II Corinthians 5: 10

Old Years Day

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

I. The Idea 

A. The judgment reveals God’s justice and His right to judge (Ps. 96:10,13; 98:9; Matt. 13:41-43; 16:27; Rom. 2:5,6,16).

B. Jesus will be the Judge (John 5:21-23,26,27), not in the place of God, but as God’s representative.

C.Who judged? All rational, moral creatures: angels (I Cor. 6:3; II Peter 2:4) and man, righteous and wicked (Rom. 14:10).

D.“Appear” speaks of an exposure, so it will be shown what we really are, turned inside out (Mark 4:22; I Cor. 4:5; Rev. 20:12)

1. It is a laying bare of all “done in our bodies,” which includes the roots of the outward: mind and will.

2. Our deeds will be judged as to their ethical character: “whether it be good or bad.”

II. The chief purpose of the judgment day is the theodicy, i.e., God seen as being perfectly just, right, and wise in all history.

A. Jesus Christ and His cause will be publicly justified, and His saints will share in that public justification.

B. And God will recompence to each man for the works does in his or her life.

C.The judgment shall be “according to” our works (cf. Rev. 22:12; Rom. 2:11-13).

1. There is a perfect relationship between a man’s deeds and circumstances and his future recompense.

2. This does not contradict salvation by grace alone.

3. The text is literally, we will be judged according to what we practiced.

D.Even with respect to our own sin, we will be of God’s party in that day, taking His side in the condemnation of our sin.

III. The necessity is found in the fact that we “must” appear before Christ.

A. This is a necessity from God’s perspective and for God’s sake.

B. Christ’s work as Judge will be a work of glorifying His Father, as does all His work.

C.While the knowledge of the Judgment Day frightens the wicked, the believer finds it a comfort (Lk. 21:28; I Jn 4:17).