One of the verses most commonly quoted by grace people is 2 Cor 5:10, in which Paul says that all believers must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. There, each believer will either be rewarded for good works or have those rewards withheld because of bad works.
It is understandable that this verse is a favorite of Free Grace people. It shows that our works have nothing to do with receiving eternal life. Instead, our works determine our rewards in the kingdom. This verse is a powerful motivation to live a godly life.
I have often quoted this verse. However, I recently noticed something about it that I had never noticed before. The Greek word for the verb appear is in the passive voice (for the grammarians reading this blog, it is a passive infinitive).
When we read that we must appear before Christ at His judgment seat, most of us understand this as meaning that we will have to stand before Him. We have an appointment with Him, and we can’t get out of it. This is the way the NKJV translates it.
However, the passive voice of this verb has a different meaning. I looked it up in a few Greek lexicons (dictionaries). The passive voice of this verb means that something is revealed or recognized. One lexicon says it means that something has a light is shined on it.
It is not simply that the believer has an appointment he must keep. It is not that he just has to show up and can’t get out of it.
It will be a time when we are revealed. What have we done with the life He gave us to live for Him?
In Revelation 1, John sees a vision of the Lord and describes what he sees. One of the Lord’s characteristics is that His eyes are like a flame of fire. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is presented as the Judge who will judge every man and woman. All judgment has been given to Him (John 5:22).
That includes judging the works of all believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. His eyes will reveal all.
It makes sense for Paul to use this verb in 2 Cor 5:10. How can we be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ if things are not revealed? Our good works will be revealed. Our bad works will be revealed. Christ’s flaming eyes will bring all to light.
Maybe we should be a little more wooden when we translate this verse: “We must all be revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.”
Continuing with the analogy of having to keep an appointment, the way we usually quote this verse—that we must appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ—might lead one to conclude that he simply has to show up for the appointment. But the passive— “…we must be revealed”—would be used in the case of a student who not only has an appointment to see his professor, but will also have to go through an oral exam when he gets there. His knowledge will be revealed. That exam will determine the grade he receives for the course.
That is some strong motivation for us! The Lord must reveal our thoughts, actions, and motives on that day if He is a perfectly righteous Judge. That has to be the case. May we ask Him to make us the kind of people who bring glory to Him when that revelation takes place.
