There is a lot of speculation and confusion surrounding the nature of the final judgement. Many dispensationalists and some grace-only Christians actually believe that their works will be judged in the last day for reward. They go so far as to say that we will be judged at “the bema seat,” and that unbelievers will be judged at the “Great White Throne Judgement.” The former is for rewards, the latter is for condemnation (for unbelievers).
These common, but inaccurate interpretations are acceptable, though not totally true. None of these theories are 100% accurate. As I mention in my article How to Read the Bible, I judge the accuracy of any interpretation of scripture by how it aligns with the gospel. This is how every Christian should approach the scriptures. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13).
The truth is that every Christian that believes the gospel has already been judged and is found faithful.
John 3
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That is the judgment: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God only values faith. Faith is the work that is needed to pass the judgment. You can choose to never believe and be judged at “the last day.” Or you can choose to believe now, be judged now, and be found perfect in Christ.
Philippians 3
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
John 3
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jesus Christ is the light, that brings all the hidden things of darkness to light. People who are unwilling to accept Christ are people who refuse to admit that they are helplessly in guilt of sin. So, they prefer to hide their guilt rather than admit their guilt and receive forgiveness.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Whoever does truth accepts Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life (John 14:6). And they receive the works that God has provided for every single human being, from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3). Christ, being the good works set for us, from the foundation of the world. He is the works, the judgement, and the truth.
And this is the truth:
1 John 5
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 5
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
How do you honor the son?
Jesus tells us exactly how He desires to be honored, in the very next verse:
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Anyone who hears his word, and believes on Him, has everlasting life. They are also resurrected, to the resurrection of life.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Verse 29 sounds like Christ is introducing works. “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life” sounds like you have to do good deeds for eternal life. But if you believe John 5:24, then there would be a contradiction, in the very same chapter and discourse no-less.
Besides, Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly denounces doing anything for salvation. And if you look at James 2:10, God says that if you keep the whole law and do many “good deeds,” all of your good works are undone by 1 act of sin. So, all of your good is made “ungood” by 1 unitary act of sin.
Therefore, the “good” that Christ requires of us in John 5:29 (for salvation) could never be so-called “good deeds\works.” Just as Paul says in Romans.
Romans 2
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Romans 3
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
So, good deeds will never justify us in the sight of God. Much less would they justify us in the sight of God on the day of judgment, assuming that such a day exists for Christians.
And as we see in John 5:25, it is only the dead that “Hear the voice of the Son of God” that shall live. So, in verse 29, when Christ said, “have done good,” the “good” he is talking about is to hear and believe the word of God. Just as it says in John 5:24. It is to “do truth” as it says in John 3.
Therefore, hearing and believing the gospel is the “good” that we must do for the judgement to rule in favor. Just as Paul concludes in Romans 3:
Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
You may object. You may say that both the justified and the unjustified (all those in the grave, in verse 28) “come forth”: They all “hear” and are all brought “forth.” And then they are all judged: “they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
And so, you may be inclined to read this to mean that you must do good deeds to be saved. This is the common-sensical\superficial\apparent reading of this text that most everyone would accept. But it is 100% wrong. Because we know Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3, Romans 4:5. Galatians, and even John 5:24 (in the same discourse) explicitly state the contrary.
Instead, pay close attention to the words used.
In John 5:24, Christ said “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” And in verse 25, “the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God;” but of them that are dead, only “they that hear shall live.” These are the same people that are among “those that have done good” and take part in “the resurrection of life” in verse 29.
The others, that “shall hear his voice,” (verse 28) but are part of the “resurrection of the damned” and are not part of the “resurrection of life,” (verse 29) have heard his voice, but have not believed. They have not “heard his voice” in the salvific sense, which means to hear and believe (John 5:24).
In short, there are two different kinds of hearing:
1) Those that hear and believe and are saved.
2) And those that have heard but have not believed and are damned.
That is why in verse 28, Christ says that both the saved and unsaved are all “brought forth.” They are not all given “life,” instead, they are all so-called “brought forth”: each unto different kinds of resurrections; contingent upon the type of “hearing” that they have done.
The unsaved have merely “heard his voice” in the vein that Christ is God, and all things will be brought back to Him in the end. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11). But they have never believed in Christ for salvation on Earth, so they are guilty of much evil, and have never done the “good” that is required to reap eternal life.
And as we’ve established earlier, “doing good” is equivalent to: “hearing and believing.”
This is the gospel.
Christ spoke of this in Matthew:
Matthew 13
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Acts 28
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
You need to hear and believe to be saved.
What about those that have not heard?
You may make a different, moral objection: What about those that have not heard? Well, according to God, they have heard: “their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world,” the Bible says.
Romans 10
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
God defines what it means to “hear.” Because, clearly, there are tribes that have never heard of Jesus, or Israel, or the law of commandments.
Romans 2
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
People love to imagine that indigenous tribes people are generally “good people” and are “innocent,” and that it would be wrong for God to judge them. In popular culture, we so often demonize European settlers that took over lands in empirical conquest. And that these settlers have disrupted the so-called natural balance that natives are thought to have had with nature.
But this is just garbage propaganda and false history. A lot of these natives were literally savages. In Mesoamerica, they would fight against neighboring tribes and they performed human sacrifices, by the thousands. Some even did cannibalism and performed witchcraft. So, they are not at all these ignorant-but-innocent, nature-loving hippies that popular history would like to make them out to be. The only reason why natives have not been able to deplete the environment as quickly as the settlers have is solely because they lacked the knowledge, technology, and means to do so.
In short, these people did evil, just like everybody else. And it’s not just because they have not had the chance to physically\literally hear of God. Take for example, Abraham. He didn’t have a Bible. He didn’t have much in the way of written history either. All he had was God, and himself. The same as every other person that enters this world.
Jesus Christ, is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).
Romans 1
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
You can know the gospel just by the things that are made. Namely, that things do not come out of nothing for no reason. Therefore, any honest person would conclude that there is a God. You can also know that this God is omnipotent, omniscient, and immaterial given the sheer size and complexity of the world. And if this God were to respond favorably toward you, it would be out of sheer grace, because you are nothing in comparison to this God. This is the gospel.
If these savages responded to common sense and their conscience, God would have made himself known to them by some means. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at,” their lack of knowledge of Christ. And instead of Abraham being blessed, the Bible would have been written by the hands of Quetzalcoatl.
Whether by natural or supernatural means: anyone, anywhere could be saved just the same. In fact, God makes use of all our actions (whether so-called “good” or “bad”) to bring the gospel to those that would believe.
Just as it is written in the story about Joseph and his brothers:
Genesis 50
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
God is not an idiot. Nobody is eternally wronged. Each person is given everything that they need to believe. And those that may appear as though they had not been given sufficient evidence, have. And if God were to give them even more evidence, they probably would not have believed anyways. Like atheists. They have an abundance of information at their disposal, but a lot of people refuse to acknowledge the truth.
But at the same time, modern society is plagued by heavy propaganda, indoctrination, and “science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:19). The populace is therefore anti-religious and anti-God by default. So, in some ways, it’s actually harder for people to believe now, than it was in the past; despite all the information we now have at our disposal.
So, God is making more information come to light, more reasons, and evidences to believe in Christ. Like this very book\website. I am breaking down the deepest of truths and delivering unto you the purest and simplest doctrine possible.
The fact that God is sending me now to do this is proof that this world is heavy-against the truth.
Jesus told Peter:
John 21
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
And that is what I am doing right now. Mainstream Christian denominations serve (at best) 7-11, maybe Mac Donald’s quality food. While Catholicism and Calvinism serve you rat poison, dipped in chocolate, wrapped in official packaging to deceive you.
But what I am giving you is gourmet, chef-Ramsay-quality dining (except this is Heaven’s Kitchen) and I am spoon feeding it to you.
Thus, if you still refuse to believe after reading the gospel on this site, it’s because you don’t want to believe. And God won’t force you either, because salvation is a matter of the will. Because God is the judge who will make sure that nobody is eternally wronged, and man receives what he chooses to have.
And so, God will “judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel,” and God is a righteous judge. God knows what we know and knows what it would take to make someone believe; if they were to believe out of their own freewill.
God “desirests truth in the inward parts,” and the “eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (Psalm 51:6, 2 Chronicles 16:9).
God has always wanted “obedience to the truth,” which is the gospel (1 Peter 1:22).
And Jesus Christ is the “freewill offering” that we give to the Lord (Exodus 35:29).
Again, as it is written:
Genesis 18
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Remember, the righteous are believers in Christ. Regardless of conduct. That is why Lot is considered a “righteous man,” despite the many evils he performed.
2 Peter 2
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
And the unjust are unjustified because they refuse to believe the gospel. They have no excuse. Rahab the harlot was a harlot, yet she believed. David was an adulterer and a murderer, yet he believed. Abraham was willing to kill his only son. Samson was an adulterer, a killer, committed suicide, and he did not regard any of the laws of God, except for the 1 that mattered: which is to believe.
Nobody is justified by works in the sight of God. And so, the unjust are those that refuse to acknowledge this and believe the gospel.
What about the mentally retarded, and babies, and children that cannot believe?
God does not doom babies to Hell from the womb. God is not a sick monster like John Calvin, the devil. And no, I am not passing judgment on God. That is how a Calvinist would react, after hearing my strong words against Calvin’s predestination. They think that they are more pious than you, because they are willing to set aside their conscience and worship the satanic false idol god Calvin, who damns babies to Hell from the womb. No, I judge your doctrine based on God’s words. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Isaiah 5
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
And if you look at Jeremiah, God said:
Jeremiah 32
35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
If God thinks it an abomination for children to pass through the fire to Molech, then he won’t allow it to happen in Hell. God said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). And again, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). And again, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Not only do little children go to Heaven by default, but unless you become as a little child, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Because children are simple and they believe what they are told. You must do the same, believe the gospel.
Judiciously, it is either the case that God has orchestrated this world such that every child\handicapped person that happens to die in that state all instinctively believe on Christ before death; or they are not judged at all, and God accepts them into Heaven. Those are the only two possibilities that exist, according to God’s own character and word. They do not go to Hell.
God “at times of ignorance winked at” because they could not be held accountable. Put bluntly, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Therefore, God is not an idiot hypocrite.
In short, God has orchestrated the world around everyone’s decisions, in such a way that nobody is eternally wronged
The Earth is a test, a test of faith. And God is the administrator of this test. He is perfect in his administration and in his judgment. Each person that is expected to obey the gospel is given sufficient knowledge and opportunity to believe.
Acts 17
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
God has given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised Christ from the dead. Which means, we can be sure of the judgment:
He that hath the son hath life; he that hath not the son hath not life.
So far, we know that the statement in John 5 is that the gospel, itself, is the judgement. And that everyone that is judged by the gospel is able to believe. And that God is willing to save anyone who believes: He is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
And so, the gospel is the judgement. There isn’t a secondary type judgement to speak of; for believers at least.
What about Paul’s writings in all his Epistles about being judged of God?
I will breakdown each of these occurrences now and show you how that the gospel is still the only judgement for believers in Christ.
In Hebrews 9, it is written:
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
It is appointed to men once to die, and then the judgement; which is Hell for unbelievers. But for us who “look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” God will appear a second time to us. And when He does, it is without sin, unto salvation. Meaning, believers are not judged on sins, instead we receive: eternal life, salvation, joy, bliss, righteousness, etc… all good things, forever.
Another passage that speaks of judgement:
2 Corinthians 5
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Again, he uses the phrase “whether good or bad,” which suggests the weighing of our works against the law. And we know how that will end: “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
That is why in verse 11, it begins with “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” We persuade men to believe the gospel, because we already know how it will end for those that do not accept the gospel: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28).
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Everyone is dead. Just as the metaphor used in John 5:24-29: of those that are in the graves, those that decide to believe and hear shall be resurrected unto the resurrection of life.
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Just as verse 16 says, we no longer judge by the flesh. We know that whosoever “believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Because “we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Romans 5
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
2 Corinthians 5
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
This is the gospel. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is made perfect in Christ. All things are become new. No sins will ever be imputed unto us from henceforth.
Just as it says in John 3, Christ said:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
When a man believes on Christ, he is born again. This “New Creature” that Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 5 is of the Spirit. And the Spirit is invisible. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The flesh is not to be confused with the spirit. These are to be kept separate. That is what it means to sanctify something. It means to keep separate. That is why Christ told them not to put new wine in old bottles. And not to put new cloth in old garments. Do not mix.
The works of your hands are of the flesh and are of this world; and the things of this world will eventually die and go the way of all the Earth (Joshua 23:14). But if you are born of God, your spirit is incorruptible.
1 Peter 1
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
It doesn’t matter what the flesh does, we are not judged based on the works of the flesh. All the works of the body “withereth” and “falleth away.” Paul said, “henceforth know we no man after the flesh.”
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). We judge by the gospel. If we hear someone speak the truth, the gospel, then that is the “sound of the wind,” the sound of the Spirit. We hear the words of Christ from someone. And out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Because Christ said, “the words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). So, if someone is able to say that they believe the correct gospel, the words of Christ, then that is proof they are of the Spirit of God.
1 John 5
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
2 John 1
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
Colossians 2
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
How do you receive Christ again? Because we are told to continue to walk in him, the same way we received him (as mentioned above in 2 John and Colossians). Oh yeah, it’s by grace through faith, not of works; lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Matthew 13
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
At the end of the world, God will separate those that have believed from those that have not. Those that have believed are among the just. Those that have not believed will be judged according to their works. And all of their works are sin. So, they are among those that “are bad” and will be cast away.
Again, look at this parable:
Matthew 13
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Those that “offend” and “do iniquity” are unbelievers. They will be gathered out and cast into Hell. Believers are incapable of doing iniquity, because believers are born in the Spirit. Our flesh is dead. We are “crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
That is why when Paul said that we have “put off the body of the sins of the flesh.” This is done by Christ, with the “circumcision made without hands” of the heart\spirit. Which means when someone believes, they are born again. And once born again, God separates the spirit from the flesh. And will not count your sins against you.
Psalm 32
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Romans 4
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
What is the vain philosophy Paul mentioned in Colossians 2:8?
It’s works.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Taste not, touch not, handle not. These things are vain philosophy, that won’t profit you. Your works will not profit you. Only faith in Christ will profit you. Only believing the gospel will profit you. In fact, doing works is evil. It is hypocritical. And because nobody can do works perfectly, those that seek to be justified by works do so with the thought that they are “better than the next guy” that next guy is your brother\neighbor. This is why only hypocrites do works for salvation, which makes all their works evil. Please read this article on why salvation could never be by works.
But getting back to the point of this article.
The gospel is the judgment. That is what the gospel is. It is telling you how God judges man. It’s only by grace through faith, that a man is made righteous. It’s so simple, so obvious, and so in your face, that, ironically, some people fail to see it.
What about when Paul talks about men receiving crowns and rewards? Isn’t that the “Bema seat?” Isn’t that a type of judgement?
No, this is also false.
I will show you how that the gospel is still the only judgment for saved people.
I am not saying these things to condemn Christians that believe in rewards. There are a lot of free grace Christians who are saved that believe in receiving rewards for their efforts made while on the Earth. And I do believe this, but the rewards are not “things” that are rewarded to us. Because God is the rewarder here, and God values souls. God can have anything that He wants. God can speak entire universes into existence. That is nothing to Him. He can reward us with any material need we could ever fathom.
Romans 8
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
But that is not what we are rewarded with, for our efforts.
The rewards that we receive for our efforts are souls. People that we win to God is our reward in Heaven. Because it is impossible for God to create free creatures that He forces to believe on Him. That is logically impossible, a contradiction in terms. So, it is a precious thing in God’s eyes when a person freely believes on Him. That is highly prized, and invaluable. That is our reward in Heaven, other people that believe on Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 Corinthians 9
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Whatever things we are able to accomplish in the body, should be geared toward persuading people to believe the gospel. Because saved people are the only “things” that will pass from this world into the next. Your tithes, good deeds, buildings, accolades, etc… Nothing will pass from this world into the next, except for your soul and the souls of anyone else that you brought to the truth.
1 Corinthians 3
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Notice in 1 Corinthians 3:15 Paul says that the man will be saved, yet so as by fire. Which means that man’s salvation (his soul) has to be the gold, silver, and precious stones mentioned earlier. Because he passes through the fire and is saved. It follows that we build upon the foundation of Christ by persuading people to believe the gospel. Once someone believes, we receive them as reward: they are the gold, silver, and precious jewels.
Paul also expounds upon this metaphor in Ephesians 2. Saying that the building is Christ, along with apostles, and believers:
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Therefore, we operate in an economy of souls. We redeem souls by offering the gospel: The Lord Jesus Christ, to those that are without. They then have opportunity to believe or reject the gospel.
Knowing this, we can understand that behavior modification is not the end goal of Christianity. Instead, we “behave” in order to convince the “gainsayers.” Behavior is only useful insofar as it removes any excuse that a naysayer may have to receiving your doctrine. If you are a model citizen, then people cannot say that you use free grace as an excuse to be profane. They won’t have that as ammunition against the gospel.
But even if you were grossly profane, degenerate, and ungodly, God says:
Romans 4
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
I once saw a prison documentary where a murderer gave the real gospel of free grace in a tv interview. But the interviewer didn’t believe him, because the prisoner is guilty of murder. She (the interviewer) tried very hard to dismiss his statement of faith. She was grasping at straws, trying to poke holes in his faith. She tried her very best to convince him that he deserves Hell.
And even though the prisoner’s doctrine was correct (and he is saved) he was useless to God in that instance. Because nobody’s going to believe anything that a murderer has to say. People routinely dismiss truths on the basis of the quality of the presenter\presentation, and not on the validity of the message itself. The interviewer’s blind, simpleton mind thinks the following:
“Surely, this murderer is going to Hell. And of course, I won’t go to Hell, because I have never killed anyone.”
A lot of people juxtapose themselves against “bad people” to assure themselves that they are “better than most.” And they hope that would be sufficient to get into Heaven (if there happens to be a Heaven, because most people do not even believe in God in the first place). We do not want people to go to Hell, because of this ad hominem fallacy. Therefore, Christians ought to try to keep face.
Paul speaks of these things in all his epistles. That we need to remove any stumblingblock that would get in the way of the truth. And we do this to edify the church, and to convince unbelievers to not go to Hell.
Romans 14
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Paul, in the above passage, says that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” And what does God desire from us? Faith. Not only our faith, but the faith of anyone who believes on Christ through our word\efforts (John 17:20). That is why Paul says: “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”
And no, it’s not like you will literally have to remember and recite your life’s work, to see if you’ve put a stumblingblock in anyone’s way. No. Instead, it will be made “manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” If you give people the free grace gospel, and if you’ve removed all stumblingblocks out of the way, then you will convert more people. And the fire will leave them there, as reward. Because those that are redeemed by the gospel are the gold, silver, precious stones that will stand in the day of judgement. “Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”
Anyone who believes in Christ is saved.
We do not act “good” so that we may later be judged by God; and hopefully be accepted by way of our superficial works or outward manifestations of faith, if you want to call it that. No. We “labor” so that other people would have faith in Christ, so that they too can be saved. It’s for their and the gospel’s sake.
1 Timothy 4
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 1
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Corinthians 5
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Hebrews 13
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
If the gospel is true, what greater judgment could there possibly be? And what greater honor could there be, than to be a door man for the house of God? What greater honor could there be than to deliver the immutable truth of God? The whole world is deceived; from the least of them, to the greatest. Yet you know the objective, universal, immutable truth. How epic.
What greater mission could there be than to save souls from an eternal pit of fire? Do you know the regret that those in Hell have right now, at this present time? They cannot change their state. They are there for eternity.
What could be more epic? More worthwhile? And what greater reward could there be than the thing that God values most?
God is smarter than you. He knows all things. And he values souls.
Therefore, regardless of your opinion or emotions, it is an objective fact that souls are the most valuable and desirable things in the universe. Therefore, they are your reward.
Jude 1
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Amen indeed, because God is the one who will present you faultless at the last day, with exceeding joy.
Because, the gospel itself, will make manifest the worth of all your efforts. “For the day shall declare it.” Faith in the gospel is the only thing we can do. And the gospel is only able to preserve the souls of men. And so, anyone you’ve converted to God will be your reward in Heaven.
Isaiah 60
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
That is how the gospel is the only judgment for believers.
The Devil is the Accuser, Not God
God is not tallying your carnal works against you. God is not here keeping track of your bodily works, to shame you. God is a forgetful God, when it comes to sins.
Romans 10
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Isaiah 45
17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
Isaiah 43
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Psalm 103
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Micah 7
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
In fact, Christ would have to be an accuser. He would have to accuse you of wrong doing, to judge the faults\sins\works of your hands.
But Christ said:
John 5
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
Moses represents the law. And the law is a curse (Galatians 3:10). The law can only accuse, it can only condemn. Christ will not accuse us, he justifies us. In fact, Christ is our advocate.
1 John 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
And don’t make me quote Hebrews. Jesus Christ is our intermediary. He is judged on our behalf and we are made righteous in him. We do nothing except believe on Him. “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36).
There is 1 who accuses you. That is the Devil. The Devil is the accuser of the brethren.
Revelation 12
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
You see, from the beginning, the Devil was a liar and abode not in the truth (John 8:44). And so, he deceived Eve into eating from that tree of the “knowledge of good and evil,” which is the law. He made Eve eat from the law and said “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:6). Which is a lie. Because Satan is a liar and cannot speak truth. Because “there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”(John 8:44). It is literally impossible for the devil and his demons to speak truth, because there is no truth in them.
Genesis 3
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We can all agree that the law is good. It is perfect. It sounds right, it looks right, it is right. We ought to do well by the law… right?
Wrong! That is where the power of the deception lies.
Satan wants you to eat from the law. Eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; be moral, he says. And Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise. And so, she was fooled.
Likewise, we are being deceived even now into thinking that we ought to “keep the law.” Which is impossible to do. Man cannot so much as touch the law, or else he is condemned. Just as it is written in Exodus and in Hebrews, as it relates to Moses’ getting of the law from mount Sinai. If so much as a beast touch the mount (the law) he is to be killed.
Hebrews 12
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Jesus Christ is the King of Heaven, mount Zion, as the writer of Hebrews says (Hebrews 12:22). We have not come to the mount that might be touched (Sinai, the law). Because we “are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
But Satan wants you to be under the law. Why? Because the law is the “ministration of death, written and engraven in stones” (2 Corinthians 3:7). “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). And Satan is the accuser. He is the one who would like to accuse you to God “day and night,” as it says in Revelation. Satan wants to condemn you with the law, the ministration of death. Because he is a “murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth” (John 8:44).
Do not get it twisted. Jesus Christ justifies you. Satan wants to condemn you.
The Holy Spirit is Christ. And Christ said that his words are spirit and they are life (John 6:63).
John 16
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of sin, because they believe not on me. Christ is only after faith. He is not “convicting you” of sin(s), plural. He is not accusing you. He is convicting you of truth, because he is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). And it would be a lie and untrue, that you are guilty of any sins; especially once you are “crucified with Christ” and if that Christ has “redeemed us from all sins,” “not imputing their trespasses unto” you.
A lot of Christians say that God is doing that, but He is not. That is the Devil.
You see, Satan understands how blinding the law can be. He wants to keep you from believing in the once for all Grace of Jesus Christ. He does this by making you sin. And these sins will negatively impact your conscience. Satan wants you to feel unworthy. Satan wants you to feel that God will not redeem you. And he plays with your emotions and your circumstances to make you doubt the gospel. He even twists scripture, to make you fear.
But “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). The gospel is true, regardless of your conscience. Satan tried the same scripture twisting with Christ in the desert. But Christ is the word, you can’t confuse Christ. Only someone who doesn’t know God would try. But that’s the Devil, he doesn’t have truth, nor does he have any knowledge or wisdom. And so, he embarks on a fool’s errand, fighting against The Almighty.
But forget all that. Jesus Christ has redeemed us all. Believe truth, refuse the lie of the Devil.
That is how you overcome the world. That is how you overcome when you are judged.
Romans 3
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Isaiah 43
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
That is why God tells us what it means to overcome:
1 John 5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
So, when a devil tells you that you need to “overcome” by doing good works. Tell them to go to Hell. Because no man will ever be righteous by the deeds of the law. Satan said that “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” and this is a lie. You get the opposite result. What you will realize is that we are not gods. It is knowledge that we are not good, like God is good. Jesus said, “there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).
That is why it is called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The only way to overcome is by faith in the mercy of God. And God said declare thou that thou “mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Declare the gospel and you will overcome.
That is why the gospel itself is the judgment, and nothing else.
What about the passage in Revelation, about the great white throne judgement?
Before we get into this, I want to preface this by saying that Revelation is a highly abstract book with a ton of symbology. It is not wise to take unclear passages from Revelation and use them to contradict clear passages in other parts of scripture. Note how sparse and few my references are from the book of Revelation, in writing all these things. That is because the book of Revelation is not easy to understand. I am not going to use hard to understand passages in Revelation to undo the clear message of Grace that is made known everywhere else.
With that said, the imagery of the great white throne judgment in Revelation is about how unbelievers will be judged. That much is clear.
Revelation 20
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
They are judged by their works, because their names are not in the book of life. Your name is only written in Heaven once you believe the gospel. And because their works are never perfect, they will be cast into Hell.
Note how it is the dead that are brought forth from: Hell, death, and the sea. Not a single soul from Heaven is brought down to be judged. Because we “are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Once a believer “dies,” they are present in Heaven. I put “dies” in air-quotes, because God never calls a believer “dead.” Just like the story of Lazarus:
John 11
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
1 Thessalonians 4
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The reason why believers are not called “dead,” is because once we have eternal life, we can never die. When this body dies, we “sleep in the lord;” which means to be dead to this flesh, but alive forever more in Heaven.
This is because Christ said the following:
John 11
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
That is why the “dead” that are judged in Revelation 20 are only unbelievers. And the only reason why God opens the books to judge their works, is to prove to these unbelievers that their works are not good works.
What is going to happen after death is that these unbelievers are going to suddenly realize their desperate need for salvation. But it’s too late. They are going to immediately appreciate the gravity of their condition. They will see the bottomless pit, the abyss, and they will be filled with utter terror.
“But I lived good on the Earth,” they think.
“How could God cast me into Hell?”
They won’t understand.
They will want their day in court, and God is good enough to give them their day in court. The books shall be opened.
And because Hell is so intolerable, so excruciating, so insufferable, so agonizing, and the permanence of it is so terrorizing, that man is going to want God to review his life; to see if there is any way they could be admitted to Heaven. If for nothing else than to delay the inevitable.
Matthew 7
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They will be cast into Hell, because after reviewing the books, it shall be revealed that they never believed in Christ. And as a “second witness,” “another book was opened, which is the book of life” (Deuteronomy 19:15, Revelation 20:12). And it shall be revealed, that their names are not written in the book of life.
Why? Because Christ never knew them. Why? Because they never did the will of the father which is in Heaven.
John 6
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
They never believed “that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:” and that Christ “will raise him up at the last day.”
That is how and why the gospel is the judgment.
That is why Christ said:
John 12
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
The gospel is the only judgement. The “same shall judge him in the last day.” Christ did not come to judge men’s works, to condemn men on the basis of their works. Instead, men are condemned for not believing the gospel.
1 John 4
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.