2 Corinthians 5:10 And The Coming Judgment - Part 2
In Part One of 2 Corinthians 5:10 And The Coming Judgment, we examined how Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews were all established in what the Jewish Scriptures taught about the coming judgment, where the unrighteous will be removed from the earth and the righteous will remain to live on the new earth.
With this understanding of judgment, let’s now examine 2 Corinthians 5:10, which says,
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
In our continued study of 2 Corinthians 5:10, let’s start with the end in mind - Revelation 21-22.
In Revelation 21-22, we learn God will create a new heaven and earth where righteousness, joy, and peace dwell. There will be no more sorrow, mourning, crying, tears, difficulty, pain, hurt, or heartache on the new earth, which is what we all long for.
Currently, our headlines are filled with tragedy and pain. Our lives are filled with sorrow and tears. Our bodies are filled with pain and death. We long for our new bodies and the new earth.
However, only righteous people can live on the new righteous earth. The sinners, the ungodly, and the unrighteous will be removed from the earth, leaving only the righteous to live on the new earth. If any unrighteous person lives on the righteous new earth, the earth then becomes unrighteous, and the one unrighteous person will eventually cause hurt and pain on the righteous earth, making the new earth unrighteous.
There will come a day when God will create the new earth (not in physical substance, but in how things are done on the earth...the old order of things will pass away). The capitol city of the new earth will be the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2; 22:1-5; Hebrews 12:22-24; Galatians 4:26) that descends out of heaven to the new earth. It is the city of the new testament of grace and the capital city of the new earth. Grace will flow from the new Jerusalem all over the world (Ephesians 2:7).
Prior to the establishment of the new earth, there will be the judgment. At this judgment, Jesus will remove the unrighteous from the earth when the perish in judgment. Only the righteous will remain to experience eternal life on the new earth. The unrighteous will perish (be consumed) in judgment as they are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 13:42, 49-50; Hebrews 10:27; 12:28-29).
The writings in the Bible are very clear there will be a judgment day of all people that will be done by Jesus. This judgment will include the righteous and unrighteous (ungodly, sinner, the wicked - see Part One). This judgment will include both internal thoughts and desires as well as external deeds (Romans 2:16) and it is based upon the Ten Commandments and the Two Great Commandments (Romans 3:9-20), which everyone has violated thus making everyone unrighteous. The righteous (believers in Jesus who are declared righteous) will remain in the kingdom of God and live on the new earth. The unrighteous will perish in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 13:42, 49-50; Hebrews 10:27; 12:28-29).
Paul, an expert in Jewish theology and who was educated by the ascended Jesus, makes it very clear in Romans 2 that those who have done good will be given eternal life by God and those who have done evil will undergo the wrath of God (removal from the earth in judgment).
Paul also makes it very clear in Romans that there are none who do good…all are sinners, all are unrighteous, all have broken the law; therefore, all are under the judgment to come and will perish in God’s wrath or judgment (Romans 2:12; 3:9-20; 23), unless they place their faith in Jesus.
Paul makes it very clear that God has made a way for people to be righteous and have eternal life. This way is through Jesus, who took our sinfulness upon himself at the cross and died our death (Romans 5;8) and now offers us his righteousness as a gift that is received by faith in Jesus [Romans 3:21-14], apart from the works of the law (since the law convicts all people of sin and sentences all people to death).
Because of God’s great love for us (John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:1-9), Jesus died for us, taking upon himself our sin and our death (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). Through faith in Jesus, we stand before God righteous, innocent of all sins because Jesus took the guilty charge for our sins, and at peace with God (Romans 5:1-2). As a result, the righteous ones will not experience judgment for our sins but will experience eternal life in the kingdom of Jesus and ultimately on the new earth.
Sadly, those who reject Jesus, remain in their sinful, unrighteous state and, therefore, will be removed from the kingdom of Jesus and will not experience eternal life or enter the new earth (see Matthew 13:40-50). Unfortunately, they will be cast into the lake of fire, where they will perish or be consumed (Revelation 20:11-15 - the judgment of God is a consuming fire; see Hebrews 10:27 and 12:28-29.)
It is not God’s heart for anyone to experience the judgment to come and be thrown into the lake of fire. His heart is for all to repent by responding to his love and acknowledging their sinful, unrighteous state and then turn to him in belief for salvation, where the are given the very righteousness of Jesus that is needed for salvation from judgment and entrance into eternal life on the new earth (2 Peter 3).
With this understanding of judgment that Paul was established in, we can now examine more thoroughly 2 Corinthians 5:10. Let’s start with Paul’s missionary journey into Corinth.
Paul’s ministry in Corinth began in Acts 18 where he first met Aquila and Pricilla, who eventually became Paul’s co-workers in sharing the new testament of grace (Romans 16:3) and who helped Apollos understand more fully the gospel of grace (Acts 18:18-27). Apollos eventually went to Corinth to build upon the foundation of grace that Paul established in Corinth and to water the seeds of grace that Paul planted in Corinth (Acts 18:27-19:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9).
Back to Aquila and Pricilla…
The reason Aquila and Pricilla were in Corinth was because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Many Jews probably relocated to Corinth from Rome, two of which were Aquila and Pricilla (Acts 18:2). These Jewish people relocating to Corinth would have found a local synagogue to attend. This gave Paul the opportunity to explain to a large amount of Jewish people, as well as Gentiles who attended the synagogue, that Jesus is the Christ the Jewish Scriptures foretold would come in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7) to establish the new testament of grace, which Jeremiah foretold (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
This is important background information to understand if we are to properly interpret 2 Corinthians 3:1-6:2, and specifically 2 Corinthians 5:10.
The letter Paul wrote, 2 Corinthians, was to the church of God in Corinth, meaning the congregation or assembly in Corinth. Paul understood this church, as do all churches or congregations, contained both believers and unbelievers. He also knew this letter would be read to the assembly, or the contents of the letter would be communicated to the assembly, consisting of believers and unbelievers.
Many unbelievers would have consisted of Jewish people who were still relating to God through the Old Testament of law, depending upon their adherence to the law for salvation. Additionally, the assembly contained believers who had one foot in the old testament of law and another foot in the new testament of grace. This sounds like many churches or congregations today.
It seems from what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6:2, he is addressing the Jewish unbelievers in the congregation that he is writing to, educating them about the differences in the old and new testaments, with the hope of leading some to faith in Jesus for salvation rather than them depending upon the law for salvation (since they will be judged by Jesus – 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Some were hearing the message of grace in vain, meaning they were not responding to God reconciling the world to himself in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18-6:1). Additionally, I believe Paul writes 2 Corinthians 3:1-6:2 to defend his teaching of the new testament of grace as well as explain it further to believers in the congregation in Corinth.
With this background, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:10 in its immediate context.
The context begins in 2 Corinthians 3:1 and ends in 2 Corinthians 6:2. In these verses, Paul explains that God made he and his team competent as ministers of the new testament of grace, which they communicated in the cities they went into (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 3 that the old testament of law, the Ten Commandments, was a ministry of death – it killed people. However, he explained that the ministry of the new testament of grace was a ministry of righteousness and life. He furthered explained that the ministry of the Spirit of Jesus was that of the new testament of grace not the old testament of law.
We can glean from 2 Corinthians 3 that some of those who previously heard about the new testament of grace were hard-hearted to the message of the new testament of grace because a veil covered their hearts. Consequently, they were continuing in the old testament of the law of Moses for salvation.
This is what was happening in the letter to the Hebrews as well. Many of the Hebrew (Jewish) people rejected the message of the new testament of grace in unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-12) and were in danger of experiencing the judgment of God in the consuming fire.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthian congregation, mixed with believers and unbelievers, is seeking to convince the unbelievers to turn away from the law of Moses for salvation and turn to faith in Jesus for salvation. Only by turning to faith in Jesus for salvation could their eyes be opened by the Spirit of Jesus to experience the truths of the new testament of grace and the freedom from the law that grace brings. By turning to Jesus in faith, they could experience salvation from the judgment to come, liberation from the bondage of the law, and transformation within by the Spirit of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul explains that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the good news of the new covenant of grace and see that Jesus is the reflection and essence of all that God is.
Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 3 and 4 about the boldness he and his team had in sharing the message of the new testament of grace. He also explains in chapter 4 and 5 the difficulties he and his team endured on their missionary journeys to share the message of the new testament of grace. Yet they endured these difficulties, even facing death itself, so that others would hear the good news of the new testament of grace and experience its joy, resulting in thanksgiving overflowing to God (2 Corinthians 4:15).
As Paul transitions from chapter 4 to 5 he explains the tremendous toll upon their bodies he and his team experienced on their grace journey. However, they walked by faith and not by sight – literally walking from city to city to share the gospel of grace – on their journey.
This meant they did not look at the worsening condition of their bodies on their journey and the weariness they experienced, but by faith they looked forward to their new heavenly bodies. Their only goal was to please the Lord on their missionary journeys by communicating the new testament of grace (2 Corinthians 5:9).
This leads us to 2 Corinthians 5:10 which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Partially, I believe Paul is referring to the judgment by Jesus of teachers teaching in his name, which he explains in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4:6. Those who teach accurately the truths of the new testament of grace, will receive a reward, and those who do not will receive the loss of reward, yet they will be saved.
But mainly, I believe Paul refers to judgment in 2 Corinthians 5:10 as he does because of the audience he is addressing…those who are still depending upon obedience to the law of Moses for righteousness and who have rejected Jesus as the Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). A veil covers their hearts and their minds (2 Corinthians 3:13-15). They have become dull to the truth of Jesus and the new testament he established, which brings righteousness and eternal life.
Some of the Jewish audience in Corinth Paul addressed in his letter understood the Jewish Scriptures concerning judgment of things done in the body, good and bad. The message of judgment is all throughout Jewish Scriptures (see Part One).
2 Corinthians 5:10, the things done in the body rather good are bad, is a partial quote from the Jewish Scriptures [Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12]. Paul makes the same quote in Romans 2:6. Jesus refers to this judgment in Matthew 16:27.
After Paul quotes from Jewish Scripture in Romans 2:6, he goes on to explain that none do good and all are sinners in need of salvation, which God has provided in Jesus. Paul teaches in Romans that the righteousness needed for salvation, and freely offered to everyone by God, is received through faith in Jesus, because Jesus took our sin upon himself and freely offers his righteousness to all, which is received by faith, apart from any works of the law (Romans 3:21-25).
A major part of Paul’s gospel message was the judgment to come (see Romans 2:16; Acts 17:29-31; Acts 24:15, 25).
I believe this judgment is the main point of 2 Corinthians 5:10. Paul is explaining to a Jewish group of people in the congregation in Corinth, consisting of some unbelieving Jews still depending upon their adherence to the law for salvation, that salvation from the judgment to come is in Jesus. His Jewish, unbelieving audience certainly understood the coming judgment as described in their scriptures.
Therefore, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.”
Paul, in view of the judgment to come, tried to persuade unsaved Jews to turn away from the law of Moses for righteousness and salvation and turn to the grace of Jesus for righteousness and salvation; also, in view of the coming judgment, he tried to persuade unsaved Gentiles to turn away from idols for salvation and to turn to faith in Jesus for salvation– see Acts 17:15. Paul also tried to persuade Felix in Acts 24:25, which he nearly did.
Paul writes that the love of Jesus for people in dying for their sins compelled he and his missionary team to travel from city to city to tell people about the new testament of grace (2 Corinthians 4:15; 5:14-16).
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
Paul then explains the message of the new testament of grace that saves one from the judgment to come and saves a person to eternal life. He starts this explanation in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he says that if anyone is in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 2:14) he is a new creation. This means that anyone who has turned from the law of Moses for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life and has turned to Jesus for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life) is a new creation (the Spirit of Jesus lives in this person, this person has experienced full forgiveness and is righteous through the work of Jesus in the new testament of grace). As a result, the old testament of law is gone and the new testament of grace has come for the believer – liberation from the condemnation of the law and judgment has gone, and righteousness and salvation has come.
In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Paul explains more fully God’s message of the new testament of grace, that he shared with the unsaved:
All this is from God [the message of the new testament and Paul and his team’s missionary journeys to tell people about the new testament of grace], who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [how God has reconciled all people to himself by removing the barrier sin separating people from God]: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ [all sins, for all people, for all time were counted against Jesus thus removing the barrier of sin existing between God and people], not counting people’s sins against them [God is not counting our sins against us because they were counted against Jesus]. And he has committed to us [Paul’s missionary team – see 2 Corinthians 3] the message of reconciliation [the new testament message of grace – the work of Jesus on the cross - that brings righteousness and salvation]. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors [Paul and his team spoke about the new testament of grace on behalf of Jesus], as though God were making his appeal through us [God was appealing to unbelievers through Paul and his team to leave behind the old testament of law for salvation and to trust in Jesus for salvation]. We implore you [unbelievers] on Christ’s behalf [speaking for Jesus]: Be reconciled to God [by turning from the law of Moses for salvation and righteousness and trusting in Jesus for righteousness and salvation]. God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become [emerge forth as righteous] the righteousness of God [and thus escape the judgment to come in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and experience eternal life – salvation of the righteous].
Paul then again encourages the unbelievers he is appealing to on behalf of God and as an ambassador of Jesus to not hear about in vain the salvation message of the new testament of grace and not trust in Jesus for salvation.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive [hearing about salvation by grace through faith but rejecting it and continuing to trust in the old testament of law] God’s grace in vain. 2For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” [Isaiah 49:8]
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Paul extends his salvation appeal to the unbelieving Jew in the Corinthian congregation, telling them that salvation from the judgment to come is now. Now is the day to turn from Moses and turn to Jesus. Now is the time to turn from trying under the law to be righteous and to turn to Jesus who took their sinfulness and offers them his righteousness.
When the day of judgment comes, which his audience was very familiar with since they understood the Jewish Scriptures, it will be too late to turn to Jesus. Now is the day Paul writes to hear the salvation message of the new testament of grace and be saved from judgment where the unrighteousness will perish and the righteous will be saved and live eternally on the new earth with new bodies.
To make this salvation appeal, Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 [see 2 Corinthians 6:2]. He quotes from Isaiah because his Jewish audience was familiar with this verse on the time of salvation by grace. The day of grace was now here and now was the day to turn from the old testament of law for salvation (it is a ministry of death that kills) and turn to the new testament of grace for salvation, where God is not counting our sins against us, because they were all counted against Jesus, and where we receive by faith full forgiveness of sins and complete cleansing from sins, resulting in a righteous standing on judgment day. After this day, the unrighteous ones will be thrown into and perish in the lake of fire and the righteous ones will live upon the new earth.
With this understanding, let’s once again examine 2 Corinthians 5:10.
For we [unbelievers and believers] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ [Revelation 20:11-15], so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Remember from our study in Part One, that it is the unbelievers who will be judged according to their deeds when the books are opened. Revelation 20:12-13 states:
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
Believers will not be judged according their good and bad deeds. Because they placed their faith in Jesus. Rather, they stand righteous at judgment (John 3:16). The believers are those whose names are written in the book of life and enter the new earth (Revelation 20:12 and 15).
The unbelievers/unrighteous are those whose names are written in the books and who are thrown into the lake of fire on judgment day just before the new earth is created (Revelation 20:11-15).
For the believer in Jesus, we do not fear the judgment to come, for we will be judged as righteous. However, for the unbeliever, they should fear the judgment to come, for they will be judged as unrighteous and perish in the lake of fire.
Paul’s goal was to travel to the cities all over the Roman empire (2 Corinthians 4:15) and warn the unsaved about the judgment to come (2 Corinthians 5:10), tell them about the grace that was available to them through Jesus, and persuade them to trust in Jesus.
Paul was compelled by the love of Jesus for people to tell them that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them – since their sins were all counted against Jesus. He was compelled to communicate to the unsaved, as an ambassador of Jesus – as though God was making his appeal through he and his team - all that God had done for them in Jesus so they could escape the judgment to come and enjoy life on the new earth. His message was that: now is the day of salvation…now is the time for salvation…now is the time to hear God’s grace and trust in Jesus for salvation.
So in conclusion, I believe the judgment of 2 Corinthians 5:10 is the judgment of the unsaved/unbelievers in Revelation 20:11-15, which is consistent with the judgment described in the Jewish Scriptures and expounded upon by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John. I believe the coming judgment along with the love of Jesus for all people was the motivation for Paul to tell people about the new testament of grace that he writes about in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6:2.
To read Part 1 of 2 Corinthians 5:10 And The Coming Judgment, click below.
