No Condemnation for They Who Believe in Him

What will be the nature of the judgement administered to Christians by Christ upon His judgement seat? First of all we must state clearly and emphatically that this judgement of Christians will not be a judgement of condemnation. This vitally important fact, that the true believer in Christ is cleared from all fear of final condemnation, is affirmed in various passages of the New Testament. Jesus says:

“He who believes in Him [Christ] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

Here there is a clear and sharp distinction. The true believer in Christ is not condemned; the unbeliever is condemned already on the ground of his unbelief.

Further on in John’s Gospel, Christ gives the same assurance to each sincere believer.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.” (5:24)

Here Christ gives a definite, threefold assurance to every believer who accepts in faith His word through the gospel. Such a believer already has everlasting life; he has already passed from spiritual death into eternal life; he will never come into condemnation. Paul repeats the same assurance of freedom from condemnation.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1)

All these passages make it plain that true believers in Christ will never have to face a judgement of which the outcome will be final condemnation.