Judgment Seat of Christ

[gregoryfl]

2Co 5:10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Let's be honest. When you look at this verse, the focus eventually ends up on 3 words, with the last one blaring loud and clear...judgment...receive...BAD!!!

The way most of evangelical Christianity interprets this passage is to assure us that salvation is not in view here, but rewards are. In other words, you will receive rewards for the good things you have done, but...you will also receive for the bad, or evil things you have done. Let me assure you that as good as the rewards for good sound, most likely the focus will end up on the bad, and this verse will be an appeal to change your behavior to be good so that you can avoid getting paid back for all the bad stuff you do, or to consider all the opportunities you are given to serve the Lord, but are wasting, which will one day be thrown back in your face and cause shame.

However, there is context thankfully. Reading that verse by itself, you can come up with the scenario I just described. But what if Paul was not trying to get anyone to change their behavior? What if he had a totally different reason for writing that? I think the possibility deserves another look, so let's do that, by going back.

[gregoryfl]

When Paul wrote his 1st letter to this assembly, he had to speak in a way with them that initially caused him to regret writing it:

2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while.

The reason he felt that initially was because what he wrote caused them sorrow, and he didn't want the tone of his letter to cause them to end up in nothing but guilt and condemnation, because that was not the reason he wrote. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

He had to speak to them concerning contradictions he had heard among them. There were many problems that were cropping up, things which were because of considering themselves in light of outward appearance. The divisions over personalities, as described in 1 Corinthians 1:12, the fact that he had to speak to them as to fleshly ones (1Co 3:1), that they were boasting in men (1Co 3:21), puffed up against one another (1Co 4:6), even to the extent of ignoring sin among them, (1Co 5:2,6) all of these and more had their root in fleshly reasoning and appearance. This thinking even affected how they came to view Paul and his companions. This is how Paul described their situation, outwardly speaking:

1Co 4:11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
1Co 4:12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
1Co 4:13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

This was played upon by prominent ones among them who masqueraded as "super apostles", and the assembly was duped into buying into the lie that these ones who seemed to have it all together were to be admired and praised, while ones such as Paul and those with him were to be despised and brushed off as nothing. Not all felt this way, but the division was there, and Paul had to address it.

This brings us to the reason Paul wrote that first letter, and also gives us the background into why he brought up the judgment seat of Christ.

[gregoryfl]

The reason he wrote was to bring them to realize that despite all those contradictions that existed among them, the truth of the matter was that they were indeed pure even in the midst of it all. How was that revealed?

2Co 7:11 For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

They demonstrated a godly change of mind regarding what they knew from within. Who they truly were would never go along with the lies, and that was shown here. In doing so, they demonstrated, or made it clear, that they were indeed pure in the matter, in everything. If you carefully read through Paul's first letter, you will see that Paul's determination was to show them that the way they were viewing things and behaving was not who they truly were. He always pointed them to who they were in Christ. The reason they, and we, do what we do and think what we think, when it contradicts the life of Christ, is because we don't realize who we truly are. May we have "Paul's" in our lives to help point us back to our true identity.

Something else was demonstrated, or revealed, as well, as the next verse says:

2Co 7:12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.

You see, he knew that they cared about him and his companions, despite how they were treating him. He knew this because they are all part of the body of Christ. Their life, Christ himself, would never do anything but care deeply for each member of his own body. So, in writing to them, their minds were changed and, what was there all along, their earnest care for Paul, was revealed openly.

As you can see, the crux of the matter that Paul was dealing with had to do with appearances, and contradictions; the way things appeared to be vs. the way things actually were. Let's now see how this relates to why Paul wrote about the judgment seat of Christ.

[gregoryfl]

In reading this second letter, the first thing we can see is that, despite their contradictions presented by their problems, Paul still found confidence in them, a confidence which comes from God, as he establishes them. This is Paul's reason for boasting in them, as well as knowing they can boast in him.

2Co 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you

2Co 1:14 as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

He speaks of this boasting out of a confidence, not from fleshly wisdom, but from God, because he knows there are false brothers among them who are indeed boasting in a fleshly way, and their confidence comes from themselves based on outward appearance.

The confidence Paul speaks of does not spring from how things appear, and it's a mistake we make today. I mean, when you want to speak of a church consisting of a bunch of screw ups, full of problems, who do we speak of? Those dumb Corinthians. We would look elsewhere for a confidence building assembly, one that had all their ducks in a row, so to speak.

Yes, outwardly the Corinthian believers did have a fair share of problems, but remember that Paul saw behind that into their hearts, where Christ lives. He knew better than to assess them based on what he could see in their behavior. He could thus say:

2Co 1:24 For you stand firm in faith.

What Paul proceeds to do is to show that there is indeed what appears to be a contradiction what is actually true and what appears to be true. And this is no mere 1st century issue. It still flaunts itself before us today. It is so easy to look at our behavior, or circumstances, and conclude that whatever the Bible says about us is either not true, or something that we need to work harder to achieve.

[gregoryfl]

In chapter 3 he again speaks of this his confidence in them, in saying that they are an epistle of Christ. Yes, you read that right. These bumbling Corinthians were a letter concerning Christ!

2Co 3:2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
2Co 3:3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

That confidence did not come because they had their act all together, but it came in spite of it, because the sufficiency came from God, not them.

2Co 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;
2Co 3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

Secondly, as part of his letter, he made sure to deal with the contradiction presented by false brothers, by exposing them for who they were. Notice some of these thoughts:

2Co 2:17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Rather than bring the message of God as is, simply bringing Christ, these false brothers mixed the message, no doubt with law, to make the assembly dependent on them. Paul's determination was to bring only Christ, and him crucified.

2Co 3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

These false ones also went around flaunting letters they received from influential ones, to give them credence in their so-called ministry. This practice has been done throughout the centuries, people claiming apostolic succession and so forth, trying to gain a following based on such fleshly credentials. Paul's credentials was the Corinthians themselves.

2Co 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

These ones were anything but open and sincere, but instead, dealt craftily and deceitfully. Theirs was a message involving that which, if exposed, would bring them shame. This is contrasted with the truth of how Paul conducted himself openly, in the sight of God.

And finally, Paul also was writing to help them see the contradictions presented in the lives of Paul and his companions in light of Christ and the truth. Things appeared to be not so great for them, as if to beg the question, "Where is God?" Notice why this "appears" to be the case:

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
2Co 4:8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
2Co 4:9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2Co 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

Not a pretty picture huh? In considering all these things so far, we see that so much of life presents what appears to be the very opposite of what we think should be the case with regard to this life in Christ. And so much of what appears to be successful ministry according to human standards, is anything but that, when considered in light of Christ.

[gregoryfl]

He then describes this truth, from the confidence of knowing who they are, and of whom they are, when he says:

2Co 4:16 Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

Now, does it appear to be that way? Can you see your inward man being renewed day by day? No. All we can see with our observation is the outward man decaying. I sure see that in my life as I head into my mid 40's.

2Co 4:18 while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

It is for this reason that we are constantly encouraged to not look at (meaning not to consider) the things we see around us, but at that which is not seen. Why? Because, as we have seen very plainly, things are not as they appear. And more wonderfully, those false brothers, who are so intent on bringing things of the fleshly mindset, will find that to be only a temporary thing, for it will be done away with, just as everything concerning the outward man.

On the contrary though, in Christ, we will find that when those temporary contradictions are gone, what is eternal will be plainly revealed to us. We will see ourselves as we truly are. This is cause for rejoicing! And this, my brothers and sisters, is the real reason for Paul's bringing up the judgment seat of Christ, as we will now see.

Paul continues his thought concerning that which is temporary, and that which is eonian, in chapter 5, where he starts out:

2Co 5:1 For we are aware that, if our terrestrial tabernacle house should be demolished, we have a building of God, a house not made by hands, eonian, in the heavens."

Our physical bodies are tabernacles, temporary shelters. One day they will be demolished in physical death. Did you know that they, and we, currently have another body as well? Notice Paul does not say that we WILL have a building of God, but that we have one. "Yes, but it is up in heaven," you may say. So, do you get the picture of a closet with a bunch of spiritual body shells hanging around waiting for us to inhabit? That is kind of what I used to think. But look again. He says they are in the heavens. Where are the heavens? Well, consider that while we are on earth physically, we are also seated in heavenly places with Christ. And where is Christ? He is in God, where our life is hidden with Christ. God is the heavenly realm, and we are there as well as here on earth. We know that God is present everywhere by his spirit, but where does God dwell? In us! In the human heart, his spirit with our spirit. We truly inhabit 2 realms at the same time, the heavenly realm, and the earthly realm. By the way, Christ did the same when he was on earth, according to John 3:13:

Joh 3:13 And no one has ascended into heaven except He Who descends out of heaven, the Son of Mankind Who is in heaven."

Now here is where all this talk of contradictions comes into play. We do not currently see this reality of our permanent dwelling, only the temporary one. All we see with the physical eye and senses is that which is decaying, while the reality is that who we truly are is renewed each day.

The reason we walk by faith is not because something does not exist, but because what does exist we cannot see the reality of yet. Faith is that reality. Paul says while in this temporary body we walk by faith, which, according to this context, is to walk as if we were absent from the Lord.

2Co 5:6 Being, then, courageous always, and aware that, being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord"
2Co 5:7 (for by faith are we walking, not by perception),

In reality though, we are not absent, but are joined spirit to spirit, as one spirit, in a oneness that the Father and Son share.

1Co 6:17 Now he who joins the Lord is one spirit.
Joh 17:21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us;

While in these bodies, and not seeing the reality, Paul says we moan, longing for the reality to be manifested, the putting on of our heavenly habitation. Remember, Paul is speaking of how things appear. We have our heavenly habitation, but we do not see it yet, because we are currently in temporary habitations. When the temporary habitation is demolished (which means to be taken down), how will the reality be manifested? By the mortal being swallowed up by life:

2Co 5:4 ...that the mortal may be swallowed up by life."

This is also spoken of in camping terms, as a putting down of the tent, the temporary shelter, packing it up, and leaving it to go home to your permanent dwelling:

2Co 5:8 yet we are encouraged, and are delighting rather to be away from home out of the body [putting down of the tent, the temporary shelter, our earthly one] and to be at home with the Lord." [go home to your permanent dwelling, our heavenly one]

[gregoryfl]

Now he is going to draw on all he has said to this point, and bring out a very practical understanding based on what he has shared. Remember again, he has given us much insight into different things that appear to be contradictions:

1. The problems of the Corinthians vs. the pureness in which they truly existed being manifested.
2. The inferiority of Paul and his companions, with death working in them, compared to the superiority of the "super apostles", vs. the life that was actually being worked into them from that death, as well as the deceitfulness of the false ones being manifested.
3. The temporary, which we can see, and all that goes along with it, vs. the eonian, which we cannot see, which will be manifested.

Yes, even in this mortal life there are manifestations of the realities, although only glimpses here and there. Now remember, what character was Paul always concerned with, despite appearances? True character, or real character. The character of who they actually were. So, based on this, he makes this practical statement of fact that must follow from this:

2Co 5:9 Wherefore we are ambitious also, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to Him."

Why are we ambitious about being well pleasing to him? Because we fear his punishment? NO! John said that love casts out such fear:

1Jn 4:18 Fear is not in love, but perfect love is casting out fear, for fear has chastening [punishment]. Now he who is fearing is not perfected in love."


But you see, that is how we have been taught to read this verse, basing it on the next verse which is what we are trying to grasp:

2Co 5:10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

You see, while it may appear that we are here either going to face punishment for the BAD done, or certainly something negative, this verse is all about revealing, or making manifest, what is TRUE, not what appears to be true!

The word "revealed" is translated in some Bibles as "come" or "appear", but that does not accurately reflect the meaning of this word. It actually is conveying the idea of making something apparent that was not apparent before, which is why being made manifest, or revealed, is a more accurate rendering.

Now, what is revealed? We are! So the question we need to know is, who are we? Do you know who you are? If you don't, you will probably be fearful of this judgment. However, Notice though what words Paul used to describe how this judgment made him feel:

2Co 5:8 yet we are encouraged, and are delighting rather to be away from home out of the body and to be at home with the Lord."
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we are ambitious also, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to Him."

The thought of being revealed before the judgment seat of Christ gave Paul encouragement, and ambition. He delighted in the thought. He wanted the Corinthian believers to do the same. We also have reason to feel the same. You want to know why? Do you want to know who you truly are? Let's go back to John's epistle and see another benefit of this perfect love of God we have. It relates directly to God's judgment of us, his verdict concerning us:

1Jn 4:17 In this is love perfected with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judging, seeing that, according as He is, so are we also in this world."

What a revelation! Do you see why we can have boldness in the day of judging? Not because we don't mess up. Not because we don't do anything wrong. Paul in addressing the problems in Corinth gives us reason to see that can't be the case. It is all about, NOT the appearance outwardly, but the reality inwardly!

according as He is, so are we also in this world.

Think for a moment of all that Christ is. Righteous, holy, spotless, perfect, blameless? Ok now, here is the reality. All of those things Christ is, you are in this world. Yes, even now, despite all your screw ups, you are just like Christ in this world, and that is the reason we can have boldness and anticipate with joy that day of judging, for in the swallowing up of what is temporary with Christ, who is our life, gone will be any contradiction that tries to convince us to believe in something we are NOT!

[gregoryfl]

But I bet, in spite of all I have said so far, are still hung up on the BAD! What about the bad done in our bodies? Well, it is part of that revelation, that manifestation. I believe that, and am very thankful it is. And you know what will be revealed about it? That it is not part of who I truly am! And neither is it of you! You see, Paul discovered something about the bad he did, in light of who he was in Christ, and it was this:

Rom 7:17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.
Rom 7:20 But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.

By faith, Paul came to understand that this temporary flesh has nothing dwelling in it but sin, and that the bad he (and we) may do is not who we truly are doing it, but sin.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man,
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

You see, who we truly are, our inner man, our mind, delights in God's law. We serve God's law, and to reiterate what I shared earlier, consequently, we do what is pleasing in his sight, for the doing and the serving takes place before anything is seen outwardly. While we live in this flesh, we will also see a contradiction in those times we get duped into identifying with the flesh, which can only serve sin's law.

What Paul came to know by revelation, and lived in by faith, will one day be revealed in its totality, by the judgment of Christ. All the bad will be seen for what it truly is, and in that we will find cause to praise God. This has nothing to do with getting our wrongs thrown back at us, or being punished for them. This is all about the contradictions of the temporary being swallowed up like a tent, put in the bag of the life of Christ, never to be used again, and who we truly are being fully seen for what it is, which is just like Christ!

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.

We will next, and lastly, examine the final part that people stumble over, 2Co 5:11:

2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men..

Don't be afraid. It's not what you think. :)

to be continued...

[gregoryfl]

I think before I go on I'll see if there is any interest in what has been posted so far.

Ron

[HartleyDamboiseII]

Oh ya, I want more, I printed it all and will add more if you have more.

Lee Damboise II

[sheila]

 Good Posts Gregory!

   yes, He sowed His seed[children] in the earth....

   just like Christ we also were assigned a grave with the wicked in our death

   the man of lawlessness is due to be revealed...he is the sin in our flesh that is not us

[gregoryfl]

2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men..

Whatever this fear of the Lord is, it is something meant to be persuasive. Now, can being afraid of consequences be persuasive? Certainly. We know many throughout history have joined the church out of that fear, specifically, a fear of hell.

So is this the fear he has in mind? Or does he have a less frightening fear in mind, such as to be punished by the Lord, as in the hands of an angry Father when a child disobeys? I don't believe so, simply because that type of fear, as we read in John earlier, is cast out by the love of God.

I want you to notice something else though, that you might not have considered. The fear of the Lord is a noun, not a verb. It could just as well be rendered "Knowing therefore the Lord's fear, we persuade men...

If this is indeed something that is the Lord's, that he gives to us, what is the fear of the Lord? Read what some of the men of old had to say about it:

Job 28:28 And He said to mankind, Behold, the fear of Yahweh, it is wisdom, And to withdraw from evil is understanding.

Psa 19:9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, standing unto the future; The judgments of Yahweh are truth; they are righteous altogether:"

Psa 111:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom; All who practice it have a good insight. His praise is standing into the future.

Pro 1:7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; The foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

Pro 2:5 Then you shall understand the fear of Yahweh, And you shall find the knowledge of God."

Pro 8:13 The fear of Yahweh means to hate evil; Pride and pomp and the way of evil And a mouth of duplicity I hate.

Pro 9:10 The starting point of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, And the knowledge of the grand Holy One is understanding."

Pro 10:27 The fear of Yahweh shall add days, Yet the years of the wicked shall be shortened."

Pro 14:26 In the fear of Yahweh lies a strong ground of trust, And it shall become a refuge for his sons."

Pro 14:27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life To keep one away from the traps of death.

Pro 15:33 The fear of Yahweh is the discipline of wisdom, And before glory goes humility."

Pro 19:23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life; Then one shall lodge satisfied, no more being visited by evil."

Isa 11:2 and the Spirit of God shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill Him; Isa 11:3 the spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report;

Notice the connections that are all summed up in the 7-fold spirit of God upon Jesus. The last attribute of that 7-fold spirit is the fear of God. Now, tell me why Jesus would have any reason to be afraid of his Father, and fear possible punishment? And furthermore, where do you see that idea of fear of punishment anywhere remotely mentioned in the above verses which describe clearly what the fear of God is?

The fear of the Lord is God's own complete understanding, knowledge, and wisdom concerning himself. For him to give it to us is for us then to be enabled to tap into that same understanding, knowledge, and wisdom concerning God. Don't let the "fear" word fool you. It's basic Hebrew meaning is something that moves the insides, which can be an afraid sort of fear, of which we are familiar. However, with regard to God, and the fear of the Lord we walk in, and that Jesus walked in, it is that which moves him, and us, to that which is holy, and righteous, and to avoid that which is not.

Now, what did this 7-fold spirit move Jesus to do? Speaking of judgment, which has been our subject so far, it moved Jesus to judge, not according to what he could see, nor according to what he could hear, but righteously.

Isa 11:4 [Speaking of Christ] Yet He will judge with righteousness...

Joh 7:24 Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Now, how would knowing that fear, and the resulting judgment coming from that, be persuasive for believers? Remember, the context he has been demanding that all that seems to be contrary to reality will one day be exposed for what it is. For believers, who we truly are will one day be fully manifested to us. And who are we? We are what Christ is.

This persuasion then, knowing that we will be judged righteously, not by how things appear, but how they really are, should cause us all to rejoice and live with confidence this physical life, with eyes fixed on the reality.

You see, who we are is already manifest to God.

2Co 5:11 Being aware, then, of the fear of the Lord, we are persuading men, yet we are manifest to God. Now I am expecting to be manifest in your consciences also."

And on a practical note, Paul expects that who he truly is will be manifest to them as well, that they would see him, not as the weakling wannabe apostle who has so little outward evidence of any blessing of God, but as he truly is, weak in himself, yet all the more powerful in Christ, his strength.

I could go on and on following the flow of this book, but I will end here with one final point:

2Co 5:12 Not again are we commending ourselves to you, but are giving an incentive to you by boasting over you, that you may have it for those who are boasting in personal appearance and not in heart."

In describing these wonderful realities, he is revealing the mind of Christ, which totally turns on its head any semblance of judgment according to outward appearance, directing us to the true and righteous judgment, that of the heart; hidden now, but one day fully manifest.

Ron