Proverbs 24:12. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
Pleading ignorance simply does not work in God’s courtroom. Behold we did not know this might get you out of trouble at work, or at home, or even with the police, but it will never get you out of trouble with God. God weighs the heart. He knows everything you know. He perceives that you know exactly what you are doing (or not doing). God keeps watch over your soul. God knows what is going on inside of you as well as outside of you.
As if God’s omniscience weren’t scary enough, the last line of this proverb can be terrifying – will he not repay man according to his work? Many people believe that judgment day will be a day of standing before the cosmic scales of God where our good deeds will be weighed against our bad deeds. This idea is not totally wrong. The Bible is clear that God judges our deeds. He repays our work. This isn’t just an Old Testament concept; it is a New Testament concept as well.
Romans 2:6. He will render to each one according to his works:
God doesn’t change. God judges our works, that has always been true and will always be true. So does this mean we are saved by our good works? If so who can stand? Especially when we consider that God is also factoring in our hearts and souls, our motivations?
In Christ we are still saved by works. Just not OUR works. In Christ man is repaid according to HIS work. Christ’s work. Our union with Christ does not change God’s holy standard, nor does it eliminate the recompense for our deeds that his righteousness and justice requires. What our union with Christ does is credit to our account the work of Christ, including all of his heart motivations. Jesus never sinned in thought, word, or deed. Yet in our place he suffered according to our work, not his own.
In love, he took on our works, every last one of them being tainted by selfish pride. He covered nothing up. Made no excuses for us. Claimed no ignorance. He died in full knowledge of all we had every done, or would do.
Now by faith in Christ we take on the work of Christ as our own. In him, we are able to stand before the Lord God claiming no righteousness of our own, and no ignorance of the law. We claim only Christ. We claim only the cross. We claim his righteousness as our own and then proceed to live as instruments of that righteousness.
Galatians 6:14. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
You: If you were paid according to your work what would happen?
You in Christ: How does union with Christ exchange our works for Christ work?
Christ in you: How can knowing that we are judged according to Jesus’ work free our hearts up to do his works on Earth?
Pray: Father, I confess that I love to cover up my sin by claiming ignorance. I know that in Christ, however, I never have to do this. You know my heart and love me anyway. May I trust the work of Jesus today and not my own. Amen.
To Live is Christ 