This weekend, we launched a brand-new series called “The Other Side,” where we are diving into Scripture to discover what God's Word teaches us about the big questions we have about eternity, such as heaven, hell, judgment, and more. Today, we're discussing judgment. While the word "judgment" may sound intimidating, Scripture teaches us that followers of Christ can have peace and confidence when they stand before God. At the same time, Scripture encourages followers of Christ to make the most of their time on earth, because one day we will give an account for how we lived our lives and be rewarded accordingly.
What comes to mind when you think of the word “judgment”?
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1. Read 1st Corinthians 3:10-15. This passage of Scripture describes the judgment that followers of Christ will face one day. What will Christ followers be judged on based on this passage of Scripture?
1st Corinthians 3:10-15
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
2. Compare the two different types of outcomes that will occur for followers of Christ during this judgment.
3. Read Revelation 20:11-15. What is the punishment during the judgment for those who have not placed their faith in Christ? Why?
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
4. Read Romans 8:1-4. What hope does this passage of Scripture bring for “those who belong to Christ Jesus?”
Romans 8:1-4
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
1. How does the Scripture that we studied today motivate you as you think about how you spend your time?
2. When you think about making the most of your time so that you honor Christ with your time and make Him known to others, what is one change you can implement?
3. How is it going when it comes to sharing Christ with those around you so that they can experience eternal life one day?
One of the most important things we can do with our time on this earth is share our faith with those who do not have a relationship with Christ. You have shared with your group how it si going when it comes to sharing your faith. Now think about one step you can take this week to grow when it comes to sharing your faith with the people around you who are far from christ..
As we consider judgment and what will happen after we take our last breath, both for believers and unbelievers, there are at least three attributes of God that must be discussed: God's justice, mercy, and love. It is because of God's justice that we will give an account to God for the way we lived our lives. It is because of God's mercy and love that He offers hope and eternal life, so that we can stand before Him without being condemned.
In our Bible study today, we have discovered that we will all one day give an account for the way we lived our lives. Believers will give an account for how they honored God with their lives and be rewarded (or not rewarded) accordingly. This is because God is just. The Oxford Dictionary defines justice as “the quality of being fair and reasonable.” Being just means giving someone what they rightly deserve, for better or worse. Take a few minutes to read about God’s justice now.
1. Read Romans 2:5-11.
Romans 2:5-11
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
2. What does this passage of Scripture teach us about God’s justice?
3. How will God, in His justice, respond to those who place their faith in Him and those who do not, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How does understanding God's justice shed light on the future judgment that every person will face one day?
Throughout Scripture, we read about God's mercy. The Oxford Dictionary defines mercy as "compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." You see, we have discovered that God is just. He is fair and judges based on what we deserve, for better or worse. There is more to the story, however. You see, God is also merciful. In the midst of our sin and rebellion, He offers forgiveness instead of eternal punishment and a life separated from Him if we place our faith in Christ. Read about God’s mercy in Ephesians 2 and discuss it with your group.
1. Read Ephesians 2:1-5.
Ephesians 2:1-5
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
2. What does this passage of Scripture teach us about God’s mercy?
3. Compare our lives before experiencing God’s mercy and our lives after.
4. How does understanding God's mercy shed light on the future judgment that every follower of Christ will face?
Of course, we cannot conclude our conversation about the attributes of God without discussing His love. You see, everything He does is rooted in His great love for all people. It's the reason He offers hope in the midst of our sin, which has left us helpless and facing His wrath and separation from Him, without the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ.
1. Read 1st John 4:7-10.
1st John 4:7-10
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
2. How is God’s love greater and more significant than any other love that can be experienced?
3. How are we to respond to God’s love, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How does understanding God’s love shed light into future judgement that every follower of Christ will face?
As His followers on earth, we are His representatives on this earth. We get to point others to Him. This includes displaying His justice, mercy, and love. Pick one of these attributes to focus on this week. Share with your group which attribute you would like to grow in. Then, conclude your time by praying together, asking God to help you all as you seek to grow in His justice, mercy, and love.
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