The Judgement Seat of Christ
(The Bema Seat)
(2 Corinthians 5:10).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 we have done whether good or bad
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
What is the Judgement Seat of Christ?
There are two ways of looking at judgement. One way is to understand that a Judge is there to make a decision on whether someone is guilty or innocent. He is there to pronounce sentence of guilty or not guilty and to either pardon or pass sentence.
The second way to look at judge is in the way that a judge makes a judgement on performance, whether the act is good or bad and will then give a decision on the reward for such acts.
The Judgement Seat of Christ is the second one. It is where reward will be given for acts that have been performed in the name of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:10).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 we have done whether good or bad.
(1 Corinthians 3:10,12,13).According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it . . . Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and fire will try each one's work, of what sort it is.
In this tribunal, each one will be judged on their works done in the body since new birth.
This tribunal known also as “The Bema Seat” is for rewards. There is no condemnation attached to this judgement at all.
In the large Olympic arenas, there was an elevated seat on which the judge of the contest sat. After the contests were over, the successful competitors would assemble before the bema to receive their rewards or crowns. The bema was not a judicial bench where someone was condemned; it was a reward seat. Likewise, the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a judicial bench. The Christian life is a race, and the divine umpire is Jesus Christ. After the race is over for each believer, He will gather every member before the bema for the purpose of examining each one and giving the proper reward to each.
At this judgement seat, some will suffer loss. Not everyone will receive the same reward. At the judgment seat of Christ, there will be those who receive much and some who receive little and maybe some who receive nothing..
However if anyone’s work that is done was not based on the right foundation, (Christ) they will suffer loss but they themselves will be saved.
(1 Corinthians 3:15).If anyone's work is burned, they will suffer loss; but they themselves will be saved, yet so as through fire.
(Matthew 16:27).Jesus said: For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what He has done.
(Ephesians 6:8).Paul wrote: Knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.
Gold extraction refers to the processes required to extract gold from its ores. The analogy used here is like the gold ore being put into a melting pot, (being tried). All the dross will float to the top and will be discarded but the pure gold will be saved.
It will be the same with a Christians works. They will be tried as gold is tried and what is not done in the name of Christ will be discarded but at the end each one will be saved.
Who will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ?
The Bema Seat is for the saved alone. Only those that are in Christ will be there. The Elect, those that have been born again.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself, with a shout, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
All those who have died in Christ will be raised, (Greek – Anastasia) and all those who are alive and remain at His coming, shall be taken (Greek –
Harpazo), snatched. Then both these groups shall be gathered together, (Greek – Episunagage) to be with Christ. It is here they will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Each one will be transformed and given a new glorified body fit for eternity.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
When will this take place?
This Judgement will take place immediately following the Rapture of the church.
There will be a physical resurrection followed by a judgement.
See Also (The Rapture): www.jeffreyunsworth.wixsite.com/teleiosbibleblogs
Blog Number 23.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself, with a shout, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Notice that this resurrection and judgement is not to determine eternal destination. The Elect are securely guaranteed eternal life.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 6:40 - And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
This judgement is solely about reward.
(Matthew 16:27).Jesus said: For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what He has done.
This is not a punishment for sin. Our sins have been removed. The price of sin was dealt with at Calvary by the Saviour Jesus Christ.
There is no condemnation for those who have believed in Christ.
(Romans 8:1).There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
(1 Peter 2:24).He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
(2 Corinthians 5:21).For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
What are the Rewards?
A Crown of Righteousness
(2 Timothy 4:7).I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.
Clothed in white.
(Revelation 3:4,5).You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
Our name in the Book of Life.
V5 and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
Jesus will confess our name before the Father.
V5 but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
