KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinth 4:5 ” Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God”.

In our previous study we learnt that our Lord Jesus Christ is God’s appointed ultimate Judge of all humanity.

We would consider the purpose for God judging us, as well as some thoughts on the judgment of believers.

The purpose of the judgment.

1. To reveal the true character of each person. (1st Corinth 4:5)
2. To determine the value of the works of men. (1 Cor. 3:13)
3. To render public reward or punishment as men are not always punished in this life.(Rev 22:12)
4. To vindicate the righteous of God in His dealings with men. His justice would be acknowledged. (Rev 19:1&2

JUDGEMENT OF BELIEVERS

All believers must appear at the judgment seat of Christ and be judged for their works. (1st Corinthians 3:11-15).All believers would stand before this seat of Christ and give an account of themselves (Rom 14:10-12).This judgment would take place at His second coming. This is not a judgment concerning, the believers salvation, for this was settled at Calvary; it is a judgment concerning his service and works for the Lord. (1st Corinthians 3:11-15)This is illustrated in the custom of the Greecian games. After the games were over, the winners were assembled before the ‘judgment seat’ of the judge and receive the victor’s crown. Some of the contestants have no winner’s crown. In this sense there was judgment and rewards.

Dearly beloved, there are rewards and crowns to be received, some would be rewarded and crowned, whiles some receive nothing, which one would you be? Run that you may obtain.

PRAYER

Father I commit my life to your course pleasing you alone in all I do. I do not run as one that beat the air but rather, I run to obtain, putting my body under subjection that I may not be a cast away.

FURTHER STUDIES:

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”.