The Judgment Seat of Christ

by Richard St.James

The Judgment Seat of Christ

1 Peter 4:17 “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?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

1. The Direction of Judgment
2. The Terror of The Lord
3. The Kinds of Judgment

1. The Direction of Judgment

Verse seventeen: “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?"

The direction of judgment is from the inside of a thing to the outside of a thing. The direction of judgment is first us, then others. Judgment starts with us then moves outward to them who are on the outside. The judgment of God begins first with the house of God. The people of God in any age are the first in line when judgment is dispensed by the God of this BOOK.

In this age, the house of God is the Church of the Firstborn. [Hebrews 12:23] Judgment is to begin with the believers in Jesus Christ.

Do you want to know why the judgment of God must begin with us … the people of God? Well at least one of the reasons is because of this. God wants to use us in the judgment of this world. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” [1 Corinthians 6:2]

In order for us to be ready to judge others we ourselves first must get our own house in order. The famous “judge not” of Matthew chapter seven, verse one confirms this very truth for us. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” [Matthew 7:1] We ought to not judge others until we ourselves are clear in the very same matter that we find fault with others. We need to: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” [John 7:24] Amen to that!

Whether we judge ourselves within the body of Christ, the Church, or God judge us, “the house of God” must experience judgment … we must be made ready first. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God …”.

2. The Terror of The Lord

Verse eighteen: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

If “the righteous scarcely be saved” it is because the very nature of a HOLY GOD is involved here. There is ... even for the believer in Jesus Christ … a need to KNOW “the terror of the Lord.” This thing is true … not under the LAW only … but under GRACE also. Look with me in Second Corinthians chapter five, in verse eleven: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” [2 Corinthians 5:11] Paul knew the terror of the Lord!

For us, who are the believers in Jesus Christ, there is a need to be sober, and to serve the Lord in Spirit and in truth because we are going to face a judgment ourselves. Now, do not misunderstand me on this. We will not face a judgment for our sins because our sins have already been judged [or atoned] on Mount Calvary when Jesus Christ went to the Cross of Calvary.

Yea, the true Christian has “received the atonement”. Amen! “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” [Romans 5:11] Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our sins and we have been declared “just” by the JUSTIFIER. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Romans 3:25-26]

The judgment that we [the believers in Jesus Christ] will face is called “the judgment seat of Christ.” This judgment of the believer is located in Second Corinthians chapter five, verse ten: “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.” [2 Corinthians 5:10]

There is something else here. This judgment is coming very soon … for we ourselves are on the very edge of the end of this Church Age. [Are you ready to go?] This “judgment seat” of Christ in heaven will occur while this earth is going thru the first forty-two months of Jacob’s Trial [The Tribulation]. It is at this Judgment seat that we will judged for our works [our deeds and the motives behind those deeds]. We see this in First Corinthians chapter three in verses thirteen thru fifteen: “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” [1 Corinthians 3:13-15]

3. The Kinds of Judgment

Verse nineteen: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Here are some of the kinds of judgment that can be observed in the Bible:

• The Governing Kind of Judgment: As seen in David reigning in Israel.
[2 Samuel 8:15] “And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.”

• The Retributive Kind of Judgment: As seen in God’s vengeance over his enemies.
[Deuteronomy 32:41] “If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.”

• The Final Judgment: As seen in the Great White Throne event in Revelation twenty, verse eleven. [Romans 2:16] “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
[1 Peter 4:5] “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”
[John 12:48] “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

• The Purifying Kind of Judgment: As seen throughout the Church Age in the Christian’s life [within the body of Christ].

The judgment of the believer in Jesus Christ for his sins is past tense. Where and when did this happen? The sins of the Christian were judged on the Cross of Mount Calvary nearly two thousand years ago. The sins of the Old Testament saints were judged on the Cross of Mount Calvary nearly two thousand years ago. This judgment is finished. It is done! The judgment that we judge ourselves with involve the ongoing events that pertain to this life. This truth is given to us [the church] in First Corinthians chapter six in verse four and five: “If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.” [1 Corinthians 6:4]

We need the judgment [for our good] that is provided to us by the “least esteemed in the church.” “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” [1 Corinthians 6:5]

We need caution here.

Now the things that do not pertain to this life [the things that really do NOT really matter] we need to restrain ourselves from judging … for the sake of a weaker brother in the faith as shown to us by the Spirit of God in Romans chapter fourteen. We can see this in verse ten: “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]

Remember brethren, judgment is to first begin inside of us and then proceed to the outside of us. The direction of judgment is first us, then to others. Judgment starts with us, it then, moves to those who are on the outside. The judgment of God begins first with the house of God. It is the people of God who are the first in line when judgment comes.

When we face judgments … and when we face suffering in this life, we need to rest in our understanding that it is our God who is in charge. “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

A True Example

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The First Epistle of Peter

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine,
revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

1 Peter 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

1 Peter 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Peter 4:17 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?

1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

The Judgment Seat of Christ