Rm 14:12 every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1...suffering shows that you have stopped sinning. 2 It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey the will of God for the rest of your life 3 You have already lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on (cev), worshiping/servicing God-substitutes. 4 Now your former friends wonder why you have stopped running around with them, and they slander you for it (cev). 5 (nkjv) They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that though (men) they might be judged according to men in the physical realm, but (de) they might live according to God in the spiritual realm.

Will: Word, Input, Logic (Life Plan, Obey Great Commission, Grow in grace/glory, Increase usefulness, Christlikeness), Leading of HS
Heb 10:36after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise 38..if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him

I. Judgment is rooted  in God's Character

Heb 9:27 it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment 10:26 sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth 2 certain fearful expectation of judgment,  fiery indignation...
1Pt 1:17if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges acc to each one's work, conduct yourselves..your stay here in fear cf 4:17
Jn 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world 16:8 HS will convict of sin/righteousness/ judgment   Act 24:25 Paul
Rev 14:7 "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth." 15:4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested." 16:7 Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments  Ex 34:7 He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished

II. Teachers and Hearers

Js 3:1 not many of you should become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment
Lk 8:18 consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him
Mt 12:41 Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah 11:22-24
Mk 6:11 whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

III. Speech and Interaction with others

Mt12:36 But I say to you that for every unproductive word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Js 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 5:12  let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.
Jude 1:14 Behold, the Lord comes... 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard words which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Mal 3:13 arrogant 14 You have said, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, walked in mourning...”

Rm 14:10 For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Mt 5:22   But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be i danger of the judgment
Mt 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

IV. Stewardship: Faithfulness to opportunities (obligation), used in acc with God's purposes

See TOYL Faithfulness series
Lk 12:48 to whom much is given, from him much will be required 16:2 Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

V. Obedience and Service

1Pt 4:17  the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Cor 11:29  unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself
Rm 2:2  we know that the judgment of God is acc to truth against those who do such things 3 Do you think, you who judge those doing things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God cf 13:2

VI. The Wise take preemptive action

Pr 14:16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident.
1Cor 11:31 if we d-judge ourselves, we would not be judged 32 when judged, we are chastened by the Lord...may not be k-condemned
2Cor 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim...to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before 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.
2Pt 3:17 since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked 14 Therefore, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless
1Jn 4:17 Love has been perfected among us by this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why would we want our will rather than God's will? If we're not consciously doing His will, whose will are we doing? Consequence?
2. Why do some folks think there is no need to fear God nor expect any negative judgment? Does God stop being just in order to love?
3. If God loves us, will He still judge us? Exactly what did Christ's death secure for us? What if we don't meet the requirements for blessing?
4. How does having a clear perception of your motivations help you follow Christ and glorify God? Why aren't some folks reflective?
5. How are you doing at pleasing God? Are you eager to give an account of your words, actions, ambitions, and faithfulness?