2 Corinthians 5:9

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men... For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (2 Corinthians 5:9–14)

Because we are absolutely certain of eternity in Christ, we labor not to earn His acceptance but to bring Him pleasure—and to persuade the lost before the day of judgment comes.

The Certainty of Our Confidence in Christ

Last week we considered the confidence we can have in Christ for eternity—the absolute certainty we can know because of what Christ has done on our behalf. In verse 6 Paul writes, "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: for we walk by faith, not by sight." We are confident, willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

This body is just a tent, a temporary dwelling place. If you've ever gone camping, you know you don't want to live in a tent for very long. We are looking forward to and even desirous of that day when God calls us home into His presence, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord.

No other faith, worldview, or religion offers that kind of certainty—that to be gone from this body is to be instantly with Christ in eternity. Only the faith of Christ offers that certain confidence, and so we are able to stand rejoicing in the hope of what God has done in us, for us, and will do through us.

Rejoicing in Hope, Not in Our Works

In Romans 5:1–2 Paul says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." That word justified means God has dealt with our sin—the punishment and the power of it—just as if we had never sinned. We who were enemies, set at enmity against God by our rebellion, have been given peace with God through the work of Jesus. By Him we have access into grace, "wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

So the Christian stands rejoicing, looking forward to the revelation of God's glory. That is sobering, because the Bible says when His glory is revealed, no flesh will be able to stand in His presence. For those not in Christ, the revelation of His glory means the wrath of God. But for the Christian, we rejoice in hope of that day.

The hope of the Christian is not blind, wishful thinking that bets aimlessly on the fading possibility we might be good enough. There is a constant recognition that our good works are insufficient. Isaiah 64:6 says all our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him. The perfection God requires is so great there's no way we could ever reach it.

Holy, Holy, Holy

When Isaiah saw God lifted up in Isaiah 6, he heard the seraphim—"burning ones"—about the throne crying continually, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God." In Hebrew, words are repeated for emphasis, so this reveals the greatness of His holiness. That is our God, and we are called to come before Him.

The only way we can come before Him and rejoice in that appearing is because of what Jesus has done. Apart from Christ, the idea of someday appearing before a holy God is a fearful thing—or should be. Some mock God in this, but they will not mock forever, because a day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Christ to the glory of God the Father. We who are in Christ look forward to that day. Our hope is absolute certainty of coming glory because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross—nothing I could ever do, but completely trusting what He has done for me.

Saved by Grace, Created for Good Works

Ephesians 2:8–9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." There is no boasting in what we have in Christ. But verse 10 continues: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

So we are saved by grace through faith, not of good works, but for good works that God has already prepared for us. Every other religion works to gain confidence and an upper hand with God. Ask them if they'd go to heaven, and they say, "I really hope so—I'm a pretty good person." That won't work, because all our righteousness is filthy rags before a holy God.

But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love, loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:4). He reaches down, pulls us out of the miry pit, and sets our feet upon the rock. As a result, we serve Him not to get anything from Him—He's given us everything already—but out of gratitude, love, and devotion for what He has done.

Laboring to Be Well-Pleasing, Not Accepted

The King James Version of verse 9 says we labor "that we may be accepted of him." Read that way, it seems to negate everything we've said. I'll readily admit that translation may not be the best. That Greek word is rendered "well-pleasing" in many other versions. The ESV reads, "we make it our aim to please him." The NLT, "our goal is to please him." The NKJV, "to be well pleasing to Him."

We are not working to be accepted, though many Christians serve in children's ministry, tithe, and go on mission trips thinking, "I need to do this to be accepted of Him." That contradicts so many other passages. The context of 2 Corinthians 5 is total confidence that we'll be with Him in eternity. So the better reading is: we labor and serve so that we might honor Him and be well-pleasing to Him.

Imagine pulling into your driveway and a lawyer tells you a distant relative wants to give you a billion dollars. After you woke up from the smelling salts, do you think you'd be rude and mocking to that family member? Of course not. You'd be favorable—not to buy their favor, but in response to a gift. God has done something monumentally greater, dealing with all our sin and saving us simply because He loves us. As we read His Word and grasp how beautiful that gift is, set against the black backdrop of our wicked heart, it stirs us to labor and serve. We want to be well-pleasing to Him.

God Works in Us to Make Us Well-Pleasing

That same word appears in Hebrews 13:20–21: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep... Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight." This is the sanctifying work God does in us—taking raw material mined from the depths and refining it.

So at the same time we are laboring to be well-pleasing, He is working in us to make us well-pleasing. You can't fail: we work, He works in us, and we need to seek and allow Him to work in and through us.

Man's Responsibility and God's Sovereignty

Philippians 2:12–13 joins both truths in one breath: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." There's a great discussion in the evangelical church about man's responsibility and God's sovereignty, often framed as Calvinism and Arminianism—two recent books, Against Calvinism and For Calvinism (the latter by Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary, who lives right here in town), work together on this.

Here at Cross Connection, we believe both are joined together in God. If there's a paradox in that, we recognize there are certain things our finite minds don't understand of the infinite God. That makes Him God—He's bigger than me. To the Arminian Paul says, "Work out your own salvation"—get her done. But don't stop reading: it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure. I'm thankful for that, because I know how easily I fail, yet I can bank on the grace of God working in me.

A New Desire to Please Him

Is it your goal to be pleasing to Him? That was Paul's goal. This is a work God generates in the regenerated heart—a new desire you did not have before. Five seconds before you received the Spirit, you had no desire to be well-pleasing to God. But His Word ignited a new faith in you, and when you placed your trust in Christ, you were transformed. You wake up the next morning and realize some things you used to want to do, you don't want to do anymore. Some words you used to use, you don't want to use. You don't want to offend this God who paid your debt.

If you have no desire to please God today, it may be an indication that you're not saved—or that you're hard-hearted with unconfessed sin. Either way, something's not right. But you may say, "I have the desire and keep failing." Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. He fuels in us the will and the power. If you lack that desire, call out to God and ask Him to give it to you—I guarantee He will. And when you do what is pleasing to God, you'll experience the greatest measure of joy, because in His presence is fullness of joy. The thought that what I do today can bring a smile to the face of God is a wonderful image.

The Sobering Reminder: The Judgment Seat

Then the sobering reminder comes in verse 10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." A day is coming when all of humanity will stand before the bema—the Greek word for judgment seat—of Christ.

That should kindle a certain sobriety. People question this: "I thought God saved me by grace through faith—why must I appear before the judgment seat?" The answer is given: so that everyone may receive the things done in his body, whether good or bad. Some say that doesn't sound like grace—it sounds like works righteousness. In fact, this is exactly how Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, using changed Bibles, interpret it. So how do we reconcile this with Ephesians 2, Philippians 2:13, and Hebrews 13, where God produces it all in us? There can be no contradiction.

The Answer in the Back of the Book

Like the great math books of old, the answers are in the back—Revelation 20:11–15. John sees a great white throne and Him who sat on it. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

Notice the plural books and the singular book of life. Verse 14: "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Verse 15: "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

So everyone appears before Christ, and works are judged whether good or bad. But all whose names are not in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire—the second death. If your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, your works might be exposed, but Jesus stands as your propitiation and says, "This one is written in My book of life."

How Your Name Is Written in the Book of Life

How does a name get written there? Not by good works—those are written in the books. Your name is written in the Book of Life by the grace of Jesus Christ, by faith. Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled... ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you." How do we get there? John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." He has made the way open. If your name is written in the Book of Life, you will not see the second death.

Knowing the Terror of the Lord, We Persuade Men

Verse 11: "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." Since we know all humanity will appear before God for judgment, we don't just kick back in happy thankfulness. That knowledge should stir us to persuade men, because we don't want anyone to experience the wrath of God. As 2 Peter 3:9 says, He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Even Christopher Hitchens, the late atheist who wrote God Is Not Great—whose theology I completely reject and who knows the truth now—said in a debate with Pastor Doug Wilson: if you really believe this terrible judgment is coming, you should do everything possible to persuade people. He's right. The lack of evangelistic fervor in my own heart reveals a complacency with the fact that judgment is coming. This knowledge should inspire us to greater zeal. Some great saint—perhaps Jonathan Edwards—prayed that God would give him a vision of hell, not so he would fear going there, but so he would be stirred to persuade men.

Not Self-Commendation, but Sincerity

The NLT renders the rest of verse 11: "God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this too." In verse 12 Paul says, "For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf." He's not fishing for accolades. He says these things so the Corinthians can answer those who slandered him, accusing him of selfish gain.

This shows me Paul was not an extreme Calvinist—I may get emails on this, and that's fine. If he were, he'd simply say, "I do this to please God; the elect will come if God elects them." Instead he says he labors because he wants to please God and because he genuinely longs to see people saved. It's chiefly about the glory of God, but secondarily about his concern for the lostness of men—therefore he persuades them.

Fools for Christ's Sake

Paul wasn't impressive to look at. He came to the Corinthians in weakness and fear (1 Corinthians 1–2), and some belittled him—"he's nothing, a little Jew from Jerusalem." But God looks at the heart. As He told Samuel, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Verse 13: "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause." The NLT: "If it seems we're crazy, it's to bring glory to God." The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. When Paul preached before Festus, the response was, "Paul, much learning hath made thee mad." People will say you're nuts. But among the mockers will be some who say, "What he's saying is right on"—and that is for their benefit.

In 1 Corinthians 4:9–10 Paul says, "We are fools for Christ's sake." In 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 he reminds us not many wise, mighty, or noble are called, but God has chosen the foolish, weak, and base things of the world to confound the wise and mighty—"that no flesh should glory in his presence." God has a tendency of using donkeys like us so that He gets the great glory. If I had three PhDs and spoke five languages—I have none; they even spelled my name wrong on my diploma—it might diminish the glory God gets through my life.

The Love of Christ Constrains Us

To an outside observer, subjecting yourself to mockery, beatings, and martyrdom looks like a foolish waste. So why do it? Verse 14: "For the love of Christ constraineth us." The love of God compels us. God, rich in mercy because of His great love, gives believers the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is love. That love stirs us to be well-pleasing to Him and to seek the lost, that they would not abide under His wrath.

"Because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead." Jesus died for all humanity, which proves that all humanity is dead and needs His salvation. Because of the deadness of man and the love of God, we are compelled to carry the good news to the lost.

If you don't have that compulsion, pray that God would work it into your heart. Most of the time we're embarrassed by the fear of man—but they're going to think you're crazy anyway. They thought Paul was crazy. Be a fool for Christ. On the day you stand before Him, you really won't care if the world thought you foolish when you hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

It was Paul's hope, as in 1 Thessalonians 2:19: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" The world thinks you're nuts to give up a Sunday, your income, and your time serving. But our hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing is that they would be with us in the presence of the Lord at His appearing. That's what compels us.

Closing Prayer

God, stir in us, Your church, a passion and a desire. It is You who works in us to will and to do those things that are pleasing to You. The salvation of lost souls is pleasing to You—there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents. Stir in us this week to step out of our comfort zone, even if it's as simple as giving someone a card and saying, "Come with me to church." Especially as we approach Easter Sunday and invite our community, move us with Your love and compel us with Your grace, that we would persuade men.

And perhaps this morning, for the first time, you've heard God's Word and it doesn't seem foolish to you. God is drawing you to Himself, because He desires that no one would perish in the second death. If you recognize your sinfulness and that a holy God will never see your good works as sufficient—if you recognize His grace—step out from where you're at and come to the front. Our pastors and elders will pray with you and share the gospel more fully. Don't be afraid. No one here will think you're crazy. Come and confess your sins and receive Christ today.