BIBLE BULLETS – 27

2 Corinthians 5:10

Yesterday we considered the opening lines of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church. Let’s look at four more memorable truths from this great epistle. Today let’s focus on chapter five, verse ten.

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

That’s not an isolated statement. The Apostle Paul makes similar statements elsewhere.

“We will all stand before the judgment seat of God … Each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10, 12) and “If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved-but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Do your palms begin to sweat as you contemplate standing before a holy Judge? They should.

But, if you are a born-again believer, bought by His blood, saved by His grace, wrapped in His righteousness, then we shouldn’t fear. The judgment won’t determine our destiny. Rather, the judgment will determine our eternal rewards.

This shouldn’t make us tremble… remember, our sins have been forgiven and forgotten. The New Covenant guarantees, “I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin” (Jeremiah 31:34; see also 1 John 1:9, Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19).

Oh, we’ll stand before the Almighty, Just and Holy God… or I should say, we’ll fall to our knees before Him! But, we’ll not be alone. Our Advocate (1 John 2:1), Jesus, will stand with us!

At the judgment, God’s children will be rewarded … a lot, or a little. Let’s serve the Lord with faithfulness today, so that tomorrow we’ll hear the thundering voice of God proclaim, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy” (Matthew 25:21).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).