“In the Greek, a single word is used for “judgment seat” in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10—the word is ‘bema’. A bema was a raised platform on which judges sat to view athletic games. Their job was to make sure contestants followed the rules and to present awards to the victors (see 1 Corinthians 9:24–27). The bema was never a place to reprimand the athletes or to punish them in any way. It was a place of testing and reward. In the same way, the bema of Christ will not be a place of condemnation or censure.” [1]
Sin is not punished at Christ’s judgment seat, for Jesus took our punishment on Calvary’s cross once for all time. The Bema of Christ is where we’ll all be called upon to give an accounting of all that we did for Jesus while alive on this earth. It is the judgment seat that believer’s stand before, not unbelievers. THEY will stand before God’s White Throne to be judged regarding their rejection of Christ.
The Bema Seat is a serious and necessary time of reckoning for Christians, but it must be understood that more than anything else it is simply a time of assessment. Rewards are given out in the form of crowns. Are they literal crowns? We’ll have to wait and see, but scripture says our reward will come in the form of crowns. We’ll take a look at the crowns another day, but regardless of whether they are literal or figurative crowns truly makes no difference. We’ll receive a reward for the good we have done in our lives, in the name of Christ. “It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the judgment is unrelated to the problem of sin, that it is more for the bestowing of rewards than the rejection of failure” [2]
Paul had this to say about works in Christ’s name: “And each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” [1 Corinthians 3:12-15 New English Translation]
So what criteria will Christ use to judge the flock? Christ will judge the motives behind our service; how we use our time, gifts, and abilities; how we treat other believers; how we use our money; our faithfulness in suffering, especially our suffering for his name; how we used our positions of authority to serve others; how we responded to trials & temptation. He will judge our faithfulness in evangelism & discipleship; our faithfulness in studying, interpreting, & teaching God’s Word to others, and how much we long for & love his coming. This assessment/judgment will take place after we are raptured, just prior to the Tribulation.
Next we will take a look at God’s White Throne Judgment. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Sources: https://bible.org/seriespage/9-judgment-seat-christ; www.gotquestions.org.
[1] - www.gotquestions.org
[2] - Chafer, L. S., Systematic Theology, Vol. IV: Ecclesiology-Eschatology, Dallas Seminary Press, 1948, p. 406.
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