Was Charles Hodge out of accord with the Westminster Standards as interpreted by the FV Study Commitee?
Hodge writes of the final judgment: “The ground or matter of judgment is said to be the ‘deeds done in the body,’ men are to be judged ‘according to their works;’ ‘the secrets of the heart’ are to be brought to light. God’s judgment will not be founded on professions, or the relations of men, or on the appearance or reputation which they sustain among their fellows; but on their real character and on their acts, however secret and covered from the sight of men those acts have been. God will not be mocked and cannot be deceived; the character of every man will be clearly revealed.”
In addition to “general representations of Scripture that the character and conduct of men is the ground on which the final sentence is to be pronounced,” Hodge notes that for those who hear the gospel “their future destiny depends on the attitude which they assume to Christ.” He points to Matthew 25, arguing that “the inquest concerns the conduct of men toward Christ . . . The special ground of condemnation, therefore, under the gospel is unbelief; the refusal to receive Christ in the character in which He is presented for our acceptance.”
While I agree with Hodge’s last point, I would add that in Matthew 25 the attitude to Christ is expressed in how one treats “the least of these my brothers.” Even here, the judgment is according to what people have done, and particularly concerns whether they have acted with charity toward Jesus’ brothers.
Reading Matthew 25, I’d like not to believe in judgment according to works. But I can’t avoid it.
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