READING • MATTHEW 25
Why is judgement necessary?
God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and just. Scripture teaches that human choices matter, and that Christ will call responsible men and women to account before granting the gift of everlasting life.
God is holy and must be obeyed
When David first tried to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, the ark was placed on a new cart. At the threshing floor, the oxen shook it and Uzzah put out his hand and took hold of the ark.
“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
2 Samuel 6:7 • King James Version
The original lesson said that the ark had to be carried by priests. More precisely, Numbers 4:15 says that the sons of Kohath were to carry the holy things after the priests had covered them, and that they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. David later recognised that the Levites were to carry the ark (1 Chronicles 15:2, 13-15).
The lesson for us
God is not casual about holiness. Uzzah’s death is a solemn reminder that those who know God’s commands are called to respect and obey them rather than deciding for themselves that another way is good enough.
God’s invitation must not be despised
Jesus told a parable about a king who prepared a marriage feast for his son (Matthew 22:1-14). Some who were invited refused to come because they preferred their own affairs. The parable warns us not to treat God’s gracious invitation as unimportant.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Galatians 6:7 • King James Version
God offers life through the Lord Jesus Christ. That offer is an act of grace, not something we earn. Yet grace does not make our response unimportant. Faith shows itself in repentance, obedience and a changed way of life.
Resurrection and judgement
The previous lesson considered the resurrection. Scripture also teaches that resurrection is followed by judgement. The gift of immortality is not given automatically simply because someone has been raised.
“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
Romans 14:10 • King James Version
A time of account
Paul writes to believers about a future appearance before Christ. His words show that disciples are responsible for the way they use the life God has given them.
“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.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 • King James Version
The Bible does not teach that good works earn salvation. Salvation is by God’s grace. But the judgement reveals whether our professed faith has been real and whether we have tried to live as servants of Christ.
“Ye are not your own”
The New Testament often uses the language of a master and servant to describe discipleship. A servant belongs to his master’s service. In the same way, those who belong to Christ are not free to make self-pleasing the purpose of life.
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 • King James Version
Christ gave himself for us. Therefore discipleship brings responsibility: our time, conduct, words and choices should increasingly show that we belong to him.
The parable of the talents
Matthew 25:14-30 describes servants entrusted with their master’s goods while he is away. When the master returns, each servant gives account of what he has done. The point is not that salvation can be purchased by achievement, but that faithful servants use what has been entrusted to them.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:21 • King James Version
Faith is meant to be lived
What we do cannot place God in our debt. Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches that living faith produces action. The judgement makes clear whether our allegiance to Christ was merely spoken or genuinely lived.
Jesus is the appointed judge
The Father has entrusted judgement to His Son. Jesus will judge with perfect knowledge and righteousness, not with the limitations that affect human courts.
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”
John 5:22 • King James Version
“He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor.”
Isaiah 11:3-4 • King James Version
Who is responsible to judgement?
The original lesson teaches the Christadelphian understanding that responsibility to resurrection and judgement is connected with knowledge of God’s revealed will. Scripture certainly teaches that greater knowledge brings greater responsibility, while the final decision belongs to Christ.
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.”
Hebrews 10:26-27 • King James Version
Jesus likewise taught that knowing a master’s will increases responsibility (Luke 12:47-48). We should therefore be very careful about making ourselves the judges of who is or is not accountable. Christ knows perfectly what each person has known, understood and chosen.
A Christadelphian understanding
Christadelphians understand that people who have never come to responsible knowledge of God’s revealed purpose are not raised merely to be condemned for ignorance. Psalm 49:20 is one passage traditionally considered in this connection. The precise judgement of every individual belongs to the Lord Jesus.
Those who knowingly turn away
Knowledge brings privilege, but it also brings responsibility. The New Testament gives serious warnings to people who have known the Gospel and then deliberately reject it.
“Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:33 • King James Version
These warnings are not intended to make a sincere disciple despair whenever he fails. God provides forgiveness for those who repent. They warn us against knowingly and persistently rejecting the truth we have received.
Joy for those who are accepted
The judgement is not only a warning. For the faithful it is the doorway to the fulfilment of God’s promises. Jesus describes the accepted as inheriting the Kingdom prepared for them.
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34 • King James Version
The Bible also uses the picture of a joyful marriage feast:
“Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Revelation 19:9 • King James Version
Jesus promised his apostles a place of service in that Kingdom:
“And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Luke 22:29-30 • King James Version
What will happen to those who are rejected?
The Bible presents rejection as a real and solemn loss. Those rejected will understand what they have missed. Jesus described the grief of seeing faithful men and women in the Kingdom while being excluded from it.
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”
Luke 13:28 • King James Version
The final end of the rejected is not everlasting conscious torment. As the previous lessons have shown, Scripture speaks of death and destruction. Paul writes of those who refuse the Gospel:
“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9 • King James Version
The outcome of judgement
ACCEPTED BY CHRIST
REJECTED BY CHRIST
Hear his welcome
Recognise the loss of the Kingdom
Receive immortality
Do not receive everlasting life
Enter the Kingdom
Are excluded from the Kingdom
Serve with Christ
Finally perish in destruction
Judgement does not cancel grace
No disciple can stand before Christ claiming to have earned eternal life. The accepted are saved by God’s grace through Christ. Their lives, however, show the reality of the faith, repentance and allegiance they professed.
Fear—or confidence?
The thought of judgement should make us examine ourselves, but Scripture does not tell faithful disciples to live in constant terror. Our confidence is not in our own perfection; it is in God’s love, His forgiveness and the saving work of His Son.
“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?”
Romans 8:32 • King James Version
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. ... There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”
1 John 4:17-18 • King James Version
A healthy fear of God teaches reverence and obedience. As love and trust grow, that fear is not panic but a deep respect for the One who has offered us life.
How should judgement affect us now?
The purpose of this teaching is practical. If we know that Christ will call us to account, we should use the present life to grow in faith, repent when we fail, forgive others, serve willingly and prepare for his return.
Looking forward to the Judgement Seat
Judgement is a serious part of the Gospel, but it belongs within the larger message of God’s grace. The Judge is the same Lord Jesus who gave his life for us, who understands human weakness, and through whom forgiveness is offered.
The right response is neither careless confidence nor hopeless fear. We are called to trust God, follow Christ, repent when we fail, and live in the hope of hearing his words of welcome when he returns.
BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS
AT HIS COMING
AFTER JUDGEMENT
Hear and believe the Gospel
The dead are raised and the living gathered
The accepted receive immortality
Repent and be baptized
Responsible people appear before Christ
They enter and serve in the Kingdom
Grow in faith and obedience
Christ judges righteously
The rejected do not receive eternal life
Rely on God’s grace
Each gives account
God’s righteous purpose goes forward
SUMMARY
1
There will be a judgement.
The New Testament teaches that responsible men and women will appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
2
Jesus is the judge.
The Father has committed judgement to His Son, who will judge with perfect righteousness.
3
Knowledge brings responsibility.
Those who know God’s revealed will are accountable for how they respond to it.
4
Grace and judgement belong together.
Eternal life cannot be earned, but genuine faith is shown by repentance, obedience and a changed life.
5
The accepted receive everlasting life.
Christ welcomes the faithful into the Kingdom and gives them immortality.
6
The rejected lose the Kingdom.
Scripture describes grief, exclusion and ultimately destruction rather than everlasting conscious torment.
7
We can face judgement with hope.
Our confidence is in God’s love and mercy through Christ, not in our own perfection.
Chapter to read
2 Corinthians 5
LEARN BY HEART • 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.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 • King James Version
Christadelphian Bible Mission • Box CBM, 404 Shaftmoor Lane, Birmingham B28 8SZ, England
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