Christian on Judgment Day

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nwink

Puritan Board Sophomore
Understanding what judgment day will look like for the Christian has been a topic I've been trying to wrap my head around for a while now. Does anyone know of some good resources (systematic theologies, etc) on the topic? Free resources online would be especially nice. :) The reason I've been giving this topic a lot of thought is because I feel like I don't often consciously live my life in light of the fact that I will give an account to God one day. I want to understand this doctrine very clearly theologically so it will drive me practically in holiness and in realizing even more my dire need of God's grace.

Anyways, the following is my understanding: Scripture is clear that God will render to every man according to his deeds without partiality (Rom 2:6-11, Rev 20:12-13). Since we call this impartial Judge "Father," we should spend the time of our sojourning in fear (I Peter 1:17). Christ himself will be the Judge, since the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22), and he will do so at his appearing and his kingdom (2 Tim 4:1). When Christ comes in the glory of his Father with his angels, he will reward every man according to his works (Matt 16:27). When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts (I Cor 4:5). We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and every one of us will have to give account of himself to God (Rom 14:10-12, I Peter 4:5). Every one will receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done whether good or bad...so we labor that we may be accepted of him, and knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Cor 5:9-11). We know that every person will be judged according to the light he received (Matt 10:15, 11:21-24, Romans 1-3) because to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48). Every man's work will be made manifest because it shall be revealed by fire and tested to see what sort of work it is (I Cor 3:13-15) -- for the man whose work abides, he will receive a reward...but for the man whose work is burned, he will suffer loss and be saved as by fired. When we are persecuted for Christ's sake, give alms in secret, love our enemies and do good, etc, we should know that our Father who sees us doing this in secret will reward us openly (Matthew 6, Luke 6:35). When we give a cup of cold water in Christ's name to one who belongs to Christ, we know we will not lose our reward (Mark 9:41). When we are good and faithful servants, faithful over a few things we're entrusted with as stewards, we know God will make us ruler over many things and will tell us to enter into the joy of the Lord (Matt 25:21). To all those who love Christ's appearing (the righteous judge), he will give them a crown of righteousness on "that day" (2 Tim 4:8). Saints shall judge the world and angels (I Cor 6:2-3).


That said, am I understanding this doctrine and these verses properly/correctly? Did I use any of these verses out-of-context/improperly? (I know this is a lot of verses in different contexts, and some are parables whereas some are teaching in epistles...so it can be a little bit hard to formulate things) With those verses in mind, I have a few questions in relation to the Christian on Judgment Day.

(1) When God renders to every man according to his deeds on that day, will Christians be rendered according to only our righteousness in Christ? Or will we again be declared righteous and then rendered according to our specific deeds of righteousness that we did as Christians in this life?
(2) When we Christians all give account to God, will our unrighteous deeds be exposed? Or will they not even be mentioned since they are forgiven? But will we not have to give account for them? Or will they just be burned up by fire?
(3) Will there only be one judgment, including both the righteous and the unrighteous? (Matt 25) If it is to be one combined judgment, when will the saints judge the world and angels (I Cor 6:2-3)?

Thank you very much!
 
Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter XXXIII
Of the Last Judgment

I. God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ,[1] to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.[2] In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,[3] but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.[4]

II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.[5]

III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:[6] so will He have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.[7]
.

Scripture Proofs

[1] ACT 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

[2] JOH 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

[3] 1CO 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? JUD 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 2PE 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

[4] 2CO 5:10 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. ECC 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ROM 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 14:10 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. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. MAT 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

[5] MAT 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. ROM 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ROM 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. MAT 5:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ACT 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 2TH 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

[6] 2PE 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2CO 5:10 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. 11 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. 2TH 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, LUK 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. ROM 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

[7] MAT 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. MAR 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. LUK 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they say open unto him immediately. REV 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 
Scott,

Thank you for providing the WCF chapter on this thread. Could you explain how the WCF (or related Scriptures) answers the questions I asked in my post?
 
In answering your questions, we want to realize the Bible doesn't give us a great amount of the details. We don't want to assert more, nor less than what Scripture tells us. We want to not indulge in speculation.

We do know our God is good.

(1) When God renders to every man according to his deeds on that day, will Christians be rendered according to only our righteousness in Christ? Or will we again be declared righteous and then rendered according to our specific deeds of righteousness that we did as Christians in this life?

Salvation yes, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us ("as if" it was our own).

But there is also an accounting of our life with, apparently, rewards and loss being suffered based on "good works." Again, we don't have a great deal of Scripture, special revelation here, so we need not speculate.

Those not in Christ will receive justice.


(2) When we Christians all give account to God, will our unrighteous deeds be exposed? Or will they not even be mentioned since they are forgiven? But will we not have to give account for them? Or will they just be burned up by fire?

Both. Believers give account, but they are not counted toward losing salvation, because Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to us. But it is all coram deo. (This is another motivation to avoid sin in this life).


(3) Will there only be one judgment, including both the righteous and the unrighteous? (Matt 25) If it is to be one combined judgment, when will the saints judge the world and angels (I Cor 6:2-3)?

It's part of one event- with very different consequence and results....

all to the praise of His Glorious grace!
 
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