You will complete a Research Paper based on the previously completed Annotated Bibliography and
Outline. This paper must be 3,600–4,500 words, excluding the cover page, table of contents, and
bibliography, contain at least 20 sources (excluding the Bible and course textbooks), and 8 of the 20
sources must be written within the last 10 years. The Research Paper must be completed in current
Turabian format.
The Purpose of a Theological Research Paper
The goal of a research paper is not merely to report about your readings or to list quotations (or
paraphrases) related to your topic. Instead, a research paper must be a creative theological reflection on
a relevant issue that recognizes the established scholars who helped you in that endeavor. Research
papers must attempt to prove a point (thesis). They are not “surveys” of material. They must be
thoroughly documented, and this assignment must not include your opinion until the conclusion.
“Creative theological reflection” implies staying away from those academic cardinal sins:
THEO 530
Page 1 of 3
RESEARCH PAPER INSTRUCTIONS
You will complete a Research Paper based on the previously completed Annotated Bibliography
and Outline. This paper must be 3,600–4,500 words, excluding the cover page, table of contents,
and bibliography, contain at least 20 sources (excluding the Bible and course textbooks), and 8
of the 20 sources must be written within the last 10 years. The Research Paper must be
completed in current Turabian format.
The Purpose of a Theological Research Paper
The goal of a research paper is not merely to report about your readings or to list quotations (or
paraphrases) related to your topic. Instead, a research paper must be a creative theological
reflection on a relevant issue that recognizes the established scholars who helped you in that
endeavor. Research papers must attempt to prove a point (thesis). They are not “surveys” of
material. They must be thoroughly documented, and this assignment must not include your
opinion until the conclusion.
“Creative theological reflection” implies staying away from those academic cardinal sins:
Plagiarism: “[T]o steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own; to use
(another’s [work]) without crediting the source” (Webster). To avoid such accidents, you must
reference all direct quotes, paraphrases, and original ideas borrowed from someone else.
Recycling: Submitting a paper that was originally written or submitted (even if it is in a different
format) for another course without your instructor’s permission.
Excessive direct quotations: A research paper is not intended to be just a collection of direct
quotations of works that are not your own (even if they are well documented) with your only
contribution to the process being well-formulated transitions between quotes along with an
introduction and a conclusion. Only quote when absolutely necessary: when you cannot
paraphrase the author’s words without losing the substance of his or her thoughts or when your
argument requires the exact wording of the writer.
Further Details
Misspellings, grammatical errors, poor syntax, excessive use of the first person, or failure to
comply with all structural and content criteria will count against your grade.
You will find significant resource help through the Jerry Falwell Library website. The Jerry
Falwell Library can assist you with questions regarding the use of online sources through the
library or with ordering resources through interlibrary loan.
The paper must be submitted through Blackboard before the deadline. A recent version of
Microsoft Word or other compatible file formats is required (the instructor must be able to open
your work in Microsoft Word).
The paper will be screened through software that checks to make sure your composition is
original. Be sure that you have properly cited everything that you found in the sources you used
in your research and composition of your paper.
THEO 530
Page 2 of 3
Content Comments
The content of this paper must focus on 4 specific areas. First, you must identify a specific
theological foundation of the Christian faith using a thesis statement (see list of possible topics in
the Research Paper folder within the Assignment Instructions folder). Second, you must
summarize the key doctrinal aspects of your chosen topic. Third, you must include an evaluation
of this chosen theological foundation as it relates to the ongoing conversation within historic and
orthodox Christianity. Finally, you must demonstrate competence in interpreting biblical texts
according to historical-critical literary standards as well as integrity in properly representing and
documenting theological positions related to your chosen topic.
Formatting Guidelines
You must use current Turabian format, a standard for seminaries, for this research paper.
1
Since
this is a graduate-level course, papers must be written to a near-thesis standard. That is,
minimum format standards must be met, as defined below. English grammar and spelling must
be up to graduate level (you are writing a research paper, not a casual letter). Qualities valued
include clarity, succinctness, and precision.
Your paper must include the following (according to current Turabian format):
● Title Page
● Thesis Statement: Write 1 sentence that captures the focus of your research, informs
your reader about the purpose of the paper, and previews the paper’s main ideas.
● Table of Contents: Show a clearly-defined outline that will also be visible throughout
the paper.
● Introduction: Introduce your topic with a strong paragraph that clearly reveals what you
intend to show to the reader (must include the substance of your thesis statement).
● Section Headings: Underline or bold your headings, which must follow your table of
contents.
● Body: The body’s structured development must reflect your outline. This is where you
prove your point while honestly interacting with opposing views and major objections.
● Transitional Sentences: Use clear transitions to ensure a flow and sense of unity from
paragraph to paragraph.
● Conclusion: Your conclusion must not be a mere restatement of your thesis. Instead,
your conclusion must be a synthesis of the information presented in the body. It must
bring the reader to the full level of understanding of your topic that you have reached.
● Footnotes: Use the footnoting tool provided with Microsoft Word.
● Bibliography: Include at least 20 sources (excluding the Bible and course textbooks),
and 8 of the 20 sources must be written within the last 10 years.
● Page numbers
● 1-inch margins
● Double-spacing
● Times New Roman, 12-point font
● Indented paragraphs of 5 spaces or 0.6 inches (the thesis standard is 5/8 of an inch)
● No extra line spacing between paragraphs
1
Go to this Library link for information about the Turabian style:
http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=1221
THEO 530
Page 3 of 3
A Word about Sources
In order to gather sources for a research paper of this magnitude, one might be tempted to go to
an Internet search engine like Google, type a keyword related to one’s topic, and collect sources
from the first 20 to 30 results displayed. You must resist such temptation (since we know that
temptation is not from God). As a rule, the Internet is not an acceptable resource for research
papers (there are very few exceptions). Instead, it is recommended that you primarily use the
following types of sources* while making sure that you cite all works used in your research
paper and that you include only works cited in your bibliography.
● Scholarly journal articles: These are useful for their survey of the critical issues related
to the subject and their bibliography, which could give you useful leads on the top
scholars and works in the field.
● Primary sources: These must take precedence over secondary sources. A primary source
is a firsthand account or direct evidence concerning a subject matter under examination
while secondary sources present an assessment or an interpretation of primary sources
(e.g., Augustine’s own work City of God is a primary source about Augustine’s view of
the struggle between good and evil while Augustine of Hippo: A Biography by Peter
Brown is a secondary source).
● Scholarly works: These include books, monographs, serials, and manuscripts written by
experts in the field as opposed to dubious works whose value cannot be ascertained (ask
yourself if the critic’s credentials and works suggest that he or she is qualified).
*This list is not intended to be exhaustive. You may use other types of sources, including
secondary sources, but you must make every effort to reference only those works that document
the subject matter faithfully and accurately.
Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 7.
THEO 530
Page 1 of 2
RESEARCH PAPER GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content 70%
Advanced 92–100%
Proficient 84–91%
Developing 1–83%
Not Present
Points
Earned
Introduction and
Thesis Statement
30 to 28 points
The paper’s thesis statement
is present (1 clear, logical
sentence stating the critique’s
argument), and the
introduction provides a clear
overview of the paper’s
contents.
27 to 25 points
The paper’s thesis statement
is mostly present (1 clear,
logical sentence stating the
critique’s argument), and
the introduction mostly
provides a clear overview of
the paper’s contents.
24 to 1 points
The paper’s thesis statement
is not present, but the
introduction somewhat
provides an overview of the
paper’s contents.
0 points
Not present
Content and
Critical Writing
115 to 106 points
The major questions in the
instructions are adequately
addressed. The paper’s
analysis is thorough and
critical rather than mere
summary and review.
105 to 97 points
The major questions in the
instructions are mostly
addressed. The paper’s
analysis is mostly
thorough and critical
rather than mere summary
and review.
96 to 1 points
The questions in the
instructions are only
somewhat addressed, and
the paper is more review
than analysis.
0 points
Not present
Conclusion
30 to 28 points
The conclusion offers a
good summary of issues
treated in the paper.
27 to 25 points
The conclusion mostly
offers a good summary of
issues treated in the paper.
24 to 1 points
The conclusion somewhat
offers a good summary of
issues treated in the
paper.
0 points
Not present
THEO 530
Page 2 of 2
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Structure 30%
Advanced 92–100%
Proficient 84–91%
Developing 1–83%
Not Present
Points
Earned
References and
Formatting
40 to 37 points
The bibliography contains
at least 20 scholarly sources
listed in proper Turabian
format, excluding the Bible
and the course textbooks.
These sources are properly
cited and quoted. The paper
overall uses proper
Turabian formatting.
36 to 34 points
The bibliography contains
at least 20 scholarly
sources listed in proper
Turabian format,
excluding the Bible and
the course textbooks.
These sources, however,
are not properly cited and
quoted (1-2 errors). The
paper overall mostly uses
proper Turabian
formatting.
33 to 1 points
The bibliography contains
less than 20 scholarly
sources, and/or more than
2 citation errors exist
according to Turabian
formatting. The paper
overall somewhat follows
proper Turabian
formatting.
0 points
Not present
Mechanics and Style
35 to 32 points
Proper spelling and
grammar are used. The
transitions between
paragraphs and sections are
clear. There is a title page
and a table of contents. The
treatment of the topic is
logically oriented. The
paper reflects a graduate
level of vocabulary.
31 to 29 points
The transitions between
paragraphs and sections
are mostly clear. There is a
title page and a table of
contents. The treatment of
the topic is mostly
logically oriented. The
paper mostly reflects a
graduate level of
vocabulary, spelling, and
grammar.
28 to 1 points
The transitions between
paragraphs and sections
are somewhat clear.
Either the title page or the
table of contents might be
missing. The treatment of
the topic is somewhat
logically oriented. The
paper only somewhat
reflects a graduate level
of vocabulary, spelling,
and grammar.
0 points
Not present.
Total
/250
Instructor's Comments:
RESEARCH PAPER- OUTLINE
___________________
A Paper
Presented to
Dr. Christopher Moody
Liberty University School of Ministry
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course
THEO 530 Systematic Theology II
___________________
by
Mikenley Jean
November 2018
2
Research Topic
The Judgement Seat of Christ
Thesis Statement
This research will be base on the topic of “The Judgment Seat of Christ.” I will discuss
the Divine Court of God with Christ by His side as our mediator.
Introduction and overview
The Divine Court of Christ isn't intended to decide our salvation, since we realize that
the blood of Jesus scrubs us from all transgression. Salvation was gained based on the sacrifice
made by Christ. This sacrifice enabled our transgressions to be eradicated and we gotten God's
absolution, compromise with Him, and another life embedded in us by the recovering Word of
God, empowered by the intensity of His Spirit. Nonetheless, we should give a record of our
works from the minute when we have made of Jesus our Lord.
“If any man's work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”
1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV)
3
In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul declared that the establishment, the foundation of
the congregation building, is Jesus and that's it. Our proclaiming must in this way concern Christ
executed, risen Christ and Christ returning.
When accumulated to the Lord, all reclaimed, regardless, should be "showed" before
the judgment seat of Christ. This "appearance" will occur before the presence of the Lamb.
The Judgement Seat of Christ is a judgment, or rather I should say it’s an assessment.
This assessment concerns the individuals who serve the Lord, who participate into the building
of the Kingdom as indicated by the blessings, and gift they have received from God. What we do
on earth in this manner has a span to paradise concerning the working of God.
We will be decided on our works yet in addition on the inspirations of our works. We
should take the case of a decent work on earth, yet without a contemplated and/or truncated
inspiration, it is then that Jesus will uncover what was concealed, "the desires of the heart".
Without a doubt, the inspirations of our works will be assessed. Numerous demonstrations will
show up, in the light of this council, in a totally unique light from that in which we will have
valued them here underneath. Give us a chance to think specifically of the manner by which we
have showed the soul and the characters of Christ in the entirety of our movement.
Conclusion
Give us a chance to comprehend that the reason for this Judgement is exceptionally
positive, particularly since there will be a few sorts of remunerations: the acclaim of Jesus, the
4
crown of life, the crown of wonder (1 Peter 5: 4), the ethical crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), the
crown of honorableness (2 Timothy 4: 8)
5
Bibliography
McFadden, Kevin W. Judgment According to Works in Romans: the Meaning and
Function of Divine Judgment in Pauls Most Important Letter. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press,
2013.
Almond, Philip C. "The Devil Defeated." In The Devil: A New Biography, 168-95.
ITHACA, NEW YORK: Cornell University Press, 2014.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt20d88pc.13
Thompson, Victoria. "Judgement on Earth and in Heaven." In Dying and Death in
Later Anglo-Saxon England, 170-206. Boydell and Brewer, 2004.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt81qrm.12.
Fauteux, Kevin. "The Final Portrait of Christ." Journal of Religion and Health 28, no.
3 (1989): 195-206. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27506022.
"CHAPTER VI. Europe: The Bride and the Harlot." Biblical Tradition in Blakes
Early Prophecies, 2017. doi:10.1515/9781400886593-009.
Chadwick, Harold J. The Imitation of Christ. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos,
1999.
Ragusa, Isa. "Terror Demonum and Terror Inimicorum: The Two Lions of the Throne
of Solomon and the Open Door of Paradise." Zeitschrift Für Kunstgeschichte 40, no. 2 (1977):
93-114. doi:10.2307/1482022.
6
Boehme, Jacob, Peter Erb, and Winfried Zeller. The Way to Christ. New York:
Paulist Press, 1978.
M. R. JAMES; THE APOCALYPSE, The Journal of Theological Studies, Volume
os-XXII, Issue 4, 1 July 1921, Pages 384–391, https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/os-XXII.4.384
Michális S. Michael, Framing Interfaith Dialogue in Australia's Multicultural Setting:
Mounting an Interfaith and Intercultural Network in Melbourne's Northern Region, Religion,
State and Society, 41, 1, (35), (2013).
Hill, Alan G. "Three 'Visions' of Judgement: Southey, Byron, and Newman." The
Review of English Studies, New Series, 41, no. 163 (1990): 334-50.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/515702.
Hooker, Morna D. "On Becoming the Righteousness of God: Another Look at 2 Cor
5:21." Biblical Studies, 2008, 358-75.
Ellis, E. Earle. "Deity-Christology in Mk 14:58." Christ and the Future in New
Testament History: 38-51. doi:10.1163/9789004267473_004.
Du Rand, Jan A. ""Your Kingdom Come 'on Earth as It Is in Heaven'": The
Theological Motif of the Apocalypse of John." Neotestamentica 31, no. 1 (1997): 59-75.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/43049005.
Hinson, E. Glenn. Jesus Christ. Wilmington, NC: Consortium Books, 1977.
Sale Harrison, The Judgement Seat of Christ (Arkansas: Challenge Press, 1975),
Baker Encyclopaedia of the Bible, sv “Judgement,” by Howard Farrell.
Lehman Strauss, God’s Plan of the Future (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, nd), 111.
Carl Johnson, The Account Which We Must Give (Illinois: Regular Baptist, 1991),
Paul Helm, The Last Things (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1989), 69.
7
Feedback to Learner11/26/18 3:30 PM
Thanks for the hard work. Email me if you have any further questions. This will be the last bit of feedback you get for
your term paper without you emailing me. If you do not show progress in the problems below (progress not
perfection) you will be docked further points in your term paper.
Main Problem at this point: You do not have a proper argument / thesis yet... continue to narrow your work down
more. BTW, you cannot use this paper just "to discuss" this doctrine or argue that it is true and/or important (well-
worn path). Find a finer point in the discussion (where is current scholarship in this debate?) ... a finer nuance in
the arguments and argue toward it. Another way to narrow down your thesis is to focus on a specific theologian and
either advance their arguments or critique their arguments.
Two Comments:
Like I noted in the annotated bibliography comments, make sure you write a Systematic Theology paper and not a
counseling paper, Bible exposition paper, or a sermon paper. The best way to tell the nature of the paper is to look at
its thesis and Bibliography (which will have primarily systematic theology texts).
For my class, place your thesis in the first paragraph of the introduction and in this format if in doubt: "This paper will
argue that..." (one sentence only)... read about the nature of the thesis statement below my signature...
Thanks and I look forward to reading it, Dr. Moody
Rubric:
Thesis Statement (15 points)..................... 10/15
Research Question (5 points)......................... 1/5
Outline (15 points)...................................... 7/15
References and Formatting (10 points)...... 8/10
Mechanics and Style (5 points)..................... 4/5
Total: ..........................................................30 /50
A thesis statement . . .
. . . tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
. . . is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
. . . directly answers the question asked of you or by you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the
subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be “the end times” or “the person/work of Jesus Christ;” a thesis
must then offer a way to understand the argument that the paper is going to make concerning these topics.
. . . makes a claim that others might dispute.
. . . is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the
logic of your interpretation. Systematic theology papers are “always research papers” that ask you to take a position
and then develop an argument proving that position. You need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement
near the beginning of your draft. Many assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement, because
your instructor assumes you will include one. The papers for my class ask for one explicitly. When in doubt, ask your
instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. Also remember that Masters level work requires that you
write/think more critically (evaluation, polemic, strengths, weaknesses, demonstration) as opposed to descriptively
(summary, review). The reader can tell from the thesis statement if your paper is worth reading and makes a
contribution to the field versus the mere reiteration of data.
COMMENTS SHORTHAND
This is a guide to grammar comments inserted into your paper:
CS Comma splice
8
SI Split infinitive
SF Sentence fragment
DP Dangling preposition
SP Misspelled
CAP Capitalize or do not Capxitalize
PE Punctuation error
PP Personal Pronouns (first and second person-we, I, me, you)
SE Syntax error
RS Run-on sentence
RW Reword
ME Missing element
CN Citation Needed **Danger of plagiarism
IQ Introduce Quote with your own words
NP New paragraph
? Clarification needed, ambiguous
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
A Sample Paper for the Purpose of Correct Formatting
Submitted to LUSOD Faculty & Students,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the completion of
THEO 530
Systematic Theology II
by
Mikenley Jean
Nov 7, 2018
1
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Statement of Topic:
This research will be base on the topic of “ The Judgment Seat of Christ.”
Bibliography Information for Resource #1:
White, Ellen Gould Harmon. Last Day Events: Facing Earths Final Crisis. Grantham:
Stanborough Press, 1992.
Brief statement regarding the author and his or her credentials as an authority:
The author, White, Ellen Gould Harmon, is the co-founder of the Seventh-Day Adventist
Church, and “is considered the most widely translated American Author. Her works have been
published in more than 140 languages. Although her formal schooling ended at age 9, she wrote
more than 100,000 pages on a wide variety of practical topics.”
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for your topic:
As the co-founder of the SDA Ellen White wrote a lotta manual to which the church took very
seriously. This “ Last Day Events” by Mrs. White is considered as a prophesy book to which the
church crossreference with the events in the Revelation book, and the book of Daniel.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic:
Quote: “He did not reveal when he would come, but he left us clues-‘signs’ that would indicate
when his coming was near”
1
Bibliography Information for Resource #2:
McFadden, Kevin W. Judgment According to Works in Romans: the Meaning and Function of
Divine Judgment in Pauls Most Important Letter. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2013.
Brief statement regarding the author and his or her credentials as an authority:
The author, McFadden, Kevin W.“is assistant professor of New Testament at Cairn University.
Kevin W. McFadden shows that Paul wrote the letter to remind Roman Christians of his gospel because
of his vocation as apostle to the Gentiles. The letter simultaneously demonstrates the guilt of the world
and calls Paul's audience to live out the implications of the gospel. The theme of judgment thus appears
in two distinct ways. Paul opposes justification by works of law, but simultaneously affirms––as did most
of the early Christian movement, McFadden argues––a final judgment according to works.”
2
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for your topic:
1
White, Ellen Gould Harmon Last Day Events: Facing Earths Final Crisis. Grantham: Stanborough Press,
1992.
2
McFadden, Kevin W. Judgment According to Works in Romans: the Meaning and Function of Divine
Judgment in Pauls Most Important Letter. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2013.
2
This article is about a letter to which Paul sent to the gentiles about judgment day, that I think
would be very useful to nowadays Christians and gentiles alike.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic:
I haven’t read the book yet, so I can’t really comment on it
Bibliography Information for Resource #3:
Thompson, Victoria. "Judgement on Earth and in Heaven." In Dying and Death in Later Anglo-
Saxon England, 170-206. Boydell and Brewer, 2004.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt81qrm.12.
Brief statement regarding the author and his or her credentials as an authority:
The author Thomson, Victoria “is the Edgar(R) and Agatha award-nominated author of the
Gaslight mysteries--including Murder on Union Square, Murder in the Bowery, Murder in
Morningside Heights, and Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue--as well as numerous historical
novels.”
3
Bibliography Information for Resource #4:
Almond, Philip C. "The Devil Defeated." In The Devil: A New Biography, 168-95. ITHACA,
NEW YORK: Cornell University Press, 2014.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt20d88pc.13.
Brief statement regarding the author and his or her credentials as an authority:
Philip C. Almond is Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences (Research) and
Professorial Research Fellow at the Centre for the History of European Discourses at The
University of Queensland. He is the author of many books, including The Devil: A New
Biography and Afterlife: A History of Life after Death, both from Cornell; The Lancashire
Witches: A Chronicle of Sorcery and Death on Pendle Hill; Adam and Eve in Seventeenth-
Century Thought; and Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England.
4
Bibliography Information for Resource #5:
Fauteux, Kevin. "The Final Portrait of Christ." Journal of Religion and Health 28, no. 3 (1989):
195-206. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27506022.
3
Thompson, Victoria. "Judgement on Earth and in Heaven." In Dying and Death in Later Anglo-Saxon
England, 170-206. Boydell and Brewer, 2004. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt81qrm.12.
4
Almond, Philip C. "The Devil Defeated." In The Devil: A New Biography, 168-95. ITHACA, NEW
YORK: Cornell University Press, 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt20d88pc.13.
3
Brief statement regarding the author and his or her credentials as an authority:
The author, Fauteux Kevin work as a program and clinical chief of a private program for triply
analyzed customers in San Francisco.
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for your topic:
This article examines why people responded so negatively to this and other artistic presentations
of Jesus. It suggests they have failed to recognize how the portrayal reflects a personal
experience of the artist and is not meant to be a final portrait of Christ. And on a more
unconscious level, these works of art evoke feelings within people which they fear to acknolege
and which they escape they fear to acknowledge and which they escape by condemning the
work.
5
5
Fauteux, Kevin. "The Final Portrait of Christ." Journal of Religion and Health 28, no. 3 (1989): 195-206.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27506022.
4
Feedback to Learner11/9/18 5:14 PM
Good topic choice (bema). Go for it...
TWO warnings:
1.Make sure you write a systematic theology paper... not a pastoral ministries paper, a Bible
exposition, or a counseling paper.
2. Make sure you attempt to prove something more specific than just that this doctrine/stance is
merely important and / or true (that would be a well-worn path)!!
Think of your thesis statement as a combination of a theme and a thrust. You have given your
theme here (your subject), now you need to develop your thrust (your predicate). Your thrust
answers the question "what do you want to prove about your subject matter?"
You have picked some decent sources... (continue to work on formatting…)
You do NOT have enough discussion of the author’s credentials or the article’s relevancy.
The point of this assignment is to begin to “evaluate” the “authority” of sources and whether they
add or detract from the polemic. Think of it like you would if you were a lawyer deposing a
witness for a trial. Is this a credible source? Is this an authoritative source for the context you are
writing in (e.g. LBTS, an Evangelical, Baptist, theological seminary)?
Rubric
Accuracy of Facts 9/10
Focus 10/10
Critical Thinking 14/15
5
Referencing and Formatting 9/10
Mechanics and Style 4/5
Total 46/50
COMMENTS SHORTHAND
This is a guide to grammar comments inserted into your paper:
CS Comma splice
SI Split infinitive
SF Sentence fragment
DP Dangling preposition
SP Misspelled
CAP Capitalize or do not Capitalize
PE Punctuation error
PP Personal Pronouns (first and second person-we, I, me, you)
SE Syntax error
RS Run-on sentence
RW Reword
ME Missing element
CN Citation Needed **Danger of plagiarism
IQ Introduce Quote with your own words
NP New paragraph
? Clarification needed, ambiguous
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 1
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE
___________________
A Paper
Presented to
Dr Christopher Moody
Liberty University School of Ministry
___________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course
THEO 530 Systematic Theology II
___________________
by
Mikenley Jean
November 2018
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 2
Thesis statement
This research is based on the Judgment Seat of Christ discussing the divine Court of God with
Christ at his side as our mediator.
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 3
Table of content
Cover page 1
Thesis statement 2
Introduction 4
The judgement seat of Christ 5
The judge 6
Time of judgment seat of Christ 6
Controversies about the Judgment seat of Christ 11
The relevance of the Judgment seat of Christ 12
Conclusion 13
References 15
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 4
Introduction
In the beginning, God created man in his own image and likeness and willed it that man
will dominate the earth. In his abundant love, God created all things for man and made him a
paradise; the Garden of Eden. He went ahead and gave manpower and dominion over the whole
earth. After looking at the amazing works He had done, he said that surely it was good. God gave
him the role in subduing the earth. In that time, man and God were friends. By this I mean man
never feared God because he was without sin. However, God gave man instruction and warned
him against sinning. He told the man that sinning would lead to death.
However, the man fell short of the glory of God and sinned against him. Despite the love
and plans, God willed for man; he transgressed against God. From that day onwards, sin kept
man distant from God. The friendship that existed between man and God grew into man fearing
God. It is here that God’s plan for salvation started. He sought to save mankind at all cost and
because of his unending love, God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for
the salvation of mankind.
Jesus came to earth and brought the kingdom near to us. He preached the good news and
showed us how to live in love and by the will of God. He then suffered his fate and died on the
cross to wash away our sins and transgressions. All this was by the sovereign will of God. It is
by his sacrifice that we bought our salvation. Our sins were washed by his blood, and this was
the price paid for salvation. God gave us salvation for free through the blood of his son Jesus
Christ. From that point on, Jesus became our mediator to the Lord. In the book of John, Jesus
says that whoever abides in him and His word abides in him, they shall receive abundant
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rewards. The blood of Jesus washed us of our sin and condemnation. This gave anyone who
believes in their heart that Jesus is God a way to heaven.
However, despite the salvation given by the blood of Jesus, man has to give an account of
his works and activities here on earth on the Day of Judgment before the Lord. This will happen
in heaven when we all will stand before the Christians, heavenly host and before God with his
son Jesus beside him. All believers will have to account what they were doing with their lives.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
. This is the event where all believers of Christ will have to give an account of their deeds
while on earth to God. The Judgment Seat of Christ refers to that occasion when the church will
stand before Christ and give an account of their actions. It has to be clearly understood that this
will involve what a Christian did after believing in Jesus, how they used their different gift and
how they lived with their neighbour. This judgment will just be an acknowledgement of the
works they did while on earth and the crowning of their rewards.
There will be no punishment of sin or condemnation. Paul writes to the Romans and tells
them that there is no condemnation for those that believe in Christ Jesus. The sins and iniquities
of the believers have already been forgiven way before the judgment. The bible says that we
must all appear in the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in the
body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad( 2nd Corinth 5:10). On that day
everything about us will be revealed — everything we have ever done either in public or in
secret. Anything we were supposed to do, and we failed to, all our faults, failures and even the
motivation behind every action.
However, the judgment seat of Christ will not determine the state of salvation for
mankind. It is evident that Jesus through his death on the cross bought the salvation for
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Christians. Already those who believe in Christ Jesus have salvation. In the book of John 3:16,
God sent his only son to die for us so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
everlasting life. This means that our fate for salvation is not dependent on the Day of Judgment
but rather on the day we received Christ and believed in him.
The Judge
The judge on that day will be Jesus Christ. He was used to set man free from sin. He is
the only one who is the way to salvation. Therefore because of this Jesus holds the book of life
and is the judge over his people. He says in the book of Matthew 16:27 that the son of man will
come in the glory of His Father and his angels and will reward each according to his works.
According to The Theological Motif of the Apocalypse of John, the role of Christ is to do what
God does. His coming brought God’s salvation and judgment. God glorifies Christ and gives
him the mandate to bring the people he called to judgment. Further, the bible in the book of
Revelation 19:14 confirm this. John saw Jesus during the last days clothed in clean and fine
white linen followed by the armies of heaven. He has been given power and glory to judge the
corners of the earth. There can be none more eminent than this-to preside the last judgment
(Bruce& Martin, 1964). In the book of 2nd Timothy 4:1 the bible that Jesus will judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
Time of the Judgment seat of Christ
The judgment of the believers will happen during the rapture of the church. The book of
Thessalonians 4:13-18 gives a detailed analogy of what will happen on that day. Those who died
in Christ Jesus will rise from the dead first to meet the Lord. Those who will be alive in those
days and are followers of Jesus will, later on, follow to meet the Messiah, the King of Kings and
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to be with Him always. On this day, it will be a judgment for saints. They will not be judged of
their sins. They have already been forgiven their sins.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John
5:24) This is Jesus telling his disciples of the way to salvation. However, this should not be
confused to mean that Christians will not give an account of their lives in salvation. Simply it
means that those who believe in Christ and accept the truth in their hearts have been forgiven of
their sins and shall not face the judgment of sin.
It should be clearly understood that not everybody will face the Judgment Seat of Christ.
It is only those who believe in Christ in their hearts that shall have the privilege of dining with
Christ in his Glory. Those who did not accept the truth of Christ shall be judged later on, and
their fate will be determined. For the Judgment Seat of Christ, it is only those who are in the
book of life that shall give an account of their life. This leads to many questions regarding the
way of Christian life. Some may even ask if the sin committed shall be accounted for.
It is true all we do here on earth, all we say, all we conceive, all we desire and all we see
and hear is recorded in heaven. This is regardless of whether it is good or bad. On the day of the
judgment of the saints, all sin they committed when alive will have already been forgiven. This
on the accounts of their deeds will be revealed as forgiven sin the only difference that will be
there is that the guilt will be covered by the blood of Jesus. The good deeds that the believer did
here on earth will now be examined for rewarding.
The bigger question now becomes, what is the purpose of the judgment if all who believe
are saved from the eternal fire. Even if one can enter into the kingdom, there will still be a
difference of position in the kingdom (Nee, 2014). Nee quotes that since the blood of Jesus has
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already given us the ticket to the kingdom, judgment for Christians will be to determine different
roles in the kingdom. Some will lose in heaven after the judgment. In the book of Corinthians
Paul explains that it is at the judgment seat of Christ that our deeds shall be reciprocated. All the
accounts of a person's full deeds shall be weighed. The bible clearly says that our works cannot
save us nor can they lead to the kingdom. However, the same bible says that we will get all we
be paid depending on the deeds we had. This brings a new meaning to life in the Kingdom. It
means the more the good deeds, the more the reward in heaven. Paul refers to the reward as a
crown.
There will be a great difference in the roles the saints will play in heaven. First
Corinthians 3:8 says, "Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his
own reward according to his own labor." Every believer will give to account what they did with
the talents that God bestowed in them. Those who took their calling with emphasis and heeded
upon the call took part in the growth of the kingdom and labored to spread the good news of the
Lord to the Gentiles will be greatly rewarded. In Rev 22:2 the Bible says, “Behold, I am coming
quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” it is a
rare verse from the Revelation that gives Christians a lot of hope and motivation to live
righteously. And vice versa to those who took the calling of God lightly and never heeded to the
call of Christ Jesus never made an effort to grow the Kingdom of God but still lived a righteous
life will receive a lesser reward.
God created all mankind for a purpose, and all mankind shall bow before the Lord and confess
giving a detailed account of how they lived. Every man shall give an account of how they used
their lives to fulfil their purpose on this earth. God's sole purpose during the creation of mankind
is clearly explained by Jesus to his disciples. Jesus told them that the greatest commandment of
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God is to love the Lord their God with all they have; soul, heart, mind and spirit and to trust in
him only. This is inclusive of worshipping him, adoring him, praising him, giving him thanks,
obeying him and even witnessing his goodness throughout the world. This revolves around the
relationship between God and man. By fellowshipping with other believers, praying together,
praising the name of God and obeying him, they show attributes of obeying God
Obeying and fearing God ranges on a wide perspective. It boils down to little things that
motivate you to do things. Like for example in the life of a Christian, What is the main
motivation that keeps them going to church? Is it because they want to be in the company of the
others, want to have fun or because they are doing it for the Lord. Such motives are what will be
judged by God on the last day.
The second commandment Jesus gave them was to love their neighbors as they loved
themselves. Logically, one cannot say to love God who is unseen when it is hard for him to love
a neighbor who he can see. Here God willed that man should be their brother’s keeper. They
should all live in harmony and peace bound by the love of God motivated to fulfill the will of
God. Jesus even goes ahead to illustrate how it will be in the last days. He gives them an analogy
of how during the judgment day he will reject many telling them that they refused to clothe him
when he was naked, refused to feed him when he was hungry and give him shelter when he was
homeless. Jesus explained to them that whenever they feed the hungry, it is He that they feed.
Whenever they clothe the clothe-less, it is He that they clothe. And when they give shelter to the
homeless, it is He that they shelter. He was spreading the message of love, kindness, goodness,
and generosity to his disciples. Jesus who is God at this point reminds us that every man is
created in the likeness of God regardless of the social status. This thus means that if anyone does
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well to their neighbor, they have done if for God and if they do bad for them, they have still done
it to the Lord.
This also reminds Christians of the importance of forgiveness among one another. Christ
himself died on the cross so that we may be forgiven of our sins. It took a life and for that matter
life of God to be forgiven. Therefore Christians are should follow the example of Christ and be
kindhearted and learn to forgive others. If they have wronged anyone, then it is very important to
ask for forgiveness and seek peace. If anyone does not forgive others, then they still carry guilt in
their hearts, and that goes against the second greatest commandment of all; love your neighbor as
you love yourself. How do we then expect to be forgiven? Jesus in the Lord's Prayer taught that
we should ask God to forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who trespass against us. These are
the basic things Christ taught the disciples when he was on earth, and they will count greatly on
the Day of Judgment.
What does this mean to the Christians? God will judge us mainly on these two commandments.
All the critical things are built on the foundation of love. The little things we do to our neighbors
all revolve on love however small they are. The truth of the matter is that they count a lot when
brought to judgment. Service to mankind is service to God and this is a sign of love. It is true that
good fruits do not make a tree good but good fruits are a sign that they are from a good tree.
Only a good tree will bear good fruits. Paul tries to fight people from judging another. He says
that we all have a judge whom we will all be accountable to. He tells the Corinthians that every
tongue shall bow before the Lord and confess.
The list of things that Christians will be evaluated upon cannot be exhausted. The list is
very long but to sum it up, living by all Christian virtues pays a great role in determining the
reward we have in heaven. The more good we do to our neighbors the more the reward.
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Controversies about the Judgment seat of Christ
Many preachers and Christians are confused about the difference between the Judgment
seat of Christ and the final judgment bringing about a heated argument about the topic. Some
Christian teachers picture the Judgment seat of Christ as a day full of sorrow and terror. To them
on this day, Christ will uncover all the sins of their lives before all the ruptured Christians and
the heavenly host. To them, this will be a day of shame rather than a day of glory. However, this
is not necessarily true because Paul in his letters was aiming at encouraging the believers and
revealing to them what the Lord has in store for them. It is rather a day where what we will be
accountable for is the actions and deeds we did while still alive. This is because our judgment of
sins already happened at the cross and Jesus atoned for us.
Others keep the belief that it will only be an occasion where everybody will be rewarded
according to their deeds. They put more emphasis on the fact that God will reward everybody
depending on their faithfulness avoiding the part that there would even be losses. There would be
losses experienced for some in the judgment seat of Christ. These losses will include loss of
rewards. This should not be confused with the loss of salvation. The salvation has already been
granted earlier at the cross. The only thing that some people will suffer will be a loss of rewards
due to unfaithfulness. The bible also clear that there will be a measure of shame that some will
suffer; which will depend on their unfaithfulness in serving the Lord.
Regardless of all the controversy, it is important to understand the judgment seat of
Christ as it is from the bible not trying to understand it to favor yourself. Rewards will be there,
and they will be in abundance. However, the rewards will not be the same for everyone. Each
reward will come depending on how well someone lived their lives and used their gifts and
abilities. If anyone was given ability or talent and they do not use it purposefully, that is a loss
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 12
for them in heaven. The reward for that person who worked more will not be compared to that of
those who worked less. The shame will come due to regret in missing the heavenly rewards. God
is the fairest judge of all. Thus He will ensure a just payment for everybody.
The relevance of the Judgment seat of Christ
The relevance of the judgment seat of Christ is inexhaustible. First, this is to represent
God's sovereignty and kingship over all dominion. It depicts God as a just God who rewards
everybody according to the works of their hands. This is meant to motivate Christians to
continue with the good works of Christ and obey God. This goes ahead to explain to the
Christians glorification of Jesus in heaven. Jesus is clothed with power and glory and is given the
mandate to judge people. This helps the Christians to understand the complementary role of God
the Father and God the Son. This comes with the hope of everlasting life and justifiable re
wards in the life in heaven. It also helps Christians understand the person of Jesus Christ as their
savior, the way to The Father and as God. Jesus is glorified in his second coming and given the
role of the judge. It shows how God intended for man to live his life and his plan for salvation.
Understanding the Judgment seat of Christ helps Christians to understand what they will
be judged on and also gives them the motivation to stay faithful to God with a clear understating
of what they are working for, it becomes easier for Christians to live righteous lives despite the
temptations of the world. They do it filled with the hope of great rewards in heaven. This helps
Christians reassess their motives and change their ways. Moreover, it helps them discern the
spirit motivating them to do something good because if it is for God, then great rewards await
them in heaven. However, if the motives are of earthly and body desires, no reward awaits them.
In one sentence, it gives Christians a complete understanding of their purpose in this life.
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: DIVINITY OF GOD WITH CHRIST AT HIS SIDE 13
Further, the judgment seat of Christ helps Christians to understand how God the Father and God
the Son work together. How their power is manifested and proves the existence of the Trinity. It
is God the Father who willed to send Jesus to save mankind. God the Father glorified Jesus by
raising him from the dead. Jesus ascends to heaven and sits on the right-hand side of God the
Father. He is surrounded by glory, and it is in the same Glory Jesus wants to reward his faithful
believers with. To rule with the father. Jesus is given the role of God; to judge people because
he is God himself.
Conclusion
Throughout the topic, we have looked at various aspects of the Judgment seat of Christ. We
have seen that all Christians will stand before God and be accountable to our deeds. Beside God
on His right hand, Jesus will be there shining in Glory. We will have the privilege to stand before
the Lord to receive our rewards because clearly, Christ paid the price for us at the cross. Jesus
from that moment onwards became our mediator to God. In the book of John, Jesus says "I am
the way, the truth, and the life". He goes ahead to teach that he who wants to see the Father must
go through him. Therefore, it is through Christ that everybody will make it to the Kingdom of
God. It is Jesus who will reward his faithful believers according to their measure because he has
been given the power and the mandate by the Most High. This gives the Christians the
enthusiasm to live for God and most importantly gives them hope of everlasting life together
with God.
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