Once we learn from the Bible that God’s grace is firmly
imprinted in our salvation (new birth a.k.a born again experience), we could
move over to see how we (believers in Christ) are judged. We are fundamentally examining
both ends of our Christian life – our new birth and death (i.e. what happens
after our death). Let me clarify that the judgment I am referring to is our
post-death judgment.
Judgment is
a reality, for it is explicitly stated in the Bible. First, it is God who
judges man (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:5, 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Second
and more specifically, the second person of the blessed Trinity, the Lord Jesus
Christ, will judge the living and the dead (Matt 25:31-46; Acts 10:42, 17:31).
Third, the believer in Christ will be judged as it is mentioned in Romans 14:10-12
and 2 Corinthians 5:10 (these are letters Apostle Paul wrote to
the church in Rome and Corinth ). The unbelievers of the Lord Jesus will
also be judged (Romans 2:5-11; Revelation 20:12). Finally, those who believe in
Christ will be judged on the basis of their earthly deeds – whether good or bad
(Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Bible
states that believers in Christ are created to do good works, which should be a
natural outcome of their life in Christ (Cf. Ephesians 2:10, John 15 et al.). It
is imperative to affirm that those who believe in Christ will not be eternally condemned
(John 5:24; Romans 8:1) but will indeed live unto eternity. Believers in Christ
are only saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus, and not by
works they do in this world. The believer’s judgment will not relegate a
believer in Christ to hell, but this judgment evaluates and bestows various
degrees of rewards in heaven (Matthew 5:19, 46, 6:2-6, 16-18; Luke 6:22-23, 35,
12:42-48, 19:17,19; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 12-15, 13:3, 15:58; Hebrews 11:35; 2
John 8; Revelation 22:12).
So, the
believers are saved ONLY by grace, but are created to do good works, hence we
conclude that doing good works bears no role in our salvation. Permit me to
illustrate this now, and for the sake of illustration we will consider the
first act of sinful nature – sexual immorality (Galatians 5:19, NIV).
If a
believer falls into temptation and unfortunately dies while in adultery, many
Christians would tend to think he is hell-bound. This man did not even have an
opportunity to repent, so that lends credence to this doctrine. However, I
think differently! I do not think this person is hell-bound, but in fact he is
heaven-bound. A believer’s unconfessed sins do not transport him to hell. If believers
are saved by grace, then they are saved by grace. Period. Good deeds or bad
deeds of a believer in Christ will not relegate him to hell. Please remember
that when a person accepts the Lord Jesus as his God and Savior, he is clothed
with the righteousness of Christ. He is forgiven of all his sins.
Well, I
hope another illustration will reinforce my point. Let us again consider sexual
immorality. I share this illustration that I read sometime ago. Let us assume a
believer living an adulterous life. Let us also assume that his church elders
approach him and advise him to quit his adultery, repent, and live clean. This person refuses to listen to them and continues with
his adulterous lifestyle. The church elders now approach him for the second
time and warn him that he is hell-bound, if he refuses to repent of his sin
(adultery) and live clean. Stop and think. According to the doctrine of the
church elders, this believer will go to heaven if he stops his adulterous life.
Now, where did the grace of God disappear? Are we not saved by grace? Isn't this
doctrine promoting salvation by works – that if we live clean we go to heaven,
else we go to hell?
If only
sinless people can go to heaven, then God alone would inhabit heaven. Please permit me to stretch the illustration further. The Lord said “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not
commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has
already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28, NIV). The
Bible categorically states that even a lustful look is adultery, and anger
equivalent to murder and deserving hellfire (Matthew 5:21-22)! How many of us
are absolutely immune to sensuality and anger of various forms and sizes?
Let us
continue to travel within this thought. The second act of the sinful nature is “impurity.”
What is impurity? One approach to understand impurity is to gain knowledge on purity.
Purity lacks imperfection and even potency for imperfection. Impurity, on the
other hand, is an embodiment of imperfection. The Bible teaches that God alone
is pure and perfect. None of us are pure, for we are all sinners. If my work of
good or bad deeds is going to determine my eternal status, then none will go to
heaven, for we are all impure (sinners). In other words, no amount of good
works will fetch a believer in Christ a ticket to heaven.
We are
created to do good works, and a believer in Christ will do good works. This is
how Christians should live. The doctrine of our salvation (grace through faith)
does not promote sin in our lives. Instead, the one saved by grace should
realize his unworthiness to be in the presence of a Holy God, and live a life
that pleases the Holy God, in utter gratitude, until his last breath. Anyone
who teaches that grace of God is a license to sin will experience a severe judgment
(Cf. Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2, NIV).
It is God’s
will that we live to believe and please our Triune God through our thoughts,
words and deeds, so may we do just that. Amen.
