Thoughts on II Corinthians 10:5

In the sermon on Sunday, I mentioned that II Corinthians 10:5 is one of the most neglected verses by evangelical Christians.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body whether good or bad." (II Corinthians 10:5)

I did not have the time to explain why we neglect this verse. There are at least four reasons.

1. We assume that grace releases us from accountability.
Grace is not a “free pass.” Grace is a costly means of forgiveness.

2. We are afraid of any verse that suggests salvation by works.
This verse, taken out context, has been used by those advocating salvation through human effort. In context, however, this verse does not refer to how we enter a relationship with Christ but to how we are accountable in the relationship.

3. The third issue is related to the second but also separate in some ways.
This reason is about our desire to make our faith fit into a theological system. Reformed theology, Calvinism, and Arminianism are systems. Systems do not allow for paradox. This is why the Christian faith is not about a system but a Savior. Each person is a walking paradox, and so is the Person of God. The Trinity is not a contradiction but a paradox.

4. We prefer to think of salvation in terms of a place we go when we die rather than a relationship we enter.
When salvation is our destination, we are concerned about how we get there. However, when salvation is about a relationship, the issue is how we live.

"Soul School" teaches us to know and to become like Jesus. And, remember, Soul School never ends.