On What basis will God judge us?

Question

Revelation says we will be judged on what we have done and Christians say we will be judged according to what we believe.

Which is true?

Revelation 20
12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

Oh. So the prophet John was wrong.... So if he was wrong why is he a prophet?

Answer 1

actually there is no contradiction. Your action is according to your belief and conviction. If you believe something and don't act according to your belief than this belief is very weak and can't be considered as belief.

Answer 2

I waited to answer this question, sure that it would be adequately dealt with. So far, most answerers mean well, but they miss the mark.

The Bible actually says there are TWO different judgements based on works:

1) The believer is judged based on his or her works shortly after the Church as a whole is called into Jesus' presence. (It's important to understand this doesn't happen right after death.) Some refer to this as the Rapture, but you didn't ask about that, so I won't go into it (much to your relief, I'm sure!) The believer isn't judged for sins (since this was done at the cross), but for the works done for God during his or her lifetime. Believers are rewarded accordingly. The Bible calls these rewards "crowns."

See 1 Cor. 3:9-15; 1 Cor. 9:24-27, among others.

2) The unbeliever is also judged by his or her works (Rev. 20:11-15). However, each unbeliever is judged fully guilty of their sins, since they haven't accepted Jesus' atoning sacrifice. Since works alone cannot justify a human being before God (Isaiah 64:6), their guilt is sealed and they are cast into the Lake of Fire.

Answer 3

This is actually a complicated question. However, all we need to know is in scripture.
We will be judged by our words (Matthew 12:36-37)
We will be judged by our being or not being in the book of life as you you have mentioned.
We will be judged on the basis our deeds, and thus our belief or disbelief (John 3:19)
Those who have not the word, haven't heard Christ's message, will be judged according to Romans 2:12-14.

Answer 4

Mr. Nolte,
There are two judgements. The White Throne Judgement, and the Judgement Seat of Christ.

You know, I have read several of your questions these past few days, and I am wondering if you knew of this site?

http://www.allaboutgod.com/

You can type in a topic and it will give you a typical Protestant response to the topic.

For the most part, that is the perpective that I have been giving you thses past days. I do not agree with the site on certain issues, but this one about the 2 Judgements I have no reason to disagree with them on.

The believers will be judged at one of those two judgements, and the unbeliever's , especially those that WANTED to think that they should be judged as being 'good' or 'bad' .

The site that I referred to has an article concerning this, here:
http://www.allaboutgod.com/bema-seat.htm

I hope this site helps you to understand.

Answer 5

Salvation and Judgement are two different things. Everyone will be judged but not all will receive Salvation. Even Christians will be judged and receive their due reward in Heaven. Those who will go to Hell because they did not accept the Salvation of the Lord on earth will not obviously receive a reward. But Christians will be rewarded for the things that they have done on earth. Heaven is an equal and Just place. Mother Teressa will probably get a befitting reward for what she did on earth than say myself if I was to die today. So that's what Rev. 20 is talking about. We will be judged for what we have done whether good or bad. Hell for those who did not accept the Salvation of the Lord, and rewards in heaven for those who did accept Christs salvation.

Answer 6

The scripture says the dead, Christians are not "dead", they live through the saving work of Christ.
The Christians who die are absent fromt he body and face to face with the Lord.
Christians human good will be burned, as wood hay and stubble.
The unbelievers human good, will be the basis of their condemnation.
Gods positive righteousness cannot have fellowship with the unbelievers negative "righteousness".
God is not willing that any should perish but come to a change of mind about Christ.
He provided a solution for sinful man to have a relationship with Him.
It comes down to this : What think ye' of Christ?
:)
Peace out.

Answer 7

Jesus said in the 5th chapter of St. John the 39 verse....Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life :and they are they which testify of me.He also said in the 14th chapter of St.John the 12 verse....Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto the Father.
Jesus opened the eyes of the blind,healed the sick and even raised the dead,he came to give life and give it abundantly,that's what we as children of God are to be doing to.
The book of Revelations that you write about here is in reference to the great white throne judgment where God will say enter in thou faithful servant, or depart from me you worker of iniquity. James says in the 2nd chapter 17th verse...Even so faith if it hath not works is dead being alone.

Answer 8

mankind will be judged. but rewards are based upon works.
Paul wrote he does the works of righteousness in hopes of a BETTER or Greater resurrection.

the people in Death and HELL according to my bible version will not receive the rewards that the priests of God will receive. those that overcome all things will sit on a throne of God but these people will be lower class slaves or they will be cast out of the kingdom of God in outer darkness. The choice will theirs.

Answer 9

John3:14
And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.[g]”

Answer 10

God will judge you by the same measuring stick that you judge others by. When a christian says, you are going to hell, they are making a judgment call on you. How will God judge such like people? Are they headed for "Hell" in a hand basket, or organized religion? What is the lake of fire, prophetically?

Answer 11

In that sense, yes we are judged for our sins. However our belief and faith in Jesus STOPS that judgment.

So it could be said that the 2 groups are being judged for different things with different criteria. The unbeliever is judged for his sin because he died in them not having any faith in God to restore him. The believe however is judged primarily on his belief/faith that led him to have a life with God that is supposed to be fruitful. That is why Jesus said our work as Christians is going to be tested and that we are strongly encouraged to persevere in our faith.