I was talking to some Christian friends, and they told me something a bit shocking to me. They didn't believe they would be judged! Maybe this is common belief amongst Christians, maybe it is not. Can someone shed some light on this for me?
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
First, since Paul said 'we must all appear' he wasn't excluding himself right?
And...he was always saying the believers were the body of Christ. And that the Church is Christ's body. When he says we will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to be judged of the things done in his body, is it referring to what is done in Christ's body, or the Church???
2006-08-15 05:07:08 · 14 answers · asked by flournoi 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sounds like your friends either need to listen better in church or switch churches.
2006-08-15 05:12:36 · answer #1 · answered by Fool in the Rain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
flournoi,
Something seems strange in all this, but it's not that far off. Let me explain:
"They didn't believe they would be judged!"
They will be judge and their works tried in a fire.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
It's just that Christians will not be judged in the same judgement as the non-believers.
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
That's the White Throne Judgement.
A believer gets the Judgement Seat of Christ.
It's called a Judgement Seat because there is judgement there.
"First, since Paul said 'we must all appear' he wasn't excluding himself right?"
Yup.
"And...he was always saying the believers were the body of Christ. And that the Church is Christ's body. When he says we will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to be judged of the things done in his body, is it referring to what is done in Christ's body, or the Church???"
They are synonymus in that context.
With all this judgement flying around, don't forget to keep your eyes on Jesus. A Christian will feel guilty upon reflection, but remember God's promise that Jesus said, " My yoke is light, my burden is easy." Trust Him!
2006-08-15 05:49:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say those christian friends of yours have not done the study that you have. According to the verses that you quoted and other passages in the bible, all will be judged when the end of the days comes. Christians might have a leg up in the process since they have accepted Christ as their personal savior in the first place. However, when one accepts Christ, his spiritual life has just begun. If it is not nourished via prayers, readings and understanding of the bible, and communion with other Christians, it will wither and die. A christian without a fulfilling spiritual life is simply not a Christian.
As for referring to the Christ's body or the church, those are simply metaphors for people to understand that by believing in Christ and being part of the church, they have become part of Christ and everything that is holy. It should not be taken literally. Ultimately, people will be judged by their own merits and not some superficial meaning of the body or the churches of different denominations.
Not a priest or a pastor myself, but simply providing my point of view as a christian. Hope it helps.
XR
2006-08-15 05:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by XReader 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friends believe that they won't be judged? They are wrong. As Christians we are being judged now in this life. We are held accountable for what we do in Christ's name after we become a Christian. As Christians we will appear before Christ and have to give an account of what we did in this life for Him and in His name. Everything we did and have will be put to the test of fire...and only the things that glorified Him will remain.
Christians and non Christians are not judged at the same moment....but both are judged.
2006-08-15 05:16:21 · answer #4 · answered by onyxunicorn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is referring to both. Not only the believers are the body of Christ, it is also the non-believers. Your body is the temple of the Lord, whether you keep it clean or not, Christian or non-christian, you will still be judged at the end.
So keep reading the Bible and believe what you believe.
2006-08-15 05:24:11 · answer #5 · answered by Kaiso 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believers are the body of Christ and they are also a church. It's the same thing
2006-08-15 05:13:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all we must come to understand what the Body of Christ is in its widest sense. When Christ died on the Cross and resurrected from the tomb, He redeemed the whole world and all within it. Since, all were redeemed and His Body was given and sacrificed for all of humanity for their continued life and redemption, then everyone redeemed is in His Body and therefore in His Church. He did not die for Christians alone or Jews alone or Muslims alone. He died for all and that means all including even Athiest. So, even they are a part of His Church (His Body).
Yet, if I understand your confusion it lies in your misunderstanding of the word "Church". In Catholicism, the church is used in two ways. First is Church with a capital "C", which means the Body of Christ Himself. He is our head and we His Body. And in the wider sense even those who are Buddhists, Muslim, Athiest, Methodist are in that Church, His Body.
When the word church is used with a small "c" it refers to the building worshiped in and particular denominations with their administrative and hierarchical structures.
And so, since all are in the "C"hurch then all are judged according to the things done within Christ's Body.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john
2006-08-15 07:12:28 · answer #7 · answered by som 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian, and I can tell you that we will all be judged, every believer and non-believer alike. When we appear at judgement, we will be judged on what we did in our earthly bodies.
2006-08-15 05:13:36 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ Luveniar♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all human will be judge by his works,Christ will save his sheep.try to study the teachings of the Church of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo
2006-08-15 05:31:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they think they are above judgement? How horrible! You have bad taste in friends. I beleive christians will be judged by non christians. call it Justice if you will because thats what it amounts to.
2006-08-15 05:16:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋