Believing
The Creed affirms that Christ will come to judge the living and the dead, and this judgment will be universal, just, and based on the works of each person. The wicked will receive condemnation, the righteous will be examined, and some sanctified will not be judged. God calls us to prepare ourselves through good works, repentance, mercy, and love, living in obedience while the Church guards the faith and guides toward restoration.
The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
“To judge the living and the dead”
Christ will judge all people (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Each person will be judged according to his deeds, not only by his faith.
All will be judged: living and dead, with distinctions between righteous and wicked.
The Wicked
Some will receive immediate condemnation for their unbelief (John 3:18).
Their works reflect unbelief and are already under judgment.
The Righteous
Some righteous will not be judged, like the disciples to whom Christ promised authority (Matthew 19:28).
Other Christians will die in virtue and will be examined even for their idle words (Matthew 12:36).
4 Reasons to Fear the Judgment
The wisdom of God: He knows thoughts and works (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 16:2).
The power of the Judge: Christ will come with strength and justice.
The rigorous justice of the Judge: now we live in mercy, but there will be a day of justice (Matthew 18:34–35).
The wrath of the Judge: it will be methodical and just against the wicked (Romans 1:18; Revelation 6:16).
4 Ways to Prepare for the Judgment
Good works: obedience and practice of the Word (Matthew 7; Romans 13:3).
Repentance: to live in conviction, contrition, confession, and confrontation.
Works of mercy (almsgiving): to help the vulnerable (Matthew 25).
Love: to love God and neighbor (1 Peter 4:8).
The Authority of the Church
The Church today also exercises discipline, judging public sins to bring to repentance (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:3–5).
The purpose of this judgment is restoration, not condemnation.
