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. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
A man’s deeds will be compared with the great standard of conduct, the law of God (Eccl. 12:13, 14; Rom. 2:12, 13; James 1:25; 2:10-12). In the final judgment there will be no vague standard of righteousness, and thus no chance to escape a just recompense by a belated appeal to divine mercy (Gal. 6:7; Rev. 22:12).
In his body.
That is, in this life (see on v. 6). Obviously, probation is here limited to man’s existence in this present world and terminates with the dissolution of the body (v. 1).
Gr. bēma, “a raised platform,” from which a formal Roman trial was conducted. Christ is to be the final judge (Matt. 11:27; John 5:22-27; Acts 17:31; 1 Peter 4:5). He is particularly fitted for this task. He is the world’s Creator and its Redeemer. It is a most awesome thought that our Saviour is to be our judge. He took upon Him the nature of those who will come before His bar of justice (Phil. 2:6-8), those whose destiny He will decide. He suffered every temptation to which they have been subjected (Heb. 2:14-17; 4:15). He stood in man’s place. In Christ divine wisdom is combined with human experience. His understanding and insight are infinite (Heb. 4:13). In Christ the righteousness of God has been united with that of a perfect Man. In His role as “Judge of all,” God the Father is united with Christ (Heb. 12:23, 24), and is seen by John the revelator upon a “great white throne” at the end of the thousand years (Rev. 20:11, 12).
Appear.
Gr. phaneroō, “to make manifest,”“to make visible,”“to make known,”“to show openly,”“to make public.” This word occurs nine times in 2 Corinthians. On that great day men will not only put in an appearance at the bar of justice, but will stand revealed as to what manner of persons they are. The secrets of their lives will be made bare (Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 2:16; 1 Cor. 4:5). All will have a fair hearing (cf. Jude 15). No man will be judged in his absence, or by proxy (Rom. 14:12; cf. James 2:12, 13).
For we must.
The conjunction “for” connects this verse with what has gone before. Anticipation of being called upon to stand before God on the great judgment day was one of Paul’s reasons for seeking so earnestly to be found acceptable before God. Faithfully and selflessly he purposed to discharge the trust committed to him as an ambassador for Christ. Those for whom the solemnity of that day has reality will ever be diligent and serious in seeking to make God first and to please Him in their daily lives.
The final judgment is necessary to the vindication of God’s character and justice (Ps. 51:4; Rom. 2:5; 3:26). In the present earthly state the best of men are often most afflicted, while the worst of men may prosper (Ps. 37:35-39; cf. Rev. 6:9-11). The character of God requires that in the end it shall be well with them that do good, and ill with them that do evil. This state of affairs does not now exist, and therefore there must be a day when the wrongs of the present time are made right. It is also necessary in order that Christ may triumph over the prince of darkness and his followers (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:10, 11; Phil. 2:10; GC 666-671), and that Christ may take to Himself that which He has purchased with His own blood (Heb. 2:11-13; cf. John 14:1-3).