In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul is telling the church not to look at the things that are seen, they’re temporal, but begin to focus on the things that are not seen.  He said we’re going into a spiritual world.  Don’t focus on this natural life or even on this natural body.  Mortality, verse 4 says, is going to be swallowed up in life.  We’re coming to the conclusion of all of these things as he talks about the fact that we become new creatures and old things are become new in verse 17 of Chapter 5.  He finishes it with one of the greatest references to our justification in verse 21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  He said in verse 19, “…that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

So, going before and after we see the context of what’s taking place here.  Focus on the eternal; we’re coming into a place where there’s going to be judgment; don’t get caught up in the cares of this world; don’t let any man judge you.  And in the midst of all of that, having referenced them to the fact of their righteousness, he says in verse 9, “We’re laboring to be accepted of him.  For we must all (verse 10) 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…”   Well, this is a motivating thing.  Paul is saying, here, “Knowing the fear of the Lord.” The fear of the Lord is the motivating factor to lives of righteousness, to lives of obedience.  When that becomes real in our hearts, Paul says it drives you to persuade men with this message that followed: the need to become that new creation.  The need to recognize you can’t continue in that lifestyle.  Old things have passed away, all things become new, praise God!  We need to come and compel men to allow the Holy Spirit’s work in them to be the final thing in which they trust before they stand before God and give an account of what’s good or bad.

Romans 14:10 says, “Why are you judging your brother?  Don’t you know there’s a judgment coming?”  I think that’ll help us in our daily living.  We want to judge everybody and prove we’re right, and especially as it pertains to our consciences.  God will make the judgment, here, very soon; amen?  What do you do?  Love your brother.  Don’t despise and don’t judge; amen?  Don’t mock and make fun of those who are bound up in their little bondage of fearing everything lest they should sin, and we see the contrast with that that’s in the shambles.  He said, “Eat it and receive it with thanksgiving”; amen?  Everything is sanctified by prayer.  But the weak can’t do that, so be careful that you don’t cause them to stumble.  In other words, don’t try to sit down and say, “No, look at us, look at everybody else, here.  You ought to just go ahead and just step out in faith.”  No, you have your faith to yourself before God, but whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord; amen?  So, one of the things that he’s speaking here is, as we prepare to stand before God in the bema, the one thing you want to do is stand before God without having judged a whole bunch of other folks.  Because with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; amen?