Topic: Judgment

Romans 14:10-12 > Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 > Matthew 12:36-37 > Mosiah 4:30 > Matthew 15:18-19 > Revelation 20:12-13 > 1 Nephi 15:33 > Alma 41:2-6 > 2 Nephi 9:15-18 > Doctrine and Covenants 101:78

In previous Scripture Trains, the Judgment of God or our Judgment Day has been mentioned several times. It has been mentioned in regards to our final reward in the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Heaven. This is not something that we can overlook, disregard, or dismiss for as Paul teaches the Romans in chapter 14 verses 10 through 12, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” “Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.” I believe it when Paul says, “All”, or “Everyone”.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verses 13 and 14, the final two verses of this book, the writer teaches that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. Then he goes on to say, “God shall bring every work into judgment”. Does this not sober us up? Does God not mean what He says? “Every work” will be judged. “Everyone of us will give account of himself to God”, whether good or evil. In Matthew chapter 12 verses 36 and 37, Christ teaches that this judgment will even be extended to the words we speak! We will be justified or condemned according to not only our works, but our words, also. If it isn't enough to bring our words and our works into judgment, King Benjamin, in Mosiah chapter 4 verse 30, even warns us to watch our thoughts. Christ teaches us why in Matthew chapter 15 verses 18 and 19; He says that out of the heart come evil thoughts of murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies.

In Revelation chapter 20 verses 12 and 13, John beheld Judgment Day in a vision; he says, “I saw the dead, small and great stand before God…and the dead were judged…according to their works.” In 1 Nephi chapter 15 verse 33, Nephi addresses the state of the wicked at judgment; he says, “If their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God”. Why? Else the kingdom of God be filthy, also.

Judgment Day will be just as much a part of our lives as birth and death. It will come! Alma teaches, in Alma chapter 41 verses 2 through 6, that in the resurrection all things will be restored to its proper frame and order. He teaches that judgment must come according to the justice of God. We must understand, each one of us that we cannot put anything past God; we cannot fool Him, we cannot trick Him into thinking that we are different than what we actually are. We must come to judgment! We must give an accounting of our lives. If my heart has been good, if I have sought after good and so forth, then good will be restored to me. If, on the other hand, I have sought after evil all my life, then in judgment evil will be restored unto me. In 2 Nephi chapter 9 verses 15 through 18 Nephi reaffirms what Alma taught and also gives us the final state of the righteous; he says that after their resurrection all men will appear before Christ and be judged according to His holy judgment. He goes on to say that all who have been righteous will be righteous still and all who have been filthy will be filthy still. He says that God will fulfill all His words. He says the righteous will inherit the kingdom of God and their joy shall be full forever. Please notice here some of the attributes of the righteous: The Saints, those who believe in Christ, those who have endured the crosses of the world and those who have despised the shame of the world.

Finally, in Doctrine and Covenants section 101 verse 78, the Lord tells us that all men are given the opportunity to act according to their moral agency, which God has given them. As a result, all men will be held accountable, in the Day of Judgment, for their thoughts, their words, their choices and their works, whether they be good or evil.