Children and young adults rarely think about tomorrow. The vigor of youth deludes us into thinking we are invincible. But as we grow older we begin to realize how vulnerable we really are—to disease, to accidents, to violent crime. One day the thought strikes home quite suddenly: “Someday I will die.”
It may be then that we take a long look at our short life. The New Testament writer James took that look and asked: “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Like a jet’s white vapor trail across a blue sky, our lives appear on the scene and—in terms of history or eternity—quickly fade away.
When this life is over, then what?
God says…
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.” (Revelation 14:11)
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)
That means…
There is no escaping the fact that all of us will be judged someday and that many will end up spending eternity in hell. A common misconception is that since God is loving, He wouldn’t send anyone to hell. Therefore, people speculate that those who are unprepared for judgment day will either be allowed into heaven after a time of suffering for their sins, or else they will be annihilated. However, God’s Word says that “the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.” People assigned to hell will never be allowed into heaven, and they will never be annihilated.
Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will escape hell and will spend eternity in God’s kingdom. And whose names are written in that Book? Those who believe in Jesus Christ. They are the only ones who “[are] not condemned.” Those who don’t believe in Christ “[are] condemned already.”
If you aren’t ready for judgment day now, you should be doing everything in your power to get ready. There will be no opportunity to prepare after you’re dead.
But if I’m living a good moral life, I have nothing to worry about, right?
God says…
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
(Romans 3:10-12)
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Romans 3:23)
That means…
Contrary to popular opinion, even if you are living a moral life, you do have something to worry about. No matter how moral you are, you can’t measure up to God’s standard. God doesn’t grade on the curve! You can’t get into heaven by being better than average. Not a single person—other than Jesus Christ—has ever lived a sinless life: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” That is an indictment against everyone. Even if you were the most loving person on earth, you wouldn’t be good enough to get into heaven.
In school your grades were based on what you learned compared to what others learned. Too often we carry that school mentality over into our beliefs about eternal life. In terms of getting into heaven, it doesn’t matter whether we are morally in the top or the bottom of our human class: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But surely good works help, don’t they?
God says…
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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. (Titus 3:4-5)
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
That means…
No, good works can’t help you get into heaven. In fact, if you think they can, then you aren’t ready for judgment day. As we saw previously, “There is none who does good, no, not one.” The verses at left clearly state that salvation is “not of works, lest anyone should boast” and that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” In spite of this, many people have trouble letting go of the idea that they need to do good to get into heaven. They imagine that God weighs their heavenly aptitude on a huge scale much like the one the Statue of Justice holds in her hand. They hope their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, and that this will help them get into heaven.
For this to be true, God would have to be blindfolded like the Statue of Justice. But He can see! The very presence of our bad deeds proves that we aren’t good enough to earn eternal life. God’s standard is perfection: “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” Of course, we all fall hopelessly short of such a standard.
If I can’t tip God’s scale in my favor with my good works, how can I gain eternal life?
God says…
Then he [the jailer] called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:29-31)
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
That means…
There is only one way to have eternal life: “‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’” Jesus is God in the flesh. He became a man, lived a sinless life, and then paid the full and complete payment for our sins by dying on the cross in our place. In other words, He bought the right to give us eternal life. He bought this right with His own blood.
Do you ever think you’ve been too bad for God to care about you? Did you notice in the verses at left the type of people God justifies, that is, the type of people He declares righteous? He “justifies the ungodly.” He died forsinners like you and me! He doesn’t give salvation to the godly, because, as we’ve already seen, no human being is truly godly except the Lord Jesus Himself.
Therefore, the only way to avoid eternal condemnation is to “believe on Him who justifies the ungodly.” You can trust Him to do as He has promised. He proved He could and would keep His promises when He rose bodily from the dead as He had said. He has promised to give eternal life freely to all who believe in Him. You can count on that.
You mean it’s as simple as just believing in Christ?
God says…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16, 18)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47)
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
“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.” (Galatians 2:16)
That means…
Yes, it’s that simple. The only condition of eternal life is to believe in Jesus Christ.
A young man struggled for years trying to work his way to God. Finally a friend asked him whether his view of the Gospel might be wrong. That really hit him hard. Through his friend, he learned that what he believed was wrong. He learned that the Bible teaches that only faith in Christ can open heaven’s gates. He gave up trying to be good enough to be saved. He trusted in Christ alone.
I am that young man. I would like to return the favor. May I ask you to reconsider your view of the Gospel? Are you trusting in church attendance, good deeds, charitable gifts, or praying? These are all good things. But they’re not good enough, because “by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” It is vital that you know that “a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
The only effective option, therefore, is to believe in Christ and be saved from eternal condemnation. Jesus guarantees eternal life to all who trust in Him for it: “He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” You can take His word for it.
But doesn’t the Bible also say that God will judge everyone according to their works?
God says…
Will He not render to each man according to his deeds? (Proverbs 24:12)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-12, 15)
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 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. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
That means…
Yes, God will judge everyone according to their works, both those who have believed in Christ and those who haven’t. However, according to the Bible there will be two separate judgments: one at the “great white throne” and another at “the judgment seat of Christ.” Neither of these judgments has as its purpose the evaluation of deeds to determine who gets into heaven. That determination is based solely on who believed in Christ for eternal life and who didn’t.
The Great White Throne Judgment will be for those whose names are “not found written in the Book of Life.” That Book contains the names of everyone who has life—eternal life. At the moment a person believes in Jesus for eternal life he has it and his name appears in the Book of Life. That is the most important registry of all time and you certainly want your name recorded there.
The Judgment Seat of Christ will be for those whose names are written in the Book of Life. There Jesus will judge the works of all the people who have ever believed in Him for eternal life.
Therefore, while it is true that God will judge everyone’s works, that doesn’t change the fact that the only way to have eternal life is by believing in Jesus Christ.
Why, then, would God judge the works of someone who is unsaved if his works weren’t necessary for his salvation anyway?
God says…
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-12, 15)
“And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:23-24)
That means…
There are two reasons why God will judge the works of those who are unsaved. First, God has decided to give every unbeliever an opportunity to see his guilt. Countless people go to the grave wrongly thinking that they are good enough to merit heaven. At the Great White Throne Judgment all such claims will be thoroughly examined and refuted as “the books” of works are opened.
Second, God has determined that the amount of punishment unbelievers will receive will be related to their works. And, since God will take people’s backgrounds into account, there will be some surprises. Jesus told the people of Capernaum who had rejected Him that “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” The land of Sodom was renowned for its wickedness (see Genesis 19). The people of Capernaum were surely more outwardly moral. However, God will punish them more because they didn’t believe in Jesus in spite of “the mighty works which were done” in their city. In determining punishment, God will take into account how much opportunity each person has had. With churches on every corner, Bibles in every household, Christian radio and TV, and plenty of Christian literature, people in Christian lands today have received much light and will be held accountable for that.
O.K. But why would God judge the works of someone who is saved?
God says…
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ…So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10 & 12)
Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 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. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
That means…
The reason God will judge the works of the saved is because He has determined that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” This is true of all people, the saved and the unsaved. Believers are indeed accountable. “Each of us shall give account of himself to God.” The reception of eternal life is not a license to sin. God expects believers to glorify Him with their lives and He has promised to reward them if they do.
Therefore, if a Christian wastes the time, talent, and treasure that God has given him, “he will suffer loss.” What will he lose? He won’t lose his salvation, for that is impossible. Notice that Paul says, “he will suffer loss, [but] he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” What he will lose are those rewards which God would have given him if he had done works that had enduring quality. It is beyond the scope of this booklet to detail and explain the various rewards God will give (e.g., treasure, ruling with Christ, hidden manna, special white garments, special abundance of life). The point is that the good works which believers do now will be recompensed by God in tangible ways at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Will there be rewards for each and every good work Christians do during their Christian lives, or does God only look at the entirety of their lives?
God says…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)
That means…
Each and every good work which a believer does will be rewarded. Even the giving of “a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple” will result in reward which “by no means” shall be lost. Of course, if lesser works will surely be rewarded, so will greater ones.
These are like the “instant winner” prizes you can receive in many promotions today. For example, when you go to a fast food restaurant and peel off a game sticker that says you’ve won a free order of French fries, you are an “instant winner.” To be a winner at a fast food restaurant is a matter of chance, but to be a “winner” of heavenly rewards is a matter of choice. Whenever a believer chooses to obey God in the power of the Holy Spirit, he lays up treasure in heaven. While it’s true that “we can’t take it with us,” we can send it on ahead! By using our time, talent, and treasure to serve God and our fellow men, we build up a stockpile of rewards.
Will there be any special reward for those Christians who persevere in doing good works until the end of their lives?
God says…
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matthew 24:45-47)
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:12-13)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
That means…
Yes, there will be a special reward for those Christians who persevere in doing good works: “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” Ruling with Christ is a privilege reserved solely for those believers who “[do] not grow weary while doing good.” All believers will be in the kingdom; yet not all will reign with Christ. If it’s a privilege to serve in the administration of a president or monarch today, imagine how much more of a privilege it will be to serve in the administration of the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Think of this as a “perseverance prize.” In a marathon, a runner has to “hang in there” for the entire 26 miles of the race in order to receive the medal. No medal is given for finishing part of the course—even 25 miles. Only by enduring to the end can a person win this prize.
The Lord Jesus promised a special reward for those who are faithfully serving Him when they go to be with Him. He places special importance on finishing the Christian race well.
But doesn’t salvation apart from works eliminate the possibility of rewards for works?
God says…
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
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. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
That means…
No, there’s no contradiction between salvation freely given apart from works and rewards that are given for works. Eternal life is one thing and eternal rewards are quite another. The first Scripture cited on the facing page deals with eternal salvation. The second deals with eternal rewards. Salvation “is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The only way to be saved is “by grace…through faith.” However, once we’re saved, God expects us to please Him by doing good works: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” If we do, He has chosen to reward us.
This is true of public education. Children don’t have to do any work or pay any price to get into school. It’s free. However, they do have to work—and work hard—if they hope to make the honor roll or to earn a scholarship.
Rewards are an important part of our Christian education as well. Day by day we are tested; however the results won’t be fully disclosed until the Judgment Seat of Christ. There won’t be any time for last minute “cramming.” And there won’t be any “make-up exam.” We’d better prepare now, or we’ll fail to obtain the imperishable crown of ruling with Christ.
Isn’t it selfish to strive for rewards?
God says…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
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. (1 Corinthians 9:24)
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28)
That means…
No, it isn’t selfish to strive for rewards. How could it be if we are commanded in Scripture to do so? The Lord Jesus commands us to “lay up treasures in heaven.” The apostle Paul tells us to “run in such a way that you may obtain it.” The apostle John exhorts us to abide in Christ so that when He comes we might “have confidence and not be ashamed before Him.”
The word selfish means “greedy at the expense of others.” It isn’t selfish to strive for eternal rewards, since greed is the very opposite of what it takes to obtain rewards. We must be generous and loving toward others to lay up rewards. Besides, we aren’t competing with other Christians for rewards. God, who is infinite, will never exhaust His ability to reward His people. No one will ever be rewarded “at the expense of others.”
It is important to realize that there is a difference between legitimate self interest and selfishness. God has created us with a natural desire for fulfillment and joy in life. This is not selfish, since the true path to fulfillment and joy is in loving and helping others.
So, how do I prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ?
God says…
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:12-13)
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28)
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5-7)
That means…
Believe in Christ for eternal life. The people addressed on the facing page are believers. Only believers will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Endure. God treasures endurance: “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” Only those believers who are confessing Christ in word and deed when this life is over will rule with Him.
Abide in Him. The believer who abides in Christ is one who openly and honestly seeks to follow Him in all that he says, does, and thinks. The desire of the abiding believer is to please the Lord Jesus. Thus when the Lord reveals sin in his life, he confesses and forsakes it.
Do good. Of course, doing good is a requirement of eternal rewards. Couch potatoes won’t be rewarded. You must get off the couch and do good in order to please God. Prayer, giving, visiting, witnessing, exhorting, teaching, and the like are all works that please God if done with the right motives.
Humble yourself. Humility is the key to right motives. Those whose aim is self-exaltation won’t be highly rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The ones whom God will exalt are those who humble themselves before Him. We are servants of Christ. If we lose sight of that, we are in danger of seeking glory for us instead of for Him.
Are you ready?
Death and judgment lie in the future for all of us. Just as death is inescapable, so is judgment. Everyone, lost and saved, will be judged.
The lost will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment. At that judgment God will show unbelievers from their own works that they deserve eternal condemnation. Since they didn’t receive the free gift of eternal life, their names will not be found in the Book of Life. Remember: The Bible has no Christ-plus formula for salvation. The only biblical formula for salvation is trusting Christ alone for eternal life.
The saved will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Lord Jesus will evaluate the works of believers and will show what rewards each one has or hasn’t laid up. How Christians live now will have direct impact on their eternal experience. While all Christians will forever enjoy the kingdom of God, some will have a richer experience than others. To be ready for the Judgment Seat of Christ believers must abide in Christ moment by moment, knowing that at any time He may return for us.
You can be ready for judgment day. The question is: Are you?
The printed version of this tract is available in our Bookstore.
