Our Statement of Faith – Part thirty three

“That at the appearing of Christ prior to the establishment of the Kingdom, the responsible (namely, those who know the revealed will of God, and have been called upon to submit to it) dead and living—obedient and disobedient—will he summoned before his judgment seaet “to be judged according to their works”; and “receive” in body according to what they have done, whether it be good or bad”. Article XXIV

Having now established the principle upon which men and women will be summoned to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, let us now consider the Scripture teaching on when and how they will be judged.

“… At his Appearing and His Kingdom.”

The first work to engage the attention of Christ upon His descent from heaven will he the raising of the dead and the gathering of the responsible to be rewarded according to their works (see 1 Thes. 4:16). This momentous event will precede the establishment of His Kingdom, since it will be here that the Lord judges the responsible, both living and dead. Paul emphasizes this work of Christ when writing to Timothy and reminding him of his great responsibility relevant to his position in the Truth: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (1 Thes. 4:1).

The living and the dead will necessarily have to be judged prior to the setting up of the Kingdom of God, since the faithful are to assist Christ in the establishment of the “new heavens and new earth”. Inasmuch as flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, any more than corruption can inherit in corruption (I Cor. 15 :50 ) , the saints must first stand in judgment, that the faithful may be approved and have their bodies of humiliation changed and fashioned like unto His own glorious body (Phil. 3:21). Then, and only then, will Jesus begin His work of dealing with the nations of the world.

John speaks of the time when the Son shall assume His role as judge and king at the sounding of the seventh angel (the last trumpet), the final sounding during which “the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets” (Rev. 10:7). It is impossible to place any other construction upon his words, other than the conclusion that the judgment will indeed take place at His coming and prior to the establishment of the Kingdom. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever . . . And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth” (Rev. 11:15, 18).

“According to their Works”

Several times in the Apocalypse does Jesus mention His coming again and the subsequent judgment which would follow; a judgment which is to be based on the works of those judged. In His final message to John and to all believers, the Lord declares, “And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12). Earlier, in revealing those events which are to transpire at the second resurrection, after the millennium, we find the principles to be employed at His judgment seat plainly stated. Though applicable to the resurrection at the end of His one thousand year reign, the underlying principle remains the same: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the book,. according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Rev. 20:12,13).

Though it might appear contradictory for one to be justified purely on the basis of faith, and yet to be judged according to his works, it is only seemingly so. Justification is applicable to sinners, who have repented of their trespasses and desire to be baptized into the Name of Jesus for the remission of their sins, while judgment according to works applies to those who have come to enlightenment, whether they have obeyed in baptism or not. Justification, of course, is only spoken of those who have been immersed into the saving Name of Jesus, while judgment is applicable to the obedient and disobedient responsible.

“…According to his Deeds . . “

The great expounder of justification by faith was undoubtedly Paul. Yet, it is chiefly in his writings where we find the greatest emphasis on the importance of works. To the Ephesians, whom he had just reminded that they are “saved through faith”, he declares, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (2:10). Similarly, after emphasizing the sovereign character of God’s gift of salvation which are “not by works of righteousness which we have done”, the apostle urges, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8).

One of the reasons for encouraging believers to maintain good works was that their acceptance or rejection before Christ in the last day will be determined by their observance or neglect of the Lord’s commandments. Thus, we find the apostle cautioning the Christians at Rome against judging one another in view of their own inevitable appearance before the great Judge: 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. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (14:10-12). “Every one of us”; that is, Paul and all those who had been “called to be saints” shall be required to give an account of his conduct to God.

The principle is plainly stated in Galatians where Paul appeals to the spiritual minded to bear one another’s burdens, thus fulfilling the law; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit real life everlasting” (6:7,8). The figure of sowing, either to the flesh or to the Spirit is a familiar one and indicates a manner of conduct (see Job 4:8, Hosea 10:12, 2 Cor. 9:6, etc.). Because of the grave importance of maintaining good works, the apostle then encourages the Galatians to seek for opportunities to do so: “And let us not be weary in well doing.: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” ( VV9, 10).

The believers at Rome were reminded that the judgment to come would be carrier out with proper attention being given to continuing in “well doing”. Speaking of the judgment of God, Paul continues, “Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that work­eth good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” (2:6-10). This, of course, to take place “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel” (V 16).

“Whosoever Heareth these Sayings of Mine …”

The teachings of Paul harmonize perfectly with those of the Master, Himself. In the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7, we are confronted with the most extensive collections of the sayings of Jesus to be found anywhere in the New Testament. After speaking of the conduct of the children of God, Jesus added these words: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matt. 7:24-27).

“Shall Receive in Body”

The reward of either corruption or eternal life shall be received in body; that is, in this body, in which life is manifested. This is made abundantly clear in the following words of Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, where he speaks of the certainty of our appearance at the judgment seat. The following quotation has omitted the words, “done” and “his”, which are shown in the Authorized Version in italics, thus, indicating that they are not found in the original Ms. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things in body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or had. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men … ” (2 Cor. 5:9,10).

It is this body which will be either changed and immortalized, or destroyed. to return to the dust from whence it was formed. More will be said upon this subject in the next publication, having to do with Article XXV of the Statement of Faith.