive indignation and wrath.

The truth is, the above passage is speaking to all human beings. Those who never hear the Gospel will be judged on the basis of their conscience or their moral code. Those who hear the Gospel will be judged on the basis of the Gospel, that is, on their obedience to the Gospel, not on their mental and vocal acceptance of the theology of the Gospel.

The Blowing of Trumpets portrays the coming of the Lord to exercise judgment, not on the guilt of our sins, or on the choices that we make and the deeds that follow those choices, but on the spiritual darkness that dwells in us.

While there are definite seasons of judgment, the Divine judgment of the wickedness that dwells in us takes place when we have come to the level of redemption where we possess enough faith, spiritual strength, and experience for such a cleansing to occur. We cannot go directly into spiritual warfare when we first come out of Egypt, so to speak. We must endure the training of the wilderness before we are ready to enter Canaan and drive out the unclean spirits that are dwelling in our inheritance.

To be continued.