Will Christians Be Judged?

Paul writes, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10). Also, “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:10–12). Jesus likewise says he will “repay each person according to what he has done” (Matt. 16:27), and that both believers and unbelievers will be raised to appear before the Son of Man (Matt. 25:31–46).

For the Christian, appearing before the judgment seat of Christ holds no fear because “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1), for “whoever believes in him is not condemned” (John 3:18). Our sins have been forgiven and forgotten, drowned in the depths of the sea (Mic. 7:19), cast behind the back of our Lord (Isa. 38:17).
What will happen to us is disclosed in Matthew 25, when our Lord says to the sheep, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (v. 34). Because of Christ, we have this inheritance, completely apart from our works. Only thereafter does Jesus commend the sheep for good works such as feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and other ways of showing love for others (Matt. 25:34–40). Christ will give to believers rewards or blessings -- whatever those might look like (we are not told)-- for their good works (1 Cor. 3:14; cf. Matt. 5:12). But there will be no punishment for evil deeds, for those have been forgiven and will never be brought up again.

As for unbelievers, “whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). No matter how outwardly good or evil that person has been morally, “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23), so even their most sparkling “good” works are stinking dung in the sight of the almighty Judge. Unbelievers will be judged for their unbelief and for their sins.

In short, both believers and unbelievers will be resurrected and appear before the judgment seat of Christ on the Last Day. Believers stand before Christ as those who are already justified, forgiven, and heirs of eternal life. Their good works, which are the fruits of faith, will be revealed and graciously rewarded, while their forgiven sins will not be counted against them. Unbelievers stand before Christ apart from faith, still bearing their sins and therefore under condemnation.

Written by: Chad Bird