The idea of the personal (particular) judgement terrifies me. "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36). If only it were just idle words!
I've heard some people say that we won't have to answer; that Christ has answered for us, legally justifying us. Others say we still will even though He has done this, and others say there will be a particular judgement. I'm curious to see what others think. I am still new enough to the faith to not know where the Scripture is for this, so any help in that area would be great.
2 Cor 5: "10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body,
according to what he has done,
whether good or bad." -
Rom 2:
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God, 6
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but
glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11
For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13
for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves
their thoughts accusing or else excusing
them) 16
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel.
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Rev 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7
saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him,
for the hour of His judgment has come; and
worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
That's right folks - that future event that John predicts in Rev 14:6-7 has come - that message is for now.
Matt 7 - Christ said that the "test" is in what we do - the fruits that are seen.
16
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor
can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
According to Romans 2 they are in fact "looking at those trees" to SEE IF they are the born-again alive-in-the-spirit transformed Christian or if they are merely "playing the game of religion"
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That judgment in heaven has already started - beginning with the Adam and those who lived before the flood and making its way down through time - to our age. The case of each person is brought up to see IF the supernatural Gospel "change of heart" has taken place in the heart and if they now walk by faith not by sight. IF they do have such fruit of the Spirit then as Daniel 7:22 says regarding that judgment "
judgment was passed in favor of the saints"
(What Christianity Today calls the "fifth largest" Christian denomination in the world today... was raised up not long ago - specifically to speak about this topic)
