What you believe about

“… Christ … has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation [preserved from harmful judgment] to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:26–28)

Judgment = a legal determination of rights, rewards & punishments.

I. Everyone is Judged for Their Eternal

“… I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it … 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 … and each person was judged according to what he had done … The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11–15)

II. Believers Are Judged for Their Eternal

A. Rewards Motivate Believers to

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him … For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him … whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:8–10)

B. Rewards Motivate Believers to

“… no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:11–15)