Cheat Sheet #12

As you read this section, keep in mind that the New Testament is not merely a history book, it's meant to change us to become more and more like Jesus. When we read any passages in the New Testament, our goal should be to discern what God wants us to believe and do so that we can be obedient to Him.

We will receive discipline (perhaps severely) here on earth for not obeying God (see my article called Cheat Sheet #11), but in addition, we might also suffer loss in heaven.

In the following passages we're told that all Christians will stand before God and He will judge the things we did on earth. Then we'll receive what is due us, whether good or bad. We're also told that fire will test the quality of our earthly works, and if they're all burned up (i.e., if they weren't works of obedience) then we will suffer loss as one escaping through the flames.

If we suffer loss in heaven, it's our own fault for not being diligent enough to find out what God wants us to believe and do. If we're not trying to be fully obedient to God in this life, we're jeopardizing our future in heaven.

Relevant passages:

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16:27)

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. (Ephesians 6:7-8)

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. (2 John 1:8)

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:4)

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28 NKJV)

[Jesus is speaking:] Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12)

[Jesus is speaking:] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

[Jesus is speaking:] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20)

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

The above passages show that all Christians will stand before God and He will judge the things we did on earth (Romans 14:10-12, above). Then we'll receive what is due us, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10, above). Many Christians will be ashamed before Him (1 John 2:28, above) and will suffer loss at this judgment (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, above).

Keep in mind that the New Testament is the instruction manual for all Christians (no matter what denomination you're a member of), written by God through human authors, and in His omniscience He made sure that it's relevant even to this day. In it, God tells us what to believe and what to do. If we don't properly obey Him, the painful consequences for our wrong beliefs or lack of obedience are our own fault for not being diligent enough to find out what He wants us to believe and do (see my article called Cheat Sheet #11).

The judgment in the above passages is not for determining who is or isn't a Christian because only Christians (i.e., the Church, the body of Christ) will take part in the judgment seat of Christ. Instead, the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ is to reward us for our obedience to the Lord while we were on the earth. All of the things we've done in obedience to the Lord are like gold, silver, or precious gems, but all of the things we've done that are not in obedience to the Lord are like wood, hay, or straw:

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

The above passage tells us that our earthly works will be tested with fire, and then we'll receive rewards (or we'll suffer loss as one escaping through the flames) based on the quality of our works. Therefore, we should examine ourselves while we still have time to "store up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). Will we have any "gold, silver, and costly stones" (actions of faith and obedience) that will survive this fire? If we suffer loss at this judgment, it's our own fault for not being diligent enough to find out what God wants us to believe and do. If we're not trying to be fully obedient to God in this life, we're jeopardizing our future in heaven.

Even after reading this, most Christians will probably assume that they'll be fine at this judgment because they assume that they're being obedient to God. Yet how many of them are diligent enough to find out what the New Testament actually tells us to do (not just what feels right to them) so that they can be certain they're obeying God's instructions?

Are you reading and obeying God's instruction manual (the New Testament) and listening to the Lord every day (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance), being diligent to find out what He wants you to believe and do?