How will the Lord pass judgment?

The true nature of everyone shall be laid open before all: not only every deed, but every word spoken, and even every secret wish and thought: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of every heart; then each person will receive due praise from God” (1Co 4:5). Even as fire reveals the true nature of a metal and burns away all that is impure, so “the Lord, the Spirit” (2Co 3:17–18; see Q107, Q162) will manifest what is true and real: “Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, like gold that is tested by fire” (2Es 16:73–74); and the Apostle writes: “no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has already been laid, which is Jesus Christ. But as one builds on that foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, each person’s work will be revealed. Certainly, the Day will make it manifest, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire will test everyone’s work. If what someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward” (1Co 3:11–13).