-Consequences. Negative ones. We do our best to avoid them (most of the time anyway). We don’t like to think about them - and sometimes that’s how we try to avoid them. Other times we forget about them, and just need a reminder. The best reminder of negative consequences is the remembrance of having experienced them. Unfortunately, there is no one who has ever yet experienced these particular consequences. All we have is a promise, a promise from God, one that we can therefore take to the bank. This promise is repeated over and over throughout Scripture, that one day beyond the grave there will indeed be grave consequences for all wrongdoing. Oh, we love to hear about the inheritance mentioned in the previous verse, and yes, there are positive consequences for good deeds, but all bad deeds will one day be punished. Severely. Paul here is reminding us of that certainty. cf 2Corinthians 5.10.
-We must also keep in mind, while we are talking about good and bad deeds being rewarded and punished, that it is definitely true that those in Christ are not ultimately punished for their deeds. His great Good Deed is applied to our account, and inasmuch as our spiritual ledger was completely devoid of any good deeds whatsoever and full of only filthy bad deeds (Isaiah 64.6), He took the punishment for those, every last one.
-There are two ways to interpret this verse, both of which are true. One possibility is that Paul is referring to potential disrespect and disobedience by slaves towards their earthly masters, which would then be deserving of this certain punishment. The other possibility is that Paul is encouraging slaves who are submitting for the Lord’s sake to unreasonable or harsh masters, that those masters will be judged fairly and impartially. The slave can know that God will make it right someday and does not have to try and get even with (or even get away from) their master in this life or try to pay them back in some way. God will take of that. No one will be shown any special favor or treated ‘according to face’ (how they appear, how people see them) because of their high or low estate in this life - masters and slaves will all be judged equally.
-So here’s the question - if I am in Christ, and He has paid the penalty for my wrongdoing, in what way(s) might I still somehow someday experience some negative consequence for that? While commentators acknowledge the punishment mentioned here, they seem loathe to elaborate on it. This is describing Christ-like conduct within a household (one which may or may not be fully devoted to Christ depending on the master presumably) - so we can assume that Paul is addressing slaves who are in Christ and who somehow might be tempted to disrespect or disobey or otherwise underserve their master. According to Paul here, any such conduct or thinking would be wrong and subject to punishment. And there is indeed a trap that believers can fall into, thinking that since I have been completely forgiven that I now no longer will have to experience any negative consequences, no matter what I do in the flesh in this life. We mistakenly believe that we can sin with complete impunity.
-Paul writing to believers elsewhere states that each one of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14.12, 2Corinthians 5.10) - we will be revealed in eternity before what is called the ‘Bema’ seat of Christ where our salvation will not be in question but the quality of our deeds will be tested by fire (1Corinthians 3.12-15). We do find here that good deeds which have been wrought in Christ (and by Him - cf Hebrews 13.20-21, Philippians 2.13) will survive this fire and be rewarded by God Himself (1Corinthians 4.5, Ephesians 6.8, cf Matthew 25.20-21). There is as well in this life a kind of discipline from the Lord for believers who are continuing in a pattern of disobedience (cf 1Corinthians 11.30-32). It is interesting to note that God is indeed going to hold us accountable for doing something which only He ultimately can do. Suffice it to say, God cares very deeply about the behavior of His people - not only does He long for those He has made and remade to simply love Him with their entirety of their being, but our lives are a direct reflection on Him, each one a sermon, one that is preached every day to an audience that is dying for a reason to follow Jesus. He is highly invested in each one of us, in making us more and more like His Son, and to that end He does require our cooperation. He does not force our obedience like some programmed automaton, but He longs for it and expects it. No matter our situation or station in life, wisdom tells us to conduct ourselves with diligence and reverence and holiness as we make every effort to get in step with what He wants (1Peter 14-19, Colossians 4.5, Philippians 1.27, 2Corinthians 1.12). And we can proceed knowing full well that Almighty God stands ready every moment of every day to help make it happen.
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