Since ALL are condemned unto eternal death
ALREADY (John 3:18)...
We all are, in our natural state, before we are born again of the Spirit. This is the result of Adam's fall in Genesis 3. And this is
a judgment placed on all creation (Romans 5:12),
as opposed to a blessing, but
one we are freed from when we are born again. From that point on there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), and we are blessed to share in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5). The final Judgement will take place when Christ returns, and all will be judged according to what they have done (Romans 2:6-8):
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
it stands to reason that there is only ONE judgment to deliver us unto Eternal Life, and that is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
No, that's a blessing, in this life... God's grace, in which He has declared us righteous in Christ, imputed Christ's righteousness to us, by His grace. And this ensures that we will stand in the final Judgment, when Jesus returns at the end of the age. On Jesus's right, as opposed to His left, in His graphic portrayal of the final Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. It will happen...
Therefore, if you have ALREADY appeared before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10)
Let's back up just a bit, Earburner. Here's that passage in 1 Corinthians 5... verses through 10, from the English Standard version. Paul writes:
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
How do you even possibly read that bolded part as past tense, as Paul even
suggesting that's something that's already happened for us? He neither said nor intimated any such thing... neither here, nor in Romans 2:5-8 (cited above), nor anywhere... nor
anyone... else. Precisely the opposite. Maybe you think he was wrong...? <
smile>
for the Gift of God's deliverance of yourself from eternal death, for what other need is there of any further judgment?
There's been no judgment as yet.
Personally, I cannot think of any REWARD that is greater than or is equal to that of the Gift of Eternal Life.
Absolutely. We have the guarantee of it now. And we will have it in full later, in the age to come, eternity. But we will all be judged according to what we have done. Those in
"the congregation of the righteous" (Psalm 1), those
on Jesus's right, the sheep (Matthew 25:33a) will
stand in the Judgment (Psalm 1). Those
on His left, the goats (Matthew 25:33:b)
"will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous..." (Psalm 1), and as a result of the final Judgment will... depart... will
go away into eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46)... <shudder>
Grace and peace to you.
