We closed the last time
talking about the Great White Throne Judgment. This time we
will discuss a
happier subject, the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is also called the Bema
Seat of Christ.
Judgment Seat of Christ
The Apostle Paul takes this
from the Isthmian games where contestants would be judged on how they compete
for a prize. If they complied with the rules, they were led to the platform
called the Bema. There they were given a laurel wreath which was placed on
their head as a symbol of victory.
“Similarly, anyone who
competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing
according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5 NIV)
As I said earlier, the
Judgment Seat of Christ is only for the Church; those saved during the Church
age; i.e. from Pentecost to the Rapture. It has nothing to do with salvation,
but is for rewards.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
is not a time of punishment. No child of God (true Christian) will be judged
for their sins. That was resolved at the cross when we put our faith in God’s
Son, Jesus Christ.
“There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
So … every true Christian,
listen up. We will never be judged for our sins, because Jesus paid for every
last filthy one. He … paid … for … us. All He wants now is to reward us for how
we have lived for Him.
“So we make it our goal to
please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what
is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2
Corinthians 5:9-10 NIV)
“By the grace God has given
me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.
But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other
than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work
will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will
be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s
work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it
is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though
only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NIV)
This is what every true
Christian alive today needs to zero in on in their respective lives. The only possible
negative about the Judgment Seat of Christ is we may suffer embarrassment
because we did not build properly on the foundation. If we have more wood, hay
or straw to offer than gold, silver and costly stones we may wish we had lived
more faithfully. We’re still saved. Remember, that is not the issue. That was
resolved when we put our faith in Jesus.
How about some more good
news? Jesus loves us dearly, and even with the weakest of His children, He will
find something to reward us for. All will be rewarded.
“Therefore judge nothing
before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light
what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that
time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV)
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if
you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will
reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
(Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV)
“Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to
me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his
appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 NIV)
“Look, I am coming soon! My
reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have
done.” (Revelation 22:12 NIV)
Jesus often talked about
bearing fruit. Every true Christian will bear fruit. Some may produce quite a
bit, while others may not have so much, but all will produce. Why? The reason
is obvious. The Holy Spirit resides in each of us, and He cannot and will not
fail in His mission.
“But when he, the Spirit of
truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his
own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to
come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he
will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I
said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John
16:13-15 NIV)
“For those who are led by the
Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make
you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received
brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we
are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
(Romans 8:14-17 NIV)
“In the same way, the Spirit
helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the
Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
And he who searches our
hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s
people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)
Some may think it is wrong or
even un-Christian to work for rewards, but the Apostle Paul didn’t think so.
“Do you not know that in a
race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to
get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that
will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do
not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make
it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV)
As Christians, our goal
should be to receive the rewards so we can lay them at the feet of the One who
really deserves them.
“For God is working in you,
giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13
NLT)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
