If we are saved by grace through faith, why are we judged?

[RachelBibleStudent]

we are judged 'not guilty'...

i think the role our works play is in determining what our rewards will be...we could get a big reward or a little reward depending on how we use our 'talent'

 

[Bowman]

please understand my question before you answer

So i've read that we are judged, on Judgement Day, by our Works. Yet we are saved through God's graceful gift of salvation through faith.
So where does "doing works" establish itself in the role of salvation?

I understand that we are supposed to BE Christ-like and BE perfect (just like our Father) but why does he Judge us if we are already saved?

for example:

my friend says hes a "bad christian" because he has never "saved somebody" (i know only jesus can save, but the point in the example is to say that he has never sowed a seed of truth in to somebodies life)

So he says hes a bad christian because he has never done good works for the Lord. yet, helives his life for god and hes faithful and he knows jesus is lord. HE is rewarded with the holy spirit because of this faith he has. if he dies right now, he would not go to hell.

whats the point in him being judged if he knows jesus is lord?

The Righteous are not Judged.

Judgement Day is for the un-righteous.

All the way through the Book of Revelation we see this contrast being made...the Righteous are taken into Heaven FIRST, at the First Resurrection...then, after this, is Judgement Day for the un-righteous, in which they are judged OUTSIDE of Heaven, at the Second Resurrection, i.e. the Second Death.

You don't want to find yourself being judged...because that means you are not going to Heaven.

 

[Bluecomet]

Believers will also be judged

 

[Bowman]

Believers will also be judged

Jesus, Himself, said that the Righteous are not Judged.

 

[Bluecomet]

Beware of idle words

 

[Bluecomet]

TRUE ANSWRE

 

[vic1980]

Believers will also be judged

Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

amen

 

[Michael50]

Judgment begins at the house of God:

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17 )

This is how the judgment of the saved occurs:

A record of your life is examined by the occupants of Heaven. Every act, every deed, every word, is stored there. As your life is examined, it is shown that you have sinned. Satan says, "he sinned, he's deserving of death and he belongs to me!",, But, as the examination of your life continues, it is also shown that you repented of your sin, that you ask God to forgive you. This is also marked, and while Satan accuses you, the occupants also see that you repented! Therefore, Jesus confesses your name before His Father and your sin is blotted out. This is what has been going on in Heaven for quite sometime. Starting with Adam, each case of the Rightous is now being weighed in the Heavenly Courts. And only the Rightous.
The wicked will be judged later. God is in no hurry to judge the wicked. judgment begins at the House of God!

The rightous will judge the wicked. We shall also judge angels. That will be our work in heaven during the 1000 years.

"Do you not know that the Saints shall judge the world." (1 corinthians 6:2)
"Do you not know we shall judge angels." ( 1 Corinthians 6:3)

So every case will be decided. All questions will be answered. Afterall,, there will be some folks that we expect to see in heaven,, and they won't be there.. And some folks you would think have no business in heaven, will be there.. So,, folks will have questions. People will want to know why some of their loved ones aren't in heaven. All questions will be answered. And God Himself shall wipe away their tears.
Hope this helps you understand what is going on in heaven now, and what we will be doing when Jesus comes to take us back to Heaven.

 

[Agricola]

This is a good video about grace etc.
[video=youtube;XrLzYw6ULYw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrLzYw6ULYw[/video]

 

[sunshinelovin1700]

please understand my question before you answer

So i've read that we are judged, on Judgement Day, by our Works. Yet we are saved through God's graceful gift of salvation through faith.
So where does "doing works" establish itself in the role of salvation?

I understand that we are supposed to BE Christ-like and BE perfect (just like our Father) but why does he Judge us if we are already saved?

for example:

my friend says hes a "bad christian" because he has never "saved somebody" (i know only jesus can save, but the point in the example is to say that he has never sowed a seed of truth in to somebodies life)

So he says hes a bad christian because he has never done good works for the Lord. yet, helives his life for god and hes faithful and he knows jesus is lord. HE is rewarded with the holy spirit because of this faith he has. if he dies right now, he would not go to hell.

whats the point in him being judged if he knows jesus is lord?

I am so glad somebody asked this. I've always found this confusing.

 

[RedTent]

Do you really think that what we do is never seen by our Lord? Because God sees and knows has nothing to do with our having faith, his loving us so God gives grace, that God sent His Son for our Salvation. God sees and judges.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Jimmy how did you know to post that? Brilliant...

The longer I'm on CC, the more predictable they get.

 

[Bowman]

Believers will also be judged

John 5.24 -29

Truly, truly, I say to you, The one who hears My Word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you that an hour is coming,and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones hearing will live. For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in Himself. And He also gave authority to Him to execute judgment, for He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, foran hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice. And they will come out, the ones having practiced good into a resurrection of life; theo nes having done evil into a resurrection of judgment.

 

[jerusalem]

if you are judged to be righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus why would you have a problem with it

 

[Widdekind]

Judgment is not a "standing before the bench" one time event. We are judged daily...

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

= 70 AD Judgement vs. Jerusalem; the epistles of Peter were written shortly before the Jewish rebellion of 66-73 AD; numerous other Judgement Events have happened throughout human history

And the criteria for judgment is according to our works...

Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

the one word "works" is not sufficient, to clarify this concept

1. works of Law = legalism = false piety = "doing dances, gymnastics, gyrations, gesticulations, and other antics" to look like somebody pious
2. works of Faith = works of loving kindness flowing forth from faithful Christians

no "works of Law" can get you Salvation; instead, Jesus Christ's Crucifixion = one-time work-of-works for all. Ever since, God thru Christ has "drawn all men" to Salvation (John 12:32). Those who comply, by believing, become saved. Once saved, they "supra-naturally" begin to do good Christian charitable works.

those good Christian charitable works => basis of Judgement

Notice these scriptures are referring to giving to every man according to his works. Salvation (eternal life) is the gift of God and has nothing to do with a reward according to works. The reward for each of us will be different and it will be according to our works....

... works of Faith


Salvation = offered gift of God-the-Gracious
works [of Faith] = works of Christian charitableness, which corroborate claims of Faith; more Faith => more works [of Faith] => more reward => better off at Judgement

?

Once you discern the difference, between "works [of Law]" vs. "works [of Faith]" all seems simple(r)

 

[GreenNnice]

You are living in a soapbox world if you think that your salvation is not based on your understanding of His grace,through faith in Him, that saves you.

Why worry about it? Just do it and you are saved, for you are "born again," right, having become a new creation, and, though failing, at times, in life, like every second, LOL, oh, to be HUMAN , YOU ARE SAVED because you believe in the blood of the cross and Jesus in your life AND following Him IN your life, through faith in Him.

It's sounding complicated for some, I know, I know, but, really, it's not, once you are His it's up to you to follow Him, His way is not easy, it's doing things that are 'suffering,' Scripture tells us. I'm not talking about having to live a lousy, boring life either, au contraire, just the opposite When we grow closer to God in our walk with Him, having accepted Him in our heart and no longer live by the works of the world's righteousness but by His righteousness, we will gravitate toward more and more spiritual things in our life in devaluing the Earthly, world things, as Hebrews makes clear

 

[weakness]

A chapter from my manuscript....

HOW WILL WE BE JUDGED?

We’ve seen prior to Jesus’ return the events by which the world will be judged, and that we will take part in it. But it’s not just that earthly judgment we have to be concerned with. In Revelation 11, where we heard the 7th trumpet sound, those around God’s throne proclaim that the time has come for Him to rule and judge the saints. That’s us. And that’s a whole separate judgment. The tribulation events are an earthly phenomenon, occurring before His return; judging the saints is spiritual and comes after He gathers us. So how then will we be judged?

Jesus likened this judgment as to when a man going on a journey called his servants together and gave them each some money to look after. When he returned he found that two had wisely invested the monies to earn more. He was proud of them and put them in charge over parts of his estate. But a third servant had only hid his, returning no more than what he had been given. The man scolded this servant and cast him out, calling him unfaithful. "To whom much is given, much will be required” Jesus said[1].

This is pretty clear and logical. We will be called to account for how we use what He gives us. The productive servant will be rewarded, and the unproductive is ‘cast out’.

Jesus had earlier likened our entrance into His Kingdom as to when a king threw a feast and those he invited were too busy to respond[2]. So the king opened the doors and took in anyone who would come, filled the place and the feast began. Those who had been invited came at their leisure, only to find themselves tossed out and the door shut in their face.

Jesus later expanded on this by telling of 10 ‘virgins’ (using a term that references wedding attendants) with lamps who went out to wait for a bridegroom[3]. The groom was delayed and the attendants went to sleep. Late at night they were awakened by the bridegroom’s coming. Turning up their lamps to receive him, half of them were out of oil and had to go find some. While they were gone, the groom arrived and took the others into the wedding feast. When the five without oil returned later, they found themselves denied entrance and shut out.

There’s a recurring theme here. We are accountable for how we use what He gives us; The prudent enter into a feast, and the ‘tardy’ are shut out.

Paul described our judgment[4], where he says we will give an account of our lives to God and receive good or bad for our works. Paul explained to the Corinthians[5] that those who founded their faith in Jesus build upon that foundation by the works they do, whether good (represented by silver and gold) or bad (wood and straw). On the day of judgment these works will be tested by fire, and those whose work is not burnt up will be rewarded, while those whose work is burned away will suffer a loss. But they will be saved, as though "through the fire” Paul says.

As though thru the fire. What does that mean?

When Jesus returns and takes us up He will host a feast, a wedding feast to be exact and we’ll look at that in a bit. The point is when He returns, those He finds faithfully responsive will enter in with Him to this feast. But those who aren’t will find themselves shut out of it. Remember, these are all part of that group that He gathered to Him. None the less some are separated from Him for a time because of their faithlessness.

Hell in its Biblical form is a place set apart from the presence of God[6], and described as a lake of fire. With God inside at the wedding feast, those who are locked out are set apart from His presence, and therefore going through a very real form of hell. "As though through the fire,” Paul said. Jesus said that the unfaithful servant will be appointed a portion with the unbelievers[7], and repeatedly warned that those who fail His judgment will be cast out into darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth[8] - a close analogy to the wailing and gnashing described going on in the lake of fire[9].

There is debate on whether you get your heaven or hell pass by ‘being good’. Jesus says that for actually getting in, no that does not matter. The reason that doesn’t matter is because all you have to do is be bad once, and your ticket is punched. And Lord knows we’re all going to trip up at some point. That’s why Jesus says that He is not just the way to God, but the only way to Him. He paid our entry fee, and there’s nothing we can possibly do to earn it aside from accepting it. That is the unforgiveable sin – not accepting forgiveness. So no, being good does not get you into ‘heaven’.

BUT – being good or bad does get you into or out of Jesus’ wedding feast. If you’re cast out then you will go thru purification in something very similar to hell while the feast goes on.

Also note again that this not the end of the world, but the end of the age. There is another judgment which occurs at the end of the world[10], where God sits upon the Great White Throne and divides mankind up into two groups, namely His and not His people. Those who are not His People are cast into the lake of fire, while His people inherit a new creation. This is a separate and later final judgment, and we’ll come back to it too in a bit.

But if I may be allowed to digress again, let me share with you my picture of hell. God’s word tells us the world is made of things unseen, which describes the atom and it’s components. The interesting thing about the atom is that it’s nucleus is composed of like-charged particles, and orbiting that are like charged particles. The laws of science dictate that like charged particles repel each other, indicating the whole dang thing should just naturally come apart. But God says that all things are held together by Him[11]. The Lord spoke this creation into existence, putting it together by His very Word (note the similarity of word/world). We are told that at the end of its existence the elements will melt with fervent heat[12]. Consider what happens when an atom is split - it creates intense heat and fire as the element is ripped out of existence. Could it be possible that when God speaks it out of existence, the resulting nuclear meltdown of all created matter that now exists as our earth and heavens will create the lake of fire? Would it seem fitting that those who love this world more than Him would be given it, in its natural state apart from Him?

Ok, back to it. Jesus has gathered us together, celebrated with His faithful, and is returning with us to earth to begin exercising His authority. So what’s that going to be like?

[HR][/HR][1] Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27


[2] Matt. 22:1-4; Luke 14:15-24


[3] Matt. 25:1-13, and again referencing the receiving party going out to meet and escort an arriving guest


[4] 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10-12


[5] 1 Corinthians 3:11-15


[6] Matt. 25:41


[7] Luke 12:16


[8] Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30


[9] Matt. 13:42, 50


[10] Matt 25:31 - 46, Rev. 20:11-15


[11] Hebrews 11:3; Col. 1:16


[12] 2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12

Concerning your statements About atoms and that the world is unseen things: You actually can see atoms and I don't think that This is what the scripture is referring to . But what I am writing about is your statement that an atoms nuclear charge is the same as the electrons circling the nucleus, this is untrue the nucleus and the electrons which circle it have opposite charges . That is what keep the electrons from flying away, think of it as a ball on a string you are twirling around your head. The string is the attraction of opposite charges. Where did this come from? I do not know about your fiery purgatory thing either and that we will be locked put of the wedding feast, I think I would reread all that too.

 

[know1]

I understand that we are supposed to BE Christ-like and BE perfect (just like our Father) but why does he Judge us if we are already saved?
whats the point in him being judged if he knows jesus is lord?

Because there's more than one kind of judgement. There are going to be spiritual judgements against the wicked and the just and physical judgements against the children of God and the children of disobedience, in the natural, while we are here on earth.
Heb_10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong [in the flesh or natural] shall receive [judgement in the flesh or natural] for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons [with God].
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
What kind of chastening do you suppose God uses on His children?

 

[AgapeSpiritEyes]

We are judged appraised and tried by the Holy Spirit's fire purged of impurities (selfishness weakness imperfections sins etc.) along with rewarded for His pure work in us because God our Father is Holy we are designed and empowered to be His temples His delight is to be fully and perfectly in all and through all. These are the works of God to prepare us to be with Him in peace and love and joy.

 

[michaelwriting]

Sometimes I think it is best to identify what is clear before trying to figure out the complicated stuff. Some of the scriptures and statements given by others were pretty good. Unfortunately I'm typing on my phone so it is hard to copy and paste any content here.

But one scripture involved our condition of passing from death into life. The Rev 20 judgment talks about 'the dead' being judged according to the books. My understanding is that Christians are not 'dead' but alive. And we are quite likely resurrected into life at the point of this judgment. If you look earlier in Rev 20, you see that the 'first resurrection' has already taken place. So does that technicality matter in this scripture? Perhaps.

Many other scriptures focus on our works being judged. So is it strictly our works that pass/fail, or is our own personal soul involved in this judgment as well? As a believer, I would like to hope that I don't receive chastisement or pain. Though I don't know if I can conclusively say that there is no scourging of believers. Does 'being saved' necessarily mean that we won't suffer any pain or difficulty? I don't know. But I can say that my Christian life in the body has been more painful than I expected. I initially though God would make my life pain free. But God does let us struggle and suffer at times, if for his glory and for our ultimate own ultimate benefit. So temporary personal suffering is not outside the realm of possibility.

We are also to do unto others as we would have done to us. And as we have done to others (particularly Christians) we have done to Christ himself. And we shall be judged according to the measure by which we judge others. These are yet more considerations. Since we are in Christ, are we off the hook from this? I don't particularly know. Of course there is 'what I would like to believe', and then there is the truth.

I think this would be an excellent and important study to search the scriptures on...to build a solid unified case. There seems to be a lot of good puzzle pieces here that somehow need to be fit together.

Anyways, just offering some random thoughts. I appreciate the comments made.