Beth-El Baptist Church
02/11/2007
Greg Tomlinson
What does it mean to
‘receive the things done in his body … whether it be good or bad’ in 2
Corinthians 5:10?
This is one of those verses that seem to identify the existence of rewards and punishments in the future. Since scripture points out that God is our reward and all of our true works belong to him, how are verses like this supposed to be understood? In other words, what is the pending judgment of the Christian?
1. What is the context of the passage?
2 Corinthians 5:1-17
The Corinthian church was having serious problems in their understanding of living the Christian life of obedience (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) and an unwillingness to forgive (2 Corinthians 2:8-11) and see the need for proper teaching (2 Corinthians 2:17) as well as the authority of Paul (2 Corinthians 3:1-3). In light of this, Paul is putting forth a picture of the difference between the earthly and heavenly bodies in order to lift up the superiority of that which is heavenly. That which is earthly will disintegrate, decay, and disappear (5:1). It is then the Christian who sees the earthly and mourns because of its filthiness (5:2, 4) and seeks a desire to be clothed in the heavenly (5:2-3). It is in this context that he reminds them to set their sights on the heavenly (5:8-9) and then reminds them that everyone must face God regarding what they have done (5:10) and the Christians’ knowledge of the eternal place for the earthly (5:11).
2. What happens when we ‘appear before the judgment seat of Christ’?
Romans 14:7-17 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Psalm 7:9; 26:2 Jeremiah 11:20; 17:10; 20:12
Ezekiel 18:4-9 Romans 6:23
Revelation 20:12-14 Matthew 22:32
It is a time of judgment regarding our actions. It is a time in which we bow down before Jesus as the Christ, the true Lord and true God. We are to understand that other people do not judge us, as God judges us, nor are we our own judge but it is God that judges us. This is a reminder that I am not a Christian because I say to, but because Jesus says so. The evidence of the judgment is the condition of the heart and not on our works. For those who have sinned and not obeyed God, the judgment is death, which is eternal separation from God. Notice that at the end of time, it is the ‘dead’ who are judged. These are those who have not believed since believing makes one alive (Ephesians 2:1).
3. When do we ‘appear before the judgment seat of Christ’?
Hebrews 9:27 Luke
12:20
Colossians 1:20-22; 2:11-14; 3:3-5 Romans 6:3-12; 8:10-14
Ephesians 2:4-6 2 Timothy
4:1
Everyone shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ at an appointed time. Each of us has an appointment that we will not and cannot miss. God declares the time and schedules the appointment himself. For the true Christian, the judgment has already taken place, for he already has peace with God (Colossians 1:20), was buried (Romans 6:4), was crucified (Romans 6:6; Colossians 2:20), dead with Christ (Romans 6:8) and we are now alive in and through Jesus (Romans 6:11; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 2:20)
4. What are the ‘good or bad’ that we are judged on?
Isaiah 57:15; 64:5-6 Philippians 3:8-10
1 Samuel 15:22 Zechariah 7:5-7
Joel 2:11-13 Hebrews 10:29
Ephesians 4:1-3 Colossians 1:9-11
1 Thessalonians 2:12 Romans 7:14-20; Romans 8:6-11
John 14:16-18 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 3:10-19
In our natural state, we cannot do anything that is truly good. We may do works that other men will consider to be good, but if they are not done for the cause of Jesus Christ, are they actually good, in the eternal, God likeness sense? As Paul points out, “that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18) but at the same time the believer has ‘the Spirit of God’ dwelling in him (Romans 8:9) and this is the only good that we can have by which we can be judged or declared good. The only righteousness is God’s righteousness that is given to believers that is good enough to be acceptable to God for eternal life.
5. What then is the summary of what Paul is saying?
2 Corinthians 13:5
Galatians 5:19-21 or
Galatians 5:22-23
Paul called the Corinthians, and us, to examine themselves to see whether or not they are truly Christians or just self proclaimed believers. Remember it is not our words that make us truly Christian; it is Jesus’ decree that makes us truly Christian. One of the measuring sticks of our Christianity is the kind of fruit that we bear. Do we sacrificially love others? Are we joyful people? Are we peaceful with people? The way to find out is not to just ask ourselves but ask others. Ask your family (parents, spouse, children, etc), neighbors, friends, and coworkers whether or not they KNOW that you love them, not that they feel it but that they know it.
When Paul is talking about the judgment of the Christian concerning good and bad, he is desiring the Christian to examine his own life to see if he is bearing the presence of Christ.