
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that
each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body,
whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.
For most Christians, the judgment is confusing and misunderstood. To
begin this second section of "Change Your Life - Biblically", we will attempt
to encapsulate every topic with the concept of judgment. Once we understand
judgment, we will have a better understanding of our salvation and our
role in it.
When is the judgment?
How many judgments are there?
Must I fear the
judgment?
What is it all about?
First, we need to understand what a
"judgment" is.Simply put, it is a statement of right or wrong. It is
somebody's decision that makes a determination on some topic or
activity. If an officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket for speeding, he
has judged you as a law breaker. You then go to court and ask the
judge to make a judgment (decision) in your favor. You want the judge to rule that you were not speeding and to take that ticket off your record.
If you are accused of a felony, you go to court and attempt
to prove your innocence. You want the judge or jury to pronounce judgment in your favor. You want them to pronounce you innocent.
Lucifer has leveled the charge against all of us as "Law Breakers" and
deserving of death just like him. We are to look forward to the
"Judgment Day" when we can stand in the presence of Christ, not in
our worth, but because we have accepted the worth and works of Christ
as our own. This is done through obedience to His commands. He will then
judge us innocent. Praise the Lord.
There are television programs that show court proceedings.
The prosecution and the defendant stand before the judge and each gives their
side of the story. Based on records, photographs and testimony, each side
attempts to persuade the judge that what they are saying is the truth.
After hearing all the arguments which are presented, the judge must make a decision. The
judge must weigh the evidence and decide what is the right judgment to make.
If the U.S. Supreme Court hands down that judgment, the decision is final.
There is no higher court to make an appeal. Each side must live with the
consequences of that decision.
But let's back up a bit and put this all in perspective.
There are three phases to a judicial matter. By looking at each one we will
begin to see the justice of God and His love in not wanting anyone to perish.
Let us look at the system of justice here in America and see if we can make
some comparisons between what we can see and what we cannot see.

The
first thing that must happen for an investigation to begin, is a pointing
finger. Somebody must make an accusation against you.
After the accusation, the authorities must begin writing down and investigating
everything about you that relates to the accusation. This is called the
"Investigative Judgment". Someone has made a judgment against
you, and now the authorities must investigate the matter.
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This investigation can take days, weeks, months or even
years. There are many drug investigations that have been and are on-going over
a period of many years. Time is not important. Getting the evidence is.
Evidence that will either prove the accusations true or false.
All the information that is investigated is then compiled
and placed in a record and cataloged so that it can be easily referred to and cataloged for
future use. At this point the investigation is basically finished.
The Trial
By this time the accused may be sitting in a
county jail awaiting trial. He must go before a jury of his peers to answer
the charges and accusations against him.

The information can be presented to a jury in
two ways:
1. the accused to be present at the time of the trial and the other
2. for the evidence to be presented before a Grand Jury without the accused present.
At the trial the evidence is presented by the
accuser, the prosecution, in the most heinous light. The prosecution wants
everyone to know what a slime-ball the defendant is. The prosecution takes
facts and presents them in such a way as to get the jury to believe in the guilt of the
defendant. The prosecution wants the jury to find the defendant guilty.
The defense team takes the same facts and
presents them to the jury in such a way that the jury will see that the
actions were not so bad. The defense also tries to present facts to negate the
evidence presented by the prosecution.
After all the evidence has been presented to the judge or jury, the judge or jury
must then make a decision of guilt or innocence. They deliberate on the facts
and return a verdict. If the verdict is innocent, the defendant does not have
to stand before the judge to be sentenced. He is free to go his way.
If, however, the jury or judge finds the defendant guilty, a
time is set for sentencing. At the appropriate time the defendant stands
before the judge and the judge passes sentence.
Execution of Sentence
The judge now hands down his sentence.
If it is a felony, the accused will
probably go to prison. If it warrants death, the judge will sentence the
defendant to death.
The officer will then take the prisoner away and he will be handed over to
the state for proper execution of the sentence which was handed down by the
judge.
Case closed!