(tm) The Father judges no one.
Back to The First and Second Resurrection
Only Christ judges. All are standing in the Presence of almighty God but only Christ (and His saints) performs the work of judging.
In the second resurrection from the dead, the dead are judged "according to their works" (Revelation 20:12). We noticed the same idea in II Corinthians 5:10: "according to that he hath done." Belief in Christ is not emphasized in either instance.
It is clear in the four Gospel accounts and also in the Epistles that each human being will be judged and rewarded according to his or her conduct. We shall reap what we sow. This fact is established beyond doubt in the New Testament.
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (Romans 2:6)
. . . according to that he hath done, . . . . (II Corinthians 5:10)
. . . according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)
Is Romans 2:6 speaking of Christians, of non-Christians, or of both? Let us examine the text that follows.
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7)
Is Paul referring to Christians, to Jews, to persons who never have heard of Christ, or to all human beings?
With the exception of those who have been confronted with Christ and have rejected Him, who already are condemned, who have judged themselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we believe Romans 2:7 is referring to all human beings.
In his epistles, Paul taught that men cannot be saved by works. When speaking of works Paul was not referring to godly behavior, he was reacting to the pressure being brought by those who were putting the works of the Law of Moses on a level with the cross. Paul showed that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law to everyone who believes.
We Gentiles, not being under the same pressure, interpret the term works to mean godly behavior. We have come to the conclusion that the New Testament has little or nothing to do with godly behavior. One does not have to read much of the New Testament to discover that such is not the case.
It is true that we cannot choose to practice righteousness in place of receiving Christ; for God saves every man by His mercy alone. But to infer from this that receiving Christ is an alternative to righteous conduct is a truly destructive conclusion. It has borne a universe of evil fruit.
Also, by holding to the eternal truth that there is salvation in no name other than that of Christ, some have assumed that all persons who have never heard of Christ are doomed to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. In so concluding, two scriptural facts are neglected: (1) it is a principle of Kingdom law that each individual is judged according to the light he has been given (John 15:22-24; Romans 2:14-16; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7-9; Luke 12:47,48); and (2) in at least one instance the Gospel was preached to people already deceased (I Peter 4:6).
It is true that God saves every person on the basis of mercy alone, and also that there is no name other than Christ whereby we can be saved. However, to judge from these two foundational truths that people will not receive the due rewards of their conduct on earth, and that every individual who has never heard of Christ will be assigned to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire, including infants, appears to contradict the testimony of the Scriptures as well as being contrary to our sense of righteousness and justice.
Since Revelation 20:12 specifies that people are judged "according to their works," and we know that no man can be saved "by works," some scholars believe that all who are raised in the second resurrection must therefore be lost. This conclusion is a syllogism. It is not drawn from a clear statement of the Scriptures.
The true doctrine of grace, the correct explanation of how Divine grace leads to salvation, must take into account all that has been stated by the Apostles of the Lamb. Those who are being saved are at many levels of transformation. The lost are those who are without the touch of God upon them.
Paul states that God will judge "every" man according to his deeds. Paul then goes on to say (Romans 2:7) that those who persevere in "well doing" are seeking for glory and honor and immortality and they will receive eternal life from the Lord.
The important question here is, who will receive eternal life by perseverance in doing good?
The answer is, "every man" (Romans 2:6—compare Romans 6:22).
Does this mean that an individual can live without sinning and thereby earn salvation apart from God’s mercy? Not at all! "For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Does this mean that any person, such as a Jew, can hear the Gospel of Christ and then choose to attempt to live according to his personal beliefs in the hope of pleasing God apart from the cross? Not at all! "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).
Well then, what does Romans 2:6-10 mean? It means what it says: God will reward every man according to his deeds. This is what it states; this is what it means.
If we apply Romans 2:7 to Christians we are claiming Christians obtain eternal life on the basis of "patient continuance in well doing." We are stating that eternal life has been rendered to them on the basis of their deeds. This is scriptural (Galatians 6:8, for example).
If we apply Romans 2:7 to those who never have heard the Gospel we are stating they can obtain eternal life on the basis of "patient continuance in well doing." This seems to be verified in Matthew 25:46, where the "sheep nations," solely on the basis of how they treated Christ’s "brothers," are ushered into "life eternal."
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:35)
It remains true that if Christ is presented to any human being, Jew or Gentile, and that individual rejects Christ after hearing Him, he has brought down the wrath of God upon himself (John 3:18; John 3:36; Mark 16:16).