Question 1

How will I be able to face the judgment of God?

Accepted Answer

Romans 5:9-10Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.Hebrews 10:19-22So, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.We don’t make the rules for life; God does. Sin is rebellion against God and his will, and the penalty for sin is eternal death. But God sent his Son to pay the penalty for our sins, dying on the Cross in our place. If we have repented of our sin and have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, God forgives us, judges us “not guilty,” and welcomes us into his family as his children.Romans 8:1-2So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.Jesus Christ has saved us from the threat of condemnation and death.

Question 2

How should I feel about facing God’s judgment?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 9:8He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.1 Corinthians 3:12-15Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.Revelation 21:27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.The final event of history is a two-fold judgment: (1) God will judge all people who have ever lived to determine whether they should enter heaven or hell. This will be based solely on whether or not they have trusted in Christ alone as Savior. This is the judgment we should fear if we have not accepted Jesus as our Savior and asked him to forgive our sins. (2) God will judge the deeds of all those who enter heaven and give rewards based on them. This second judgment does not determine whether or not we get into heaven but what rewards we receive when we get there.

Question 3

How should the reality of God’s future judgment affect my life now?

Accepted Answer

John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”Romans 8:35Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?1 John 4:10This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.We can know for certain of God’s great love for us because he allowed his Son to die in our place, to take the punishment for our sins so that we could be free from eternal death. Knowing that God loves us that much should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to live for him.1 Corinthians 3:11-15No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.The promise of salvation does not eliminate our responsibility to live rightly now. God has given us all that is necessary to lead a meaningful, spiritually productive life.

Judgment