LESSON FIFTY-FIVE The Standard in the Judgment

1. The rendering of a decision by a judge implies the existence of a law. Acts 23:3; 24:6; John 7:51.TDOC 152.3

2. Transgressions of God’s law are considered in “the day of judgment.” 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 John 3:4.TDOC 152.4

3. There would be no sins to be considered if there were no law. Romans 4:15; 7:7; 3:20; James 2:9; Romans 5:13; 1 Corinthians 15:56.TDOC 152.5

4. The same law which makes known sin will be the standard in the judgment. Romans 7:7; 2:12; James 2:10-12.TDOC 152.6

5. Only the righteousness of God which is revealed in the gospel and received through faith in Christ, will meet the requirements of the law. Romans 1:16, 17; 3:21, 22; 2 Corinthians 5:21.TDOC 152.7

6. The acceptance of Christ as our “righteousness will result in that likeness to him which will be the ground of boldness in the day of judgment. 1 John 2:28; 4:17, 18.TDOC 153.1

7. Such righteousness will express itself in good works which will be rewarded as if they were our own works. Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; Revelation 20:13; 22:12.TDOC 153.2

NOTES

Jesus the advocate

“The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment. Says the wise man: ‘Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment.’ The apostle James admonishes his brethren, ‘So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”TDOC 153.3

“Those who in the judgment are ‘accounted worthy,’ will have a part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said, ‘They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.’ And again he declares that ‘they that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection of life.’ The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are accounted worthy of ‘the resurrection of life.’ Hence they will not be present in person at the tribunal when their records are examined and their cases decided. Jesus will appear as their advocate, to plead in their behalf before God. ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”-The Great Controversy, 482.TDOC 153.4

The doctrine of reward.TDOC 153.5

“We are not to shrink from the doctrine of reward because it has been perverted. It is true the good works of a Christian cannot be the foundation of his title to life eternal. They proceed from the grace of God; they are very imperfect and mixed at their best. Yet they are precious fruits of Christ’s death, and of God’s grace, arising through the faith and love of souls renewed and liberated. When a penitent and believing man is found devoting to God what he is and has,’ doing so freely and lovingly, that is a blessed thing. God sets value on it. It is accepted as fruit which the man brings, as the offering which he yields. The heart of Christ rejoices over it. Now it is fit that the value set on this fruit should be shown, and the way God takes to show it is to reward the service. Such a man ‘shall in no wise lose his reward.’ God orders the administration of his mercy so that it really comes in a way of recompense for works of faith and labors of love.”TDOC 153.6