No Judgment For Believers
Jesus Christ Took Our Judgment Upon Himself
Believers Will Not Be Judged
The bible does not contradict itself, but we sometimes misunderstand what it means. This verse is very clear, there should be no misunderstanding. There is no condemnation, no judgment, for those who believe in Jesus Christ, who are in Christ Jesus.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus said, He who believes in Him is not condemned, not judged. This statement is very clear, there cannot be any misunderstanding, the person who believes in Jesus Christ is not judged.
Eph 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
We were all dead in our sins, but God made us alive together with Christ when we believed in Him. God saved us in order to demonstrate His grace toward us who believe; He did not save us for judgment. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We have eternal life as a free gift from God. If we were judged for our sins we would not have life at all, but we would still be dead in our sins because the wages of sin is death. God did not give us life only to take it away from us again at the judgment, but He gave us eternal life. Eternal life is a life that will never end; therefore the believer in Jesus Christ will not be judged.
Col 1:13-14 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
We have forgiveness of sins because Jesus Christ redeemed us when He died on the cross for our sins. Therefore, where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer any sin to be judged.
Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The first time Jesus Christ came to this earth He offered Himself for our sins. When Jesus Christ returns to this earth there will be no reference to our sins because He has already paid the penalty for our sins once for all time.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins; therefore, our sins are forgiven when we believe in Him. We were dead in our sins, but we have been made alive with Jesus Christ. God identifies us with Jesus Christ and as far as He is concerned, when Christ died, we died and when He arose, we arose; we are no longer dead in sin.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The person who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life. Jesus did not say he will have eternal life, Jesus said he has eternal life now. Furthermore, the person who has eternal life does not come into judgment because he has already passed out of death into life.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
We have seen that Jesus Christ has taken our sins upon Himself and that He died in our place to pay the death penalty for our sins. Since the penalty for our sins has already been paid in full by Jesus Christ, there is no longer any penalty to be paid; therefore, there is no future judgment for the person who believes in Jesus Christ. The judgment seat of Christ is not a judgment of the believer, but it is a judgment of our works. Our works will be judged to determine if they have value or if they have no value.
1 Cor 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
We all come to God through faith in Jesus Christ; He is the one and only foundation upon which we can approach God. Now having come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, we live for Him and serve Him. Eph 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. We were not saved because we did good works, we were saved to do good works. When we do the good works that God has prepared for us to do, we are building upon the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ with gold, silver, and precious stone. Caution, good works can also be wood, hay, and straw.
1 Cor 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
A Christian can do good works with the wrong motive. In all the good works that we do we must always be motivated by love. If we do good works for any kind of selfish gain, we will not profit from them. If we do good to be recognized by others, we have already received our reward in full. This is what Jesus was teaching in the following passages.
Matt 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
If you are motivated by love, you will not care if you are ever recognized for your good works. Furthermore, you will not even care wether or not you are rewarded in heaven for your good works. But, when you have the right motive, you will be rewarded in heaven by God Almighty.
Luke 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
If we do good works for reward, we will not be rewarded in heaven; if we do good works motivated by love, we will be rewarded in heaven. Therefore, we see that good works can be gold, silver, and precious stone or they can be wood, hay, and straw.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Jesus Christ is the only one who is qualified to judge anyone; therefore, we are not to judge another Christian's motive. We are to rejoice in the good works of others. We are to give thanks and praise to God for all the good works that others do. The rewards, or lack of rewards, will be determined by Jesus Christ.
Col 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
We must do all that we do as for the Lord. No one is denied the opportunity to serve the Lord. We can serve the Lord in all that we do if we do it for Him, to please Him. All service to the Lord will be rewarded. Service for self will not be rewarded because it is not motivated by love for the Lord. If we do wrong we will receive the consequences of the wrong we do, but we will not be judged for that wrong because Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for all the wrongs we do. Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. The Lord does not disown His children for doing wrong. When we do wrong, the Lord does not condemn us; but, He is faithful to discipline us.
Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
God has removed all our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. There is no connection between our sins and ourselves because Jesus Christ has taken our sins upon Himself; He has paid the penalty for all our sins. Therefore, the person who believes in Jesus Christ will not be judged.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
All believers have had all their sins forgiven, and where there is forgiveness, there is no judgment.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24