In a nutshell first, I don't believe the Bible allows for any 'escape' from God's righteous judgment, where He judges all people by our work. The Bible does say that judgment begins with us His people before the unbelievers. I believe that is before Jesus Christ's seat at His second coming. He do as He promised and separate the wheat from the tares by judgment of our works.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2Co 5:9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
There are several points, that can be made by an objective reading:
1. There is nothing exclusive
to ministry in the words themselves. The judgment seat of Christ is only exclusive
to those confessing God by Jesus Christ.
2. What we labor for is for
us to be accepted of Him, not just our ministry.
3. The judgment is plainly of
the things we do, whether good or bad. Once again, there is nothing about those things being exclusive to ministry alone.
4. And finally, it's the
terror of the Lord we are warned of at His judgment seat, not just a deficiency of rewards.
Heb 10:29For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
The terror and vengeance the Lord's judgment, is reserved as a recompense of evil works. And it is specifically applied to
His people.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
1 Peter {1:15} But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {1:16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. {1:17} And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:
The warning once again is to
we who name Christ, where we will also be judged by our work, without respect of persons. I.e. no person will be exempted from the righteous Lord's judgment according to every man's work.
Rom 2:3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
The warning can not be made clearer to the believers professing faith in Jesus Christ: If we are doing the same evil deeds of any man, then we are judged the same as any man doing the same evil.
The fear of the Lord is that He is not a respecter of persons, and He does judge all people equally
by works. There is no 'escape clause' by faith alone.
Eze 9:6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
2 Peter{4:17} For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? {4:18} And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Finally, we see that the judgment of man by his works,
begins with God's people. And that judgment is based upon
obedience to the gospel, not to ministry alone. Also, if the judgment that begins with us at Christ's seat is only for ministry, then so is continues on with the rest of the world. I.e. either no man is judged by works unto life or death, and only by ministry, or all men are only judged by works beginning
at the Lord's house.
Instead, what the Scriptures shows is that above all people, we that name His name are held
more accountable for our deeds, than the unbeliever.
Lam 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
The equality of God's justice, is that all are judged by works without respect of persons. If any man is judged guilty by evil works, then all men are judged guilty by the same works. If any person is excluded from judgment of works, to be tried by ministry alone, then so are all.
People can argue for one or the other, but not both at the same time. The reason being that the the Lord Jesus Christ the righteous, is not an unjust judge that plays favorites with His own house, while condemning only strangers that do the same things.
The judgment seat of Christ is the Lord's judgment His own people first, where He keeps His promise to separate by works the wheat from the tares.
Mat 13:28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mat 24:45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/mat/24/48/s_953048
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
He is speaking of His second coming, and so that is when He judges His people from His seat. Only the wheat judged as righteous, will then receive few or many rewards for ministry and edification to the churches of God.
