Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #28 (Week 3 of 3)

Doctrinal Standard #28 (3 of 3 weeks)

• Q. How is Christ exalted?
• A. Christ is exalted by His rising from the dead on the third day, His going up into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and His coming to judge the world at the last day.

Memory Verses

• “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV).

Scripture

• Study Passage: John 5:19-29
• Support Passages: Matthew 13:36-43, 25:31-46; Acts 10:34-43, 17:30-31; Romans 2:1-8; II Corinthians 5:10; II Thessalonians 1; Hebrews 9:27-28; II Peter 3; Revelation 20-22
• Bible Story: John 11:17-44

Thoughts

• “The second coming will also issue in the great final judgment. This is for many people one of the most frightening prospects regarding the future, and well it might be for those who are apart from Christ and consequently will be judged to be among the unrighteous. For those who are in Christ, however, it is something to look forward to, for it will vindicate their lives.”
• Jesus pictured himself as sitting on a glorious throne and judging all nations (Matt. 25:31-33). Although God is spoken of as the judge in Hebrews 12:23, it is clear from several other references that he delegates this authority to the Son. Jesus himself said, ‘Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son… And He has given him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:22,27). Peter told the gathering in Cornelius’s house, “[Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one Paul informed the Athenians that God ‘has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead’ (Acts 17:31). And Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’ (2 Cor. 5:10). Second Timothy 4:1 states that Christ is to judge the living and the dead. [1]
• While true believers will be judges and accepted based on the perfect sacrifice and righteousness of Jesus Christ they will still be judged  for the things they have “done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). It is during this judgment that Christ will “evaluate and bestow various degrees of reward, but the fact that they will face such judgment should never cause believers to fear that they will be eternally condemned. Jesus say, ‘He who hears my words and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life; He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life’” (John 5:24). [2]

Discussion Questions

• Why does Jesus have the authority to judge the world?
• How will believers in Jesus Christ be judged?
• Will Christians be held accountable for their actions? Explain
• How do you feel about the fact that you will be judged by Jesus Christ?
• How should Christians feel about the judgment of Jesus Christ?
• Can we do anything to prepare for the judgment of Jesus Christ?