THE FINAL JUDGMENT (2 COR. 5: 10 NKJV) - ARE YOU READY TO BE JUDGE?

THEME: THE FINAL THINGS

TOPIC:  THE FINAL JUDGMENT (2 COR. 5: 10)

INTRODUCTION:

Judgment, in the context of this lesson, is the final reward or sentence that will be divinely declared on the human race. This will take place on the last day, and it is one of the two appointments divinely arranged for mankind.  The first is death, a separation of the body and the spirit (James 2: 26).  No mortal will escape death; hence, it is an appointment everyone must keep (Heb. 9: 27). The second appointment everyone must keep is the judgment.  Paul said ”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).  This is an indication that the final judgment is certain.

THE GREAT MEETING (MATT. 25: 31-46)

In our previous lesson on the second coming of Christ, we had noted that great and glorious will be His second coming. He will be accompanied by angels (2 Thess. 1:7), and He shall be seated on His throne of glory. Indeed, Christ will be the Judge (John 5: 22).

From the words of the Lord in Matthew 25: 31-32 it is clear that everyone will attend the great meeting of the final judgment.  No one will be absent.  Then, there will be a significant separation of all times that will occur. As a shepherd, the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats.  The sheep, those bound for heaven, will occupy His right hand.  The goats, those bound for hell, will occupy His left hand.  To the righteous it will be declared thus: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). To the unrighteous it will be declared thus: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).

THE APPOINTED DAY

It is important to note that the great Day of Judgment has been appointed.  During his second missionary journey, Paul told the Athenian Philosophers on Mars Hill that God “has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17: 31). The final judgment is as certain as Christ’s resurrection. So, those who believe that Christ actually resurrected also believe that there will be a final judgment.

THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT

Some people think that their good moral disposition alone will earn them a place in the heavenly abode.  The standard of judgment will not be a good moral life (Rom. 3: 20) but the word of Christ. Those who lived in the Christian dispensation and have opportunity to hear the gospel will be judged by the word of Christ (John 12: 48). Paul said that God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to his gospel (Rom. 2:16).

THOSE TO BE JUDGED

1.   Those who are alive when Jesus comes again will appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).  Paul said that Jesus is coming to judge those who are living, as well as those who have already died (2 Tim. 4: 1). Describing the events of the last day, Paul said that the living shall be caught up together with the resurrected saints in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him always (1 Thess. 4: 17).  On the other hand the unrighteous will go away into destruction (2 Cor. 1: 9).

 2.  The dead will also be judged.  We have already noted in 2 Timothy 4: 1 that both the living and the dead will be judged by Christ at His second coming.  From the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, it is clear that the wicked dead have to experience torments in Hades until the final judgment when they will experience eternal torment in Gehenna.

On the other hand, the righteous dead are presently in the presence of the Lord, in the comfort of Abraham’s bosom (2 Cor. 5: 8; Luke 16: 22, 25).  At the final judgment, they will enjoy eternal bliss in heaven. (2 Pet. 3:13).

3.   The judgment of Satan and his angels. The judgment of Satan and his angels has been sealed.  Their final destiny is the everlasting fire originally prepared for them (Matt. 25: 41).  According to Jude, Satan’s angels have been delivered into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment (Jude 6). Peter said that they, along with the unrighteous, are reserved under punishment for the day of judgment (2 Pet. 2:9).  Satan and his angels will be judged and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10).

CONCLUSION

It is now clear that the final judgment is certain. Jesus Christ will be the Judge, and His words will be employed as judgmental standard. Everyone must understand that we will give account of our actions before the Creator of all things; hence, the need to live our lives to glorify God.

REMAIN BLESSED!

TEACHER: OKPAN CLEOPAS (MINISTER)