The Standard of Judgment

The law of God is the standard in the judgment. “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment.” “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; James 2:12.)LF 198.3

Those “considered worthy” will have part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said: “Those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead ... are children of God, being children of the resurrection.” “Those who have done good” will come out from the grave “to the resurrection of life.” (Luke 20:35, 36, NRSV; John 5:29.) The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment that accounts them worthy of “the resurrection of life.” So they will not be present in person when God examines their records and decides their cases.LF 198.4

Jesus will stand as their lawyer, to plead their cases before God. “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (1 John 2:1; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25.)LF 198.5

As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived on the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each generation after the other. Every name is mentioned, every case investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining on the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life. The Lord declared to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (Exodus 32:33).LF 198.6

All who have truly repented and by faith have claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice have had pardon entered in the books of heaven. Since they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will ... confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Isaiah 43:25; Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.)LF 199.1

Jesus, the divine Intercessor, asks that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be restored to their Eden home and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to “the former dominion” (Micah 4:8). Christ now asks that God's plan in our creation be carried into effect as if we had never fallen. He asks not only for pardon and justification for His people, but for a share in His glory and a seat with Him on His throne.LF 199.2

While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God. He points to the record of their lives, their defects of character, their unlikeness to Christ, and to all the sins he has tempted them to commit. Because of these he claims them as his subjects.LF 199.3

Jesus does not excuse their sins, but He shows their repentance and faith. Claiming forgiveness for them, He lifts His wounded hands before the Father, saying, I have graven them on the palms of My hands. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).LF 199.4