We Believe in Christ’s Return

He will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

Nicene Creed

He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Apostles’ Creed

Jesus is coming back. Hallelujah!

When I was a teenager, more emphasis was given to Christ’s return than it is now. Perhaps it was only in the church tradition I was part of, which had a very definite view on the details of the end times. I am not sure that was always helpful, and my own views are less concrete than they once were. Nevertheless, I look back with some measure of nostalgia. We were thinking seriously about Christ’s return, whereas nowadays, I don’t see much interest in the subject.

That’s a great pity because it was clearly a subject considered important enough to include in our earliest creeds. The creedal statements tell us that Christ will one day appear in glory; he will judge all people (‘the living and the dead’).

Jesus also spoke about this future event.

All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matt 24.31-32

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Matt 25.31-32

Power and glory; angels and a throne; the gathering of people from around the world. And judgement. This is very different from Jesus’ first coming, which was about weakness and poverty, angels and a manger, salvation, and followers scattered across the world. Only the angels make it into both lists!

So, how does the prospect of Christ's return in glory, coming as a righteous judge, impact us as leaders?

Judgement is coming—that should motivate us to share the gospel. When we remember that people are lost without Christ, we have every reason to be clear in how we speak about salvation in Christ. But it should also strengthen our resolve to serve Christ faithfully as leaders. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that leaders are those who ‘must give an account’ (Heb 13.17a) for how they lead. James writes in his letter that ‘we who teach will be judged more strictly’ (James 3.1b).

Leaders will face Christ’s judgement.

FACING JUDGEMENT

Christians differ over the details of the future judgement; in particular, whether the ‘judgement seat of Christ’ referred to in 2 Corinthians 5.10 is the same as the ‘great white throne’ of Revelation 20.10. Some see two separate judgement events—the ‘judgement seat’ for believers and the ‘great white throne’ for unbelievers. Others think both believers and unbelievers will be judged at the same time.

It is sufficient here simply to acknowledge that leaders will be judged. Or it may be more accurate to say that Christ will judge or ‘test’ our works. The apostle Paul describes a judgement of fire that ‘will test what sort of work each one has done’ (1 Cor 3.13). Specifically, he is concerned about what we are building into the Church, how our deeds impact God’s people. Works that are unworthy (wood, hay, and stubble) are burnt up, while works that are worthy (gold, silver, and precious stones) last.

The difference between the two categories is whether the works are consistent with the foundation Paul has laid, which is Jesus Christ himself. Are our preaching and teaching—and all our acts of service—faithful to the gospel, and do they bring glory to Christ rather than to ourselves? Paul emphatically says that this judgement is not a question of the individual’s salvation. Those whose works are burned up ‘will be saved, but only as through fire’ (1 Cor 3.15). Paul also writes, ‘If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward’ (1 Cor 3.14). This corresponds to what he writes in 2 Corinthians.

We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Cor 5.10

At Christ’s judgement seat, Christians’ deeds will be evaluated. Those who claim to speak and lead in the name of Christ, and to follow after Paul and others in building on their foundation, will be judged more strictly (James 3.1b). That’s presumably because our words and actions have a greater impact on other Christians than those who don’t lead. We would do well to keep this truth constantly in mind because it motivates us to ‘take care’ (1 Cor 3.10) and ‘make it our aim to please [the Lord]” (2 Cor 5.9). It is reassuring to know that the harm done by leaders who act from self-preservation and self-promotion will not last into eternity. However, it is sobering to ask ourselves how much of our activity as leaders truly builds on the one firm foundation, which is Christ.

There is nothing to fear at the judgement seat of Christ, for we will be saved. Yet we will also give an account, so we must take care and maintain focus.

THRILLING FUTURE

The prospect of Christ’s return should not only cause ministers to be careful. It should also thrill their hearts. In the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25), the master addresses each of his faithful servants with these words.

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matt 25.21;23

I find that statement helpful when pondering the idea of rewards for faithful service. For me, ‘reward’ conjures up images of prizes and money, as if the more faithful servants get bigger houses in heaven. But that isn’t what these words suggest at all. They indicate that there are three different aspects to the reward.

First, the master commends the servant with the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. What would it be like to hear our Lord and Master say that to us on the final day? In my better moments, I think that alone would be reward enough for me. Who needs a bigger mansion if you have the approval of the master?

Second, the servant is given greater responsibility. ‘You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things’. If this parable is understood as a description of how Christ will evaluate his servants, it suggests we will be assigned different degrees of responsibility in the new creation based on our service now. It makes sense to think there will be work for us in the new creation, and that what we learn now might prepare us for specific roles. Having said that, the New Testament support for this is not solid enough for me to put too much weight on the idea, so we’ll have to wait and see!

Third, the faithful servant is invited to ‘enter into the joy of [his] master’. In the parable, the master has been away; he hasn’t been with the servants while they served. In its conclusion, however, he has returned and will remain present with his servants. His joy will be their joy. This generous master will share the good fruits of their service, which have emerged from their faithfulness. In the future, their relationship will be one of partnership.

I think this is the greatest truth of all when we think about the return of Christ. Now we serve him although we do not see him, but then we will see him and we will be with him. As Jesus promised the disciples, ‘I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also’ (John 14.3). Whatever we understand about the judgement of our works and the rewards that follow, surely the greatest reward of all is to be with Jesus.

The creedal confession about Christ’s return as judge reminds us that we will give account to him at his judgement seat, so we must take care and maintain focus. It also reminds us that we will see him and enter his joy eternally, so let us live for his joy now and serve him with the gracious gifts he has given us.

Christian leader, the Jesus in whom you have placed your trust, whom you love and serve, will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. In this we hope and rejoice. For this we live and work.

The apostle Paul urged believers many years ago to ‘stand firm’. May his words embolden and strengthen you today.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Cor 15.58

So, make this your confession today: ‘I believe in Christ’s return’.