Appendix N
The Judgment Seat of Christ Part II
By Lambert Dolphin
This is a shortened version of this study. View the full article at
http://ldolphin.org/Jseat.html
Every Christian is given the opportunity of building a Christian life, like a house, upon
the foundation of Jesus Christ. Hay, wood, and stubble are insubstantial building materials that are neither structurally sound nor fireproof. These materials represent all our self efforts—
whether on behalf of our own interests or in the service of God. Gold, silver and precious stones-
–which do survive fire—are those permanent enduring things, which God is building in us and
in others. The Lord has promised to shake our entire universe one day so that only what He has
built will remain:
“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27The words “once more”
indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be
shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so
worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, – Hebrews 12:26b-28
While the prospects of endless delights, joy, and freedom of sin forever when we all get
to heaven are held before us in the Bible and vividly pictured for us by inspiring Christian
writers such as C.S. Lewis in The Great Divorce, none of us shall reach the other side without
passing through a process of seeing ourselves as we really always were and have finally become.
This will be a time when God makes known “the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” All those
activities in our lives undertaken in the energy of self-effort will be burned up and lost to us
forever. It is perhaps because he knew more than we do about the awesomeness of facing God
and leaving our present world of darkness and illusion for the glorious light of holy reality, that
the Apostle Peter urged his readers to look forward to, and count upon the “extra” grace that is
coming to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
Our Lord himself spoke of the end of life, and the end of the age as carrying with it great
agony like that of a woman in travail, but He said, “…your sorrow will be turned into joy…you
have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your
joy from you” (John 16:20-22).
The Apostle Paul writes regarding the Apostolic calling to ministry and advises us to
practice self-evaluation. Note that the judgment seat of Christ is one of rewards, approval and
commendation, Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light
what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will
receive his praise from God. – 1 Corinthians 4:5
You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we
will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written:
” ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’ ”
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:10-13
It is better for us to grow more and more aware of our sins through diligent pursuit of
holy living, through prayer and fellowship, through study of the Word of God and regular selfjudgment
that averts the judgment of God. Otherwise we may drift away with the crowd into
compromises that leave us in the end no different from the pagans around us. If that occurs we
are in jeopardy of losing our rewards, which God desires to give us.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you
know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. –
Colossians 3:23-25.
This present life is not where our goals, hopes and dreams and fulfillment are to be
found—God’s purpose is for us to regain our lost humanity and become whole persons who will
live forever in a new creation. It is not for this life only that God is preparing us, but for
something far more glorious and splendid. This is all made possible not by our best efforts but by
the grace and mercy he has already lavished upon us and is ready to supply anew if we will but
ask.
