in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in

that He hath raised them from the dead" (Acts xvii. 31); "The Father unto the Son" (John v. 22). It is as "the

Son of God" that He raises the dead, but it is as "the Son of Man" that He executes judgment (see John v.

25, and 27).

The whole question of judgment is founded on the immutable purpose of God, the infinite knowledge of

God, and the infallible word of God. None can question His power; none can doubt His truth. "Hath He said

and shall He not do it? Hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good."

As to the times of these judgments, it is written "to everything there is a season, and a time to every

purpose under heaven... God shall judge the righteous, and the wicked: for there is a time for every purpose

and for every work" (Ecc. iii. 1, 17). All is ordained and ordered by God.

And here let us again put each other in remembrance, that this is not a question of man's opinion, nor is it a

question as to any difference of opinion, but it is wholly a question of revelation. If we know all that the

Scriptures say about it, then we know all that can be known. If we do not know all that the Scriptures say,

then we must "err" for it is written "ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." There have

been and there are schools of theology, systems of doctrine, shades of thought, but if this is all the doctrine

is, then man may do as he pleases about it, and accept it or reject it, or believe concerning it just what he

likes. But if God has spoken, then there is an end of all argument. We have only to bow and believe.

Now let us see what God has been pleased to reveal concerning JUDGMENT in these three scriptures.

2 Cor. v. 10

I. The Judgment spoken of in 2 Cor. v. 10 "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ."

1. WHO are they that "appear" in this Judgment scene? The Apostle answers "WE." Who are the "WE?"

And the answer is clear, We who "labour t hat ... we may be accepted of Him" (verse 7); we who "walk by

faith" (verse 7); we who have "the earnest of the Spirit" (verse 5); we, Paul and Timothy, by whom the

Epistle was written, and "the Church of God" and "all the Saints" (2 Cor. i. 1). In fact it is impossible to find

any but the saints of God in this scripture.

2. WHY do "we" appear? "To be made manifest." To "receive." For what? For "deeds done," service

rendered, and works wrought -- even as he had taught them in his first Epistle, ch. iii. 11-15. He is speaking

here of those who build on the one foundation which is Jesus Christ, and he says, "Now if any man build on

this foundation gold, silver, precious stones; wood, hay, stubble; Every man's works shall be made manifest

(the very expression used in our text): for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the

fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he

shall receive a reward. If any man's work be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so

as by fire." Can any one doubt that we have the same scene here as in our text? We have the same object

stated, and the same expression used, the works "shall be made manifest." We have also the same result,

"he shall receive" according to the works. If it is "good" he shall receive a reward. If it is "bad," the work will

be burned up, but the worker or builder "shall be saved."

3. WHERE do "we" appear to "be made manifest"? Before the Bema of Ch rist. The Bema was in one sense a

judgment seat. It was not the seat of a judge who gave judicial sentences, punishments and acquittals; but it

was a raised dais from which the Judge gave the crowns to the victors in the public games. It was for such a

crown the Apostle "laboured," "ran," and "fought," and when reviewing that service he said "henceforth

there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous JUDGE shall give me at that

day: and not to me only, but unto all them also t hat love His appearing" (2 Tim. iv. 8).