Justification and Judgment

We easily fall for false dichotomies—chocolate or vanilla, soup or salad, a book or a movie. But two things can be true at the same time. According to scientists, light is both particles and waves.

When interpreting the Bible we must watch out for these either-or traps. Consider justification and judgment. On one hand, the Bible affirms that we are justified by grace, by faith, and by Christ’s death. This means we are put on right terms with God without a consideration of our deeds.

Justification

• all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:24)
• For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Rom 3:28)
• Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1)
• Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Rom 5:9)
• And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11)
• We . . . know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal 2:16)
• So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. (Gal 3:24)
• so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7)

Judgment

On the other hand, what we do matters. In fact, one of the clearest things in Scripture is that we will be judged according to what we have done.

• One thing God has spoken,
  two things I have heard:
  “Power belongs to you, God,
       and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
  and, “You reward everyone
     according to what they have done.” (Psalm 62:11-12)

• If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
  does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
  Does not he who guards your life know it?
  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? (Prov 24:12)

• For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matt 16:27)

• God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. (Rom 2:6-11)

• You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Rom 14:10-12)

• For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)

• Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. (Rev 20:11-13)

• “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Rev 22:12-13)

Additionally, the idea that we will be judged based on our works is not merely expressed through direct statements; it is emphasized through the lives of biblical characters, beginning with Adam, Eve, and Cain and continuing for millennia. In this talk of judgment, however, don’t miss the fact that God showed care for the first three sinners even after pronouncing judgment on them. He made clothes for Adam and Eve and provided protection for Cain.

Justification and Judgment

In sum, both justification and judgment are true, but some people have a hard time living with both so they create theological “solutions” to relieve the tension. For example, they may claim that those who are justified won’t be judged by their works. This idea is easily refuted. Just read the verses above and note the words “each one,” “each of us,” “each person,” “everyone.” Also, notice that Paul’s statements are written to believers. If the biblical authors are right about this, no one will be excluded from final judgment. Our lives—all of our actions—will be laid bare before our holy Judge. And yet we don’t need to be afraid because “perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn 4:18).