Judgment Day

Judgment Day

Christ Jesus . . . will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom.

2 Timothy 4:1

We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

2 Corinthians 5:10

He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him.

1 Peter 1:17

How would you live if you thought it didn’t really matter—if you thought no one would ever check up on what you do, where you go, what you consume, or how you think? Would it make a difference?

The reality is, nobody gets by without being held accountable for how he or she lives. The Bible says that each one of us will give a personal account of our lives to God. Does that make you squirm? Are you embarrassed at the thought of it—or are you fearful at the thought of standing before the judgment seat of God? And perhaps more important, should you be?

The Bible says that we are saved through faith—and that this is a gift of God. It is not something we earn through good deeds. But our actions are the evidence that our faith is there. The record of our deeds will testify before the Judge about how genuine—or absent—our faith has been in our lives. It’s not that our actions earn our salvation; it’s that they demonstrate it.

For the believer, Judgment Day is not an event to dread. It is a day to anticipate with confidence that “there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). If the Holy Spirit is in you, on that day when the spotlight shines on your life, all will see the attitudes and actions of a person in love with Jesus and used by Jesus. His work in you and through you will be on display.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What is the job of a judge?

What are your thoughts and feelings about Judgment Day?

What would you like the record of evidence to reveal about you?