- Aug 9, 2015
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And There is a day coming in which every Christian will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. On that day we will see our Lord face to face and He will give us our rewards based on what we do for His kingdom now in this life. With that sobering thought in mind, we need to examine our heart and our motives to be intentional about Bema Seat living.
[SIZE=12pt]Bema is the Greek translation for judgment seat. In the day of the Apostles you would go into a town and find a raised platform and a judgment (Bema Seat). Generally at the end of a sports event, it was the place where the prize or reward was given to the winning athlete.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Before we continue, let me quickly differentiate between the two key judgements mentioned in the New Testament regarding the end times. There is the Great White Throne judgment. This is where all of those who did not repent and rejected Gods’ gift of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross for their sins will be judged guilty. No Old Testament era saint or follower of Jesus will be at this judgement because it is for the unrepentant.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The other judgment that is key in end time events is the Judgment Seat of Christ; we will refer to as the Bema Seat. This is where Church Age saints (you and me) will stand before Jesus and our work for Him will be tried by fire. Let me reiterate, this is where the works and deeds of born again believers will be rewarded or where we will suffer loss. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The Bema Seat judgment will not determine where you will spend eternity because that was settled when you repented and by faith, trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That beautiful thought alone should bring our hearts joy knowing we belong to Him. Let's see what the Word of God says about the Bema Seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before thejudgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:9).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Bema is the Greek translation for judgment seat. In the day of the Apostles you would go into a town and find a raised platform and a judgment (Bema Seat). Generally at the end of a sports event, it was the place where the prize or reward was given to the winning athlete.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Before we continue, let me quickly differentiate between the two key judgements mentioned in the New Testament regarding the end times. There is the Great White Throne judgment. This is where all of those who did not repent and rejected Gods’ gift of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross for their sins will be judged guilty. No Old Testament era saint or follower of Jesus will be at this judgement because it is for the unrepentant.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The other judgment that is key in end time events is the Judgment Seat of Christ; we will refer to as the Bema Seat. This is where Church Age saints (you and me) will stand before Jesus and our work for Him will be tried by fire. Let me reiterate, this is where the works and deeds of born again believers will be rewarded or where we will suffer loss. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]The Bema Seat judgment will not determine where you will spend eternity because that was settled when you repented and by faith, trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That beautiful thought alone should bring our hearts joy knowing we belong to Him. Let's see what the Word of God says about the Bema Seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before thejudgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:9).[/SIZE]