“THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST


Psalm 58:11 II Corinthians 5:10 I Corinthians 3:9-15 Romans 14:10-12


  I. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BEMA SEAT (Meaning)

A. A raised place mounted by step; a platform used as the official seat of the judge of the games.

   B. In Grecian games, the arena contained a raised platform on which the president or

umpire sat. From here he rewarded all winners.

C. BEMA = Reward seat


 II. THE IMMINENCE OF THE BEMA SEAT (Time)

A. The event takes place immediately following the Rapture.

B. As the rapture of the church is imminent, so is the Bema.

C. Takes place at the time of the resurrection of the body

              1.         Reward is always associated with resurrection - Luke 14:14

2.     The reward is associated with “that day” - II Timothy 4:8; I Corinthians 4:5;

        Revelation 22:12.

3.     When the Lord returns to earth with His Bride, she has already been

        rewarded. Revelation 19:8

4.     THUS: The rewarding takes place between the Rapture of the church and the

        Revelation.


III. THE INDIVIDUALS AT THE BEMA SEAT (Believers)

A. Concerns only believers as seen by II Corinthians 5:1-19.

1. “A house not made with hands, eternal in the heaven” - v. 1

2. Only believers could experience “mortality…swallowed up of life” - v. 4

3. “Earnest of the Spirit” - v. 5

4. Only the believer could have the confidence that we are willing to be absent from

        the body and present with the Lord. - v. 8

5. “Walk by faith and not by sight” - v. 7

B. Unbelievers will be judged for their sin and unbelief at the Great White Throne

       Judgment which will spell out their doom in hell for eternity. - Revelation 20:11-15


IV. THE INQUISITOR OF THE BEMA SEAT (Christ, the Judge)

A. The examination is conducted before the presence of Christ - II Corinthians 5:10

B. All judgment has been committed unto Him - John 5:22

C. A part of the exaltation of Christ is the right to manifest divine authority in judgment.


 V. THE INTENTION OF THE BEMA SEAT (Examination)

A. The issue is not to judge whether one is a believer or not.

B. The question is not one of salvation.

1. The believer’s salvation perfectly delivers him from all such judgment - Romans

8:1; John 5:24; I John 4:17.

2. Judgment of the believer’s salvation would nullify God’s promise to him -

Hebrews 10:17.

C. The believer’s motives judged - I Corinthians 3:13

1. Appear = to be made manifest

2. Public manifestation of the essential character and motives of the individual -

        I Corinthians 3:13.

D. The believer’s works judged - II Corinthians 5:10

1. “Things done in his body

2. “Bad” = not evil, morally, but “good for nothingness; worthless


VI. THE ISSUE OF THE BEMA SEAT (Rewards)

A. A two-fold result - I Corinthians 3:14, 15

1.     Loss of rewards

a.     Of that destroyed by fire

b.     Of that not done for the glory of Christ, but in the strength of the flesh

2.     Rewards for true life and service

a.     Incorruptible Crown - for faithful living (I Corinthians 9:27)

b.     Crown of Life - faithful in testing (James 1:12)

c.      Crown of Rejoicing - soul winning (I Thessalonians 2:19)

d.     Crown of Glory - for faithfully feeding the flock (I Peter 5:4)

e.     Crown of Righteousness - for those who love His appearing

        (II Timothy 4:8)

B. Crowns were granted for

1. Victory in the games - I Corinthians 9:25; II Timothy 2:5

 

2. As a public honor granted for distinguished service or private worth

 

 

                                                                                  END