Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

I’ve been thinking about sin this week and it seems appropriate to end the thoughts with final judgment. I have search the scriptures and find it difficult to find a clear statement about being judged for our sins. Here in Revelation 20 we see that all were judged for their works. It leads some to believe that there is some scale of justice, weighing good and bad deeds, as if the scales could be tipped in favor of good, you could escape the second death. The scriptures do not support that claim.

Revelations 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

They were casts out because their name was not found in the book of life. It does not say anything about judging sins against good works as is the assertion of many who do not know God’s Word. Even some who do have a better awareness of the bible still cling to that notion. Yet judging is used in the sense that some evidence must be presented to make a determination. The determining factor is not if ones guilt or innocence is in question but rather if ones name is written in the book of life.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The judging of works is to determine if they were wrought by God in Christ Jesus wherein we had access to walk in them. The only way we have access to those works is if we are in Christ.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

That is the life referred to in the book of life.