In the parables presented in Matthew 18:23-35; 25:14-30, Christ showed that our works are to be judged. The same picture is found also in other scriptures: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). “Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12). In the light of what standard will our works be examined?

The apostle Paul says that, as far as ignorance or knowledge is concerned, sinners are divided into two categories: “As many as have sinned without law [like the heathen] shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12). By reading from verse 13 to the end of the chapter, we clearly see that Paul refers to the law of Ten Commandments, which the early Christians inherited as a legacy from the Jews. This is the law that Christ proclaimed on Mount Sinai (Acts 7:38). James calls it “the law of liberty” (Chapter 2:12), because, when we receive Christ (John 14:23; Galatians 2:20), who comes to us with the law in His heart (Psalm 40:7, 8), we walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6). And, if we follow Christ in obedience to all the commandments of the Decalogue (Matthew 5:17-20; 22:36-40; 23:1-3; Luke 10:25-28; 16:17), we are free from sin (John 8:31-36).

Partial obedience is not acceptable. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:10-12). So that we may be able to identify immediately the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:8-12; 4:11), which should not be confused with other laws, James mentions two of the commandments of the Decalogue. Christ was very specific in reference to our duty towards all the commandments of the law of God. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

As Christians we should be able to see that we can be free in the proper sense of the word only if we are commandment keepers. “I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalm 119:45). Then we will be free, not only from sin, but also from the condemnation of the law. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. . . . God sending his own Son, . . . condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. . . . Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God.” “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 8:1, 3, 4, 7; 3:31).

How close to this standard of judgment are we required to come if we wish to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb? The Bible declares: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). With a deeper understanding of this subject there also comes the realization that man of himself cannot reach the standard of judgment. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Therefore, “by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

What is to be done? Where is our hope to endure this judgment? How can we be found blameless when “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6)?

God provides the assurance that we can be blameless in the judgment even though we have sinned. How? He declares that He will remove our sins from the record in heaven. “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25). It is in this way that we can be found sinless.

“As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith.”1

Christ imputes His righteousness to the penitent sinner. But though the sinner is forgiven, his sins will not be forgotten until they are blotted out.

The apostle Paul describes the daily sacrifices, which pointed to the forgiveness of sins, and to the yearly service, which pointed to the final blotting out of sins. “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” (Hebrews 9:6, 7).

In the daily service the transgressors of the law would enter the courtyard of the temple, place a flawless lamb upon the altar, confess their sins over it, and slay the animal with their own hand. Depending on the class of sin, the priest would either sprinkle the blood in the first apartment of the sanctuary or eat a piece of the flesh. In either case the priest became the sin bearer for the people, and their sins were transferred through the priest into the sanctuary through the sprinkled blood. In this way forgiveness for their transgressions was secured. The lamb represented Jesus and their participation emphasized their faith in His forgiveness.

Once a year there was a special service on the Day of Atonement. “And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. . . . And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation” (Leviticus16:29, 30, 33).

This solemn service represented a work of cleansing in behalf of those who had obtained forgiveness. In other words, the blotting out of sins is promised only to those who have previously gone through an experience of genuine repentance and thorough conversion. This is how, with our consent and cooperation, Christ’s righteousness - justification (righteousness imputed) and sanctification (righteousness imparted) - can become ours.

The message for today is:

“‘Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [in the investigative judgment], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ’” (Acts 3:19, 20, NKJ).

The work of judgment and blotting out of sins must take place prior to the second advent of our Lord, for, when He returns, He brings the reward with Him. He says: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

Paul writes: “It was . . . necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [animal sacrifices]; but the heavenly things themselves [are to be purified] with better sacrifices than these. . . . As the high priest entereth into the [most] holy place every year . . . now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:23, 25, 26-28).

We read in Revelation 11:19: “The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.”

“The announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement.”2

“The announcement, ‘The hour of His judgment is come,’ points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men.”3

While the cleansing is going on in the sanctuary above, we need to be cleansed from sin here on earth. Let us give careful consideration to the scripture quoted before - Acts 3:19, 20.

“The lives of all who have believed on Jesus pass in solemn review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate examines the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. From age to age, all who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon written against their names in the books of heaven, and in the closing work of Judgment their sins are blotted out, and they themselves are accounted worthy of eternal life.”4

Dear reader, has the thought of the judgment, where you may be found wanting, led you to examine your experience?

Since our works can be no better than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), how can our heart be cleansed from every defilement? And how can we be assured to have a place among the redeemed whose sins will be blotted out of the records in the heavenly sanctuary? It is only through surrendering our heart to Jesus and allowing Him to work a thorough reformation in our life with our cooperation. All heaven is interested in our restoration. Therefore, let us look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

“There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, ‘These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous’ (1 John 2:1). And do not forget the words of Christ, ‘The Father Himself loveth you’ (John 16:27). He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance.”5

Won’t you give your heart to Him today and let Him accomplish this work in your life?