The Judgment Of Christians

Today’s post is a treatment of James 2:12-13, obtained from our verse-by-verse study of the Book Of James.

12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12-12)

James reminds Christians that there’s a judgment to come. He says, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” Every Christian will be judged one day, judged by the One True God.

The Apostle Paul writes: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”—(2 Corinthians 5:10; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 1 Peter 1:17).

Christians will one day stand before the Lord at the judgment. Thankfully, Christians will not be judged as to their justification. Christians are not in danger of facing condemnation, but they will be judged concerning their sanctification. In other words, Christians will be judged based on how they “lived out” their Christian faith. This is a judgment that results in reward—or loss of reward.

It is reassuring to know that the true Christian will never hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23).” Yet, he will be judged based on what he has said and what he has done. “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”

Christians will give an account for every word spoken (cf. Matthew 12:36) and for every deed done, whether good or bad. And Christians will receive reward for what they have done well or experience loss of reward for what they have done poorly.

James says, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty,” the law that brings freedom, freedom from the penalty of sin. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. And he adds, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

The phrase “Mercy triumphs over judgment” means that Christians who show mercy, those who are merciful towards others, will be vindicated at the judgment. To paraphrase: “It will go well” with them. They will be vindicated and exonerated because they showed love for others and had mercy upon them. They did not show favoritism or partiality. So, at the judgment, their love for others is taken into account, and it goes well with them.

On the other hand, “judgment without mercy” is shown to “the one who has shown no mercy.” If, as Christians, we have shown no mercy to others, then we can expect God to judge us the same way, “for judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.”  

This seems to be the point of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew’s Gospel: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).”

Similarly, Paul writes to Christians: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).” we tend to argue, “But they don’t deserve it!” But that’s the whole point of mercy. Like grace, mercy is being in a position of favor that is wholly undeserved.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus teaches about one particularly unmerciful servant. Let’s allow Jesus to illustrate precisely what His half-brother James will teach later:

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Matthew 18:23-45

So our Heavenly Father will treat us if we fail to love our neighbor, fail to show mercy, fail to treat anyone “without partiality.” 

What About You?

• How is it possible to love those who don’t love you?
• Why is it not possible for a person to be saved by obeying the Ten Commandments?
• What will happen to Christians on the day of judgment? What can you personally expect on that day?

**Excerpt from You’re Either Walking The Walk Or Just Running Your Mouth (Preaching Truth: 2020), pages 77-80, available on Amazon.