Question from a WordTruth.Com friend:
>>The Bible states that all will be judged in the end. However, acceptance of Jesus Christ washes away all sin. So who is the "all" that will be judged? Ones left after the rapture? Or will the saved be judged as well?
Thank you in advance for your help in this matter, and God Bless!
>>
WordTruth.Com Response:
This is one of those interesting paradoxes in the Bible - if believers are forgiven, will they be judged or not? If not, will there be a final judgment for unbelievers? Will it all be done at the same time? Let's look at this in the context of believers first and then unbelievers for there is a difference.
Judgment of believers in the LORD Jesus Christ
First of all, you are correct that when you accept the grace of the LORD Jesus, believing He is LORD and died for your sins on the cross, and you place your faith and trust in Him - He offers complete forgiveness of sins - past, present, and future. "For Christ died for sins, once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18, NIV).
The Bible also states that there will be a judgment for the believer. In 1 Corinthians 3, we find a time of cleansing where your works as a believer will be judged. Consider this passage very carefully:
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, TNIV).
Note that your works as a believer (on the foundation laid by Jesus Christ) will be judged for their quality. Works of faith will be rewarded. Works done not by faith will be discarded. Even if all your works are burned up, the believer is still saved. The judgment is not for salvation but for reward. That is the distinction for the believer's judgment.
Also, the believers' judgment occurs right after you die:
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due them for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:6-10, TNIV)
Our appearance before the judgment seat of Christ is in the context of being "away from the body and at home with the LORD" (v8). Again, the judgment is for reward as we saw earlier in 1 Corinthians 3.
Judgment of the unbeliever
There will be a final judgment for everyone who has rejected the knowledge of God and the grace He extends to everyone through His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. The knowledge of God is given to everyone on the planet (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:18-20). A conscience is also given to every person on the planet (Romans 2:15). So even those who have not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ will be righteously judged for their sin.
The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NIV). Since God's standard is perfection, all who die as unbelievers will be judged guilty without excuse. Their judgment is eternal separation from the love of God in the Lake of fire (Hell).
As for the timing, all unbelievers who die are bound for judgment temporarily in Hades (distinct from Hell which is forever). After the events in Revelation, including the 2nd coming of the LORD Jesus Christ, there will be a "great white throne" judgment we find in Revelation 20:11. The unbelievers will be resurrected to face eternal judgment for their sin. No excuses at that point and no mercy.
It is incumbent upon each one of us to proclaim both the love and message of Christ while we are here on Earth. That is the command of our LORD and Savior (Matthew 28:18-20). I hope this addresses your questions. Feel free to submit any additional questions to the WordTruth.Com web site.
May the God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!
Rev. Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries
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