1 Corinthians 4:3-5 “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. (5) Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.”
In the passage of scripture quoted above the apostle Paul speaks of things that the Lord may have against us on our day of judgement. The only things that the Lord will have against His saints on that day, are unforgiven sins. It is interesting to note that Paul goes on to say in this passage that he was unaware of anything that the Lord could hold against him on that day. The reason Paul could say that was because he always made sure that he walked a blameless life before the Lord, for Paul said of himself, that he always lived in all good conscience before God (Acts 23:1). How many believers do you know that can confidently say before the Lord that they know of nothing against themselves? And yet Paul did, and he told us to imitate him even as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). How many believers do you know that can confidently tell the church to imitate them as they imitate Christ? And yet again Paul did. Someone said, but I thought that Paul said he was the chief of sinners. Paul did say that he was chief of sinners before he was saved, but after salvation Paul put himself forward as an example of what it means to live a blameless life before the Lord. The word translated “am” in that portion of scripture also means “was”, which is the correct translation in the context of what Paul was teaching on (1 Timothy 1:15).
Colossians 3:23-25 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (25) But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.”
We have already looked at the passage of scripture quoted above, in dealing with the fact that the saints can expect to receive their reward from the Lord Jesus on that day for those works that they have done in the spirit. But in this same passage however, the apostle Paul also warns us that those saints who have done wrong can expect to receive their retribution from the Lord (the word translated “wrong” in this passage of scripture can also be translated “sin”). The Holy Spirit then emphasizes this point by telling us that the Lord will not show partiality to those who have broken God’s laws just because they are His children. And so we should be under no illusion about our day of judgement, for the believer’s judgement will be completely thorough and will include all sin that is unforgiven.
Michael E.B. Maher
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