The threefold judgement of a believer

It is not uncommon to hear a person talk about the fear of being judged. Oftentimes you may hear a believer use Matthew 7:1, as a biblical response to say “Who are you to judge me?” Did not Jesus say ‘ Judge not, lest ye will be judged’?
But what about when God judges them. Surely they would not be reaching out for the same Matthew 7: 1 to defend themselves?

When a person undergoes a judgement process where an opinion or evaluation is being formed about them, it can often make them feel uncomfortable, defenceless and vulnerable. The fear of receiving a negative evaluation can lead to stress, social anxiety, and depression. Not to mention, a poor self-evaluation of their worth. Yet, to receive the judgement of God in your life is an entirely different experience from the judgement of men.

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12 ESV

The Judgment of the Lord represents God’s official assessment of your life. It is under the Lord’s divine judgement you will know how your life has met his righteous standards of living. God’s judgement will scrutinise the content and posture of your heart.

Yes. Your life will encounter judgement. God’s judgement. Scripture makes it clear that judgement will begin in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

God is the foundational source of all judgement.

On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16 ESV / 74 helpful votes 

God’s holy nature is the source and foundation of his justice system. God in his holiness judges us against the moral standard of who he is. Remember we were made to be people who reflect his image and likeness ( Genesis 1:26). When we deviate from his will for our lives, we rebel against his person, sovereignty and authority.

Deuteronomy 32:4 describes God as follows: ‘He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (NIV).

When you consider the simple truth that God is the grounds and legal authority for all judgements given. You will also come to understand that you and I are judged based on evidence about our life actions against the law of God. God is his Word and his Word is with him (John 1: 1-2) . What God instructs us to do, we must obey and do. This is God’s law. God does not judge us just because we believe. God judges us based on who he is and our threefold identity revealed throughout time. God judges us as sinners, sons and servants.

Three separate Judgements unfolded.

The judgement of a believer as a:

• Sinner ( is a past judgement). The sin of every believer was judged at the Cross.

“made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The time of this judgement was A.D: 30. The Place: Calvary. The subject of judgement: The believers in Christ and the judgement of their sins (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2).

Scripture tells us that the believer’s judgement for sin has already been judged and settled on the cross. John 5: 24 says: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life”. NIV. Galatians 3:13 stands in agreement with this verse, it says ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole’ NIV. The finished works of Christ is the basis of this judgement. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of Adam’s disobedience in the garden of Eden and atone for ‘sin’. A believer in Christ does not need to be judged for this judgement again. Christ represented the believer at this judgement and Christ’s finished work justifies all believers in Christ.

• Son (is ongoing).

The subject of judgement: The believer’s unconfessed sins ( Hebrews 12:6 ).

“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son" Hebrews 12:6

Sometimes as believers in Christ, we do not consider the simple fact that just because the ‘sin’ issue has been dealt with on the cross, this does not mean that a believer will not be inclined to sin. The sin nature ( the old nature) we inherited from the first Adam is still within us. What is helping us overcome the influence of this nature of sin is the new nature we received when we became ‘born again’. As born again believers we now have a ‘dual personality’. We have an old nature (a fallen nature ) and a new one (The Holy Spirit). This sounds very conflicting, right? Well it can be. The dominant nature that is at work in you is dependent upon you. You must choose which nature you attend to. The righteous one , or the unrighteous one.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20 New International Version

Apostle Paul reminds us of the reality of the war between the two natures within us. That war will remain until the old nature is eradicated at death. This teaching of scripture leads us to the main purpose of this point: God’s judgement. Any sin or human error you daily commit because you yielded to your sinful nature, must be confessed. Why? because a believers judgement as a Son is for ‘ unconfessed sins’. God chastises his sons because of the sins found in their heart that are daily revealed in speech, deed and thought (Hebrews 12:6).

When a believer confesses their sins to God and others, it is their way of making a public declaration of faith and belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. God wants his children to rest in the forgiveness he gives all who believe in his son Jesus Christ. God’s forgiveness is received as soon as you place your faith in Jesus for salvation ( Ephesians 1:7).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

When you daily make self-judgements, you can help yourself know what sins to confess and furthermore avert a chastisement from the Lord. Humble yourself and be honest about your daily need for God’s grace in your life.

• Servant ( is future). This judgement is yet to come.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their 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 person’s work. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NIV).

The time of this judgement: After the church is raptured, when the Lord comes (1 Corinthians 4:5).

The Place: The Judgement (Bema) seat of Christ ( in the air) 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

The basis of this judgement: To judge a believers works.

The results of this judgement: Will reveal whether a believer will attain spiritual rewards or losses for their work done whilst in the body of Christ. We must remember that this judgment does not determine a believers salvation, salvation is by faith alone.

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

2 Corinthians 5:10, reminds us of the fact that this judgement is for believers only and this judgement is for ‘works’.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 says ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.’

1 Corinthians 3:11-13, continues this narrative by revealing to us that our works will be tried by fire. This fire will reveal what sort of works you have done. In verses 14-15, we learn that ‘If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.’ Anybody who deserves a reward that day, will be crowned. The five crowns you could be rewarded with are:

The crown of Life ( The Martyr’s crown), James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10.The crown of Glory ( The Elder’s crown ), 1 Peter 5:4.The crown of Rejoicing ( The Soul winner’s crown), Thessalonians 2:19 and Philippians 4:1.The crown of Righteousness ( the crown that is given to those who anticipate the Lord’s appearing), 2 Timothy 4:8. The Incorruptible Crown ( The Victor’s crown), 1 Corinthians 9:25.[2]

Now that you are aware of the threefold judgement of the Lord for believers in Christ, ask yourself the following questions: Are you serving the Lord with eternity in view? And are you competing for a imperishable crown? If you have not thought about the Lord’s judgement before, now is the time to start thinking about where you will be in eternity. The threefold judgement of God for a believer, has your name on it. You will be judged. The question is are you ready to discipline yourself to do the Lord’s work and secure an eternal crown?

“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).