This question always bothered me.
If Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the whole world, and ALL sin was judged and paid for and even unbelief is a sin. What are unbelievers judged by then?
Not one unbeliever is judged for their sin.........not even their unbelief. They are judged by their DEEDS. Their own righteousness............human good.
At the GWT judgement book
s are opened and it conveys a courtroom scene.Since ALL sin is paid for every unbeliever gets to "plead" their case with their DEEDS done in the flesh.
This is why religion is satans ace trump. It is creature good that is judged, not their sin.......Christ paid for all sin.
our righteousness doesn't hold a candle to Christ's righteous DEED on the Cross.
2 Cor 11:15~~New American Standard Bible
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Rev 20:13~~New American Standard Bible
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.