Q: In Matthew 16:27, Jesus claims that the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. However, other passages say that judgment will be delivered according to standards other than works: some verses say that salvation is a result of belief and confession, or belief and baptism, or a free gift, not a result of works. Isnt this a contradiction?
A: First, I want you to be aware that some interpreters -- mainly Pre-Millennialists whose ideas closely conform to the theories promoted by Clarence Larkin -- resolve this question by claiming that there are going to be two Judgment Days: one when Christ returns and begins His earthly millennial reign ~ which will be a day of the Sheep-and-Goats Judgment, when rewards for good works are awarded and punishments for bad works are also delivered ~ and one at the end of the Millennium, which will be the Final Judgment at the Great White Throne, when Gods born-again people are saved by grace and the unsaved enter into hell. (For some background about Clarence Larkin and his theories and charts which separate the scene of The Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne scene, see www.biblebelievers.com/la...iding.html .)
But my eschatology is somewhat less complicated, and I expect only one Judgment Day. Works will be judged, but so will motivations, states of mind, and circumstances. And, most importantly, nature will also be judged. The judgment of a mans works tends to serve as a judgment of his nature, since through his works, his nature is expressed. When all these things are considered together, various components such as faith, repentance, confession, baptism, faithfulness expressed through works (mentioned here in Mt. 16:27) -- serve as exhibits A-E of spiritual regeneration, and this is ultimately the standard on the basis of which a favorable judgment is to be delivered. The measurement of an individual's works is a major thermostat of his nature.
See also the comments on Matthew 12:37.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: First, I want you to be aware that some interpreters -- mainly Pre-Millennialists whose ideas closely conform to the theories promoted by Clarence Larkin -- resolve this question by claiming that there are going to be two Judgment Days: one when Christ returns and begins His earthly millennial reign ~ which will be a day of the Sheep-and-Goats Judgment, when rewards for good works are awarded and punishments for bad works are also delivered ~ and one at the end of the Millennium, which will be the Final Judgment at the Great White Throne, when Gods born-again people are saved by grace and the unsaved enter into hell. (For some background about Clarence Larkin and his theories and charts which separate the scene of The Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne scene, see www.biblebelievers.com/la...iding.html .)
But my eschatology is somewhat less complicated, and I expect only one Judgment Day. Works will be judged, but so will motivations, states of mind, and circumstances. And, most importantly, nature will also be judged. The judgment of a mans works tends to serve as a judgment of his nature, since through his works, his nature is expressed. When all these things are considered together, various components such as faith, repentance, confession, baptism, faithfulness expressed through works (mentioned here in Mt. 16:27) -- serve as exhibits A-E of spiritual regeneration, and this is ultimately the standard on the basis of which a favorable judgment is to be delivered. The measurement of an individual's works is a major thermostat of his nature.
See also the comments on Matthew 12:37.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
