Lesson 13 - By What Standard Will We Be Judged

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." In this lesson we will discover the standard by which we are to be judged.

1. Can we earn salvation? Eph. 2:8-10 [The Further-study verses are Rom.6:23; Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5-8]

(Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

2. What experience must we have to receive this free gift? John 3:3

(John 3:3 NKJV) "Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.""

[Note: While the gift is free and cannot be earned, it is conditional upon our being born again. John 1:12, 13; 1 John 5:4]

3. To be born again means to receive the gift of Jesus' divine nature (In the Scriptures, this nature is variously called life, power, seed,or spirit.) How can we receive this new nature? 2 Peter 1:3, 4 [Ps. 119:11]

(2 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV) "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, {4} by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

4. Unless we are "eating" the Word of God, through Bible study and prayer, can we have Jesus' life (or nature) abiding in us? John 6:53, 63

(John 6:53 NKJV) "Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you."

(John 6:63 NKJV) ""It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

[Note: God gives us a new spiritual birth through Christ Jesus, but we must nourish that spiritual life with spiritual food, just as our physical life is kept alive with physical food. Are we as careful about spending time in Bible study and prayer as we are in eating physical food? Matt. 4:4; John 15:4-7]

5. When we are born again, what must happen to the sinful habits in our life? Rom. 6:4-6 [1 John 3:3-9]

(Romans 6:4-6 NKJV) "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, {6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

6. What is sin? 1 John 3:4

(1 John 3:4 NKJV) "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."

[Note: If sin is breaking God's law, and to be born again involves overcoming sin, then the truly born-again person who will pass the judgment must become a lawkeeper. Rom. 4:15; 7:7]

7. How will God know that we have been born again? By what standard will He judge us on the day of judgment? James 2:10-12 [1 John 2:36]

(James 2:10-12 NKJV) "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. {11} For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. {12} So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty."

8. Since we were born in sin, and love sin, how can we have the new birth experience of victory over sin? Rom. 8:2-6, 13

(Romans 8:2-6 NKJV) "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, {4} that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. {5} For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

(Romans 8:13 NKJV) "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

[Note: We were born with a weak and fallen nature. This is the hereditary "law of sin and death." But when Jesus became the Son of Man, He conquered sin by combining human nature with His divine nature, thereby "condemning sin in the flesh." He now offers us His divine nature "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us" also. We are born again when we by faith surrender the soul to Christ to be filled with His Spirit, and, thus strengthened, begin to live a life of righteousness. John 8:34-36; I John 3:3-9; Titus 2:11-14]

9. How do we know that Jesus had no advantage over us so that we, too, can live victoriously over sin "just as" Jesus did (1 John 3:3)? Heb. 4:15, 16 [1 Cor. 10:13]

(1 John 3:3 NKJV) "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

(Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV) "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

10. How could Jesus have been "tempted as we are"? Heb. 2:11, 14-18

(Hebrews 2:11 NKJV) "For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,"

(Hebrews 2:14-18 NKJV) "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, {15} and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. {16} For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. {17} Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."

[Ans: Because He was "made like His brethren." He came with a "heredity" like ours "to share our . . . temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life." "As the Son of Man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey." "Jesus . . . exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess." "In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong."--The Desire of Ages, pp. 49, 24, 664, 429. Heb. 5:8, 9; Matt. 1:21, 23; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:7 cf. Rom. 8:3]

11. When Jesus gives us a new beginning (new birth) by imparting to us His Spirit (or nature), what does He write on our hearts? Heb. 8:10 [Phil. 2:5; Rev. 14:1]

(Hebrews 8:10 NKJV) ""For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

12.What motive should prompt us to keep God's law? John 14:15 [2 Cor. 5:14; John 15:10; 2 Thess. 2:8-12 (especially note verse 10)]

(John 14:15 NKJV) ""If you love Me, keep My commandments."

13. Are God's commandments burdensome to those who are truly born again? 1 John 5:3, 4 [Ps. 119:47, 77, 97, 174]

(1 John 5:3-4 NKJV) "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. {4} For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith."

14. Why will many who think they are born again be disappointed on the day of judgment? Matt. 7:21-23

(Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) ""Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. {22} "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' {23} "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

[Note: The Greek literally reads: "Depart . . . you who work LAWLESSNESS" (ergazomenoi ten anomian). 1 John 2:3-6, 28]

15. How does the Bible summarize the answer to our question, "By what standard will we be judged on the day of judgment"? Eccl. 12:13, 14 [Rom. 2:13; James 1:25]

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. {14} For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil."

16. Who will be admitted into heaven? Rev. 22:14

(Revelation 22:14 NKJV) "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."

[Note: The KJV and NKJV based on the "textus receptus" manuscript, read: "Blessed are they who do His commandments, that they may have the right to . . . enter." Rev. 14:12]

Commitment: Our salvation cost Jesus His life, but He offers salvation to us free if we will but surrender our sinful natures to Him, who has promised to "take away our sins" (1 John 3:5) and to write His law on our hearts. Thus it is that we will be judged according to God's law, for our works show whether we have been born again (1 John 2:29). "Let no one deceive you" on this point (1 John 3:6, 7)! The new birth involves a total, growing change of character, habits, and thinking (2 Cor. 5:17). Do you want Jesus to give you this new-birth experience, beginning today?

Further Study Verses

Question 1 - Further Study

(Romans 6:23 NKJV) "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Galatians 2:16 NKJV) ""knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

(Titus 3:5-8 NKJV) "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, {6} whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, {7} that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. {8} This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." -->Back to Study

Question 2 - Further Study

(John 1:12-13 NKJV) "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: {13} who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

(1 John 5:4 NKJV) "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith." -->Back to Study

Question 3 - Further Study

(Psalms 119:11 NKJV) "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!" -->Back to Study

Question 4 - Further Study

(Matthew 4:4 NKJV) "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'""

(John 15:4-7 NKJV) ""Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. {5} "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. {6} "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. {7} "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." -->Back to Study

Question 5 - Further Study

(1 John 3:3-9 NKJV) "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. {4} Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. {5} And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. {6} Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. {7} Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. {8} He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. {9} Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." -->Back to Study

Question 6 - Further Study

(Romans 4:15 NKJV) "because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression."

(Romans 7:7 NKJV) "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."" -->Back to Study

Question 7 - Further Study

(1 John 2:3-6 NKJV) "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. {4} He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. {5} But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. {6} He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." -->Back to Study

Question 8 - Further Study

(John 8:34-36 NKJV) "Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. {35} "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. {36} "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

(Titus 2:11-14 NKJV) "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, {12} teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, {13} looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, {14} who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." -->Back to Study

Question 9 - Further Study

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." -->Back to Study

Question 10 - Further Study

(Hebrews 5:8-9 NKJV) "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. {9} And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,"

(Matthew 1:21 NKJV) ""And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.""

(Matthew 1:23 NKJV) ""Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us.""

(Romans 1:3 NKJV) "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,"

(Philippians 2:7 NKJV) "but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

(Romans 8:3 NKJV) "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh," -->Back to Study

Question 11 - Further Study

(Philippians 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

(Revelation 14:1 NKJV) "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads." -->Back to Study

Question 12 - Further Study

(2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV) "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;"

(John 15:10 NKJV) ""If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

(2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 NKJV) "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, {10} and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, {12} that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." -->Back to Study

Question 13 - Further Study

(Psalms 119:47 NKJV) "And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love."

(Psalms 119:77 NKJV) "Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight."

(Psalms 119:97 NKJV) "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day."

(Psalms 119:174 NKJV) "I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight." -->Back to Study

Question 14 - Further Study

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

Question 15 - Further Study

(Romans 2:13 NKJV) "(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;"

(James 1:25 NKJV) "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." -->Back to Study

Question 16 - Further Study

(Revelation 14:12 NKJV) "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." -->Back to Study

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Last Updated: 06/18/03