This transcript was generated by whisper.ai.

(upbeat music) - Welcome to day three of our look at Romans chapter 14 and daily
drive time devotions. We're looking again today at verses 10 to 12, focusing in
on God's judgment. Yesterday we talked about our judgment of one another.

Today we're going to focus on God's judgment. What about God's judgment of us?
Verses 10 to 12 of Romans 14 say this.

You then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your
brother? And then this phrase, for we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

It is written, as surely as I live says the Lord, he every knee will bow before
me, every tongue will confess to God. And then in verse 12, so then each of us
will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment
on one another.

Instead make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your
brother's way. Now wait a minute, you might be thinking, I thought Christians
didn't have to face this final judgment, this final moment of wondering whether
they got into heaven or not. What is this about?

We all stand before God's judgment seat. We will all give an account because
Paul is obviously talking to Christians here. The question is, will I be judged
as a believer?

How will I be judged as a believer? It is important to understand that the Bible
talks about two times of judgment at the end of the world. One for unbelievers
and one for believers.

The time of judgment for those who have not believed in Jesus Christ is called
in the Bible the great white throne judgment. At this judgment, everyone who did
not believe in Christ will hear their final judgment, their sentencing of
separation from God. Those who trust in Christ, the Bible says, will not face
this judgment.

The picture that a lot of us have in our minds is not a true biblical picture.
And you know the picture I'm talking about. You're in this line with tens of
thousands of others and the line is snaking behind you as far as the eye can
see.

In front of you, you see these pearly gates in St. Peter with a clipboard. And
the closer you get, you're saying to yourself, I hope my name is on that list.

I hope my name is on his list. Listen, because of what Jesus Christ has done for
you, your name will not, let me start that again. Listen, because of what Jesus
Christ has done for you, not only is your name on the list, you won't even be in
that line.

Because the moment you asked Jesus Christ to be your savior, that was settled.
You've already passed, the Bible says, from death to life. Listen to what Jesus
promises in John 5 24.

I'm telling you the truth. Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent
me have eternal life. They will not be judged.

They've already passed from death to life. So what is this that Paul is talking
about if we don't face that judgment about everyone giving an account of himself
to God? Well, there is a judgment for believers that is different from this
great white throne judgment.

It has been called by theologians over the years, the Bema judgment. Paul writes
about it in 2 Corinthians 5 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ.

Same phrases as used in Romans 14. That each one may receive what is due him for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. This is called the Bema
judgment because the Greek word judgment seat is the word Bema in these verses.

When we hear all will stand before Christ, that means me, that means you, that
means every believer who's ever lived. This is not a judgment about whether I'm
in heaven for all of eternity. This is a judgment that's all about rewards or
the loss of rewards.

This is a judgment that's all about Jesus saying, well done, good and faithful
servant and giving me rewards for what he has done. We will all be tested in the
presence of Jesus. And what we have built into our life that does not last, the
empty things will be lost.

Our works will be tested. And then in the presence of all, we will be rewarded
for the things that we've done, the things that we've built into our lives that
will last. 1 Corinthians 3, it gives one of the clearest pictures of how this
judgment will work.

1 Corinthians 3, 10 to 15 says this, by the grace of God given to me, I laid a
foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it. But each one
should be careful how he builds for no one can lay a foundation other than the
one that's already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will
be shown for what it is.

Because the day will bring it to light. That's the day of judgment. It will be
revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

If what he has done, what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it
is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one
escaping through the flames.

The truths in this chapter are this, what we've built into our lives that will
last will be rewarded. That's what happens at that time of judgment. What we've
built into our lives that will not last will be lost.

But then he reminds us that whatever our rewards are lost, our salvation is
secure. And here this judgment is pictured as a fire, a fire that tests the
quality of every person's work. God is testing.

And what I've done that lasts, the prayers that I pray, the people that I've
witnessed to and won to Christ, the character that I've built, the heart that
I've developed for God, all those things that last will last all the way into
eternity. That is an incredible reward. The things that I have done that are
empty, that are only about possession, that are only about my own popularity,
that are only about my own selfishness, those things will be burned up.

They will not last. And so, 1 Corinthians 4 or 5 says this, "Therefore judge
nothing before the appointed time. "Wait till the Lord comes.

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness. "He'll expose the motives of
men's hearts. "At that time, each will receive his praise from God.

" I love that phrase, praise from God. That's what this Bema judgment, this
judgment of believers is all about. Many people stand in fear of it, thinking
God's going to point out all the wrong things I've done.

No, those will just be lost. Those will be lost. And there is maybe a moment of
grief.

You won't feel it in heaven 'cause there's no tears in heaven. This Bema
judgment is more a time of praise. Each will receive his praise from God.

It's a day to look forward to. We're told in scriptures that believers will be
rewarded based on three specifics. Our actions, Matthew 16, 27 says, will be
rewarded for our actions.

Our thoughts, Jeremiah 17, 10 tells us that we will receive a reward according
to what our thoughts have been. God examines our mind and we'll be also rewarded
according to our words. Matthew 12, 36, we give an account of even every
careless word that we have spoken.

We'll be rewarded for that. This means that every time I act in a Christ-like
way, that has eternal impact. It has reward in somebody else's life and also
reward in my life.

Every time I think in a Christ-like way, that has eternal impact. And every time
I speak in a Christ-like way, that has eternal impact because there will be a
day, there will certainly be a day, when Jesus looks us in the eye and for every
faithful act, for every faithful word, for every faithful thought, says, well
done, good and faithful servant. And as you and I think about judgment, how we
judge other believers, how we judge ourselves, one of the key truths to
understanding judgment in this world is that I live to look forward to that day.

In fact, as we pray in these next few moments, I'd like to pray and look forward
to that day in prayer. Jesus, right now, we picture together that day when we're
going to stand before you. We're going to stand before you in praise.

Praising you for all that you've done for us. Praising you for giving your life
for us on the cross. Praising you for your resurrection and the life that you've
given to us.

And praising you for the daily actions, the daily prayers of intercession, the
daily way that you've worked in our lives as we followed you. And then, Jesus,
these verses remind us today that you will praise us for every word, every
thought, every action that has been done out of faith towards you. And then,
Jesus, I expect that whatever praise you give to us in that moment, we're going to
reflect immediately back to you.

Because every word, every thought, every action that we did in faith, it's all
because of you anyway. Because of what you've done for us. Because of your love,
your grace, and your power.

We praise you for your heart of love towards us. And we look forward. We look
forward in this moment of that day that we stand before you.

We don't have to be afraid of that day. You've already settled our eternal
destiny. We don't have to be afraid of that day.

You've already told us that we're your children. You want us to be with you
where you are. So we look forward to that day when we stand before you together.

In your name, amen. Well, tomorrow, we're going to focus in on verse 13 of this
14th chapter of the book of Romans. And the question, who are those who are weak
in faith?