#DEFINE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FULL#

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

That is the imagery behind what is known as the Bema Seat.Īlso known as the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Bema Seat is described in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 'If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. The judge's purpose was to determine what position the runners came in-first, second, and so on-and then to give out the appropriate rewards. Let’s live for the smile and “well done” at the Bema of our Incomparable Christ.The concept of the Bema Seat comes from the ancient Olympics, where a judge would sit on the Bema Seat at the finish line. If you would like a good application of this read Revelation 3:14-22 about a worldly church that was successful in all the wrong things, the church of Laodicea. 5:10)Įvery good deed shall be brought to light. Our garment and its splendor will come from the Bema and the reward from Christ (not punishment mind you) for what we have “done in the body.” (2 Cor. “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” “Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” To me however the most precious text is from Rev. In some sense our place of rule in the thousand year reign of Christ will be affected by our faithfulness now.Įvery act from Adam on in some sense will be requited, recompensed or punished in Christ on the cross or in hell.

#DEFINE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FULL#

It is what Jesus meant by “seek first the kingdom of God” and “make for yourselves purses that do not wear out.” It is what Paul meant by “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It is what he meant by “an imperishable wreath.” It is what John meant by “that you might receive a full reward.” It is what Paul meant by “I seek for the profit that increases to your account” and “we shall reign with Him.” What do we mean by “reward”? It is that which will continue into the coming kingdom of Christ. of reward) yet he himself shall be saved, yet as though through fire.” (1 Cor. If any man’s work is burned up he shall suffer loss (i.e. “If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains he shall receive a reward. “The day will show it because it be revealed with fire and the fire will test the kind (or quality) of each man’s work.” (1 Cor. A Christian’s life can use the wisdom of the world (wood, hay or straw) or the wisdom of God (gold, silver, precious stones). “Each of us shall give account of himself to the Lord.” (Rom. It doesn’t mean you are or are not in “the ministry.” One can be in the ministry for worldly reasons and as Paul said “it profits me nothing.” One can however do the most menial of tasks for the glory of God and as Paul said of Christian slaves “whatever good thing each one does this he shall receive back from the Lord whether slave or free.” (Eph. In the same way the Christian will be judged- not for sin as that was settled in Christ- but for our faithfulness. If you did not run according to the rules you do not get the prize. The Bema was a judicial place where an athlete who had competed in the games- the Isthmian games- had to stand before the judge and attest that he had “competed according to the rules”- rules of diet, training, and moral purity. The term Judgment Seat or Bema was well known to those in Corinth, the church where Paul introduced the term “the Bema.” It occurs at the beginning of our 7 year honeymoon in glory with our Bridegroom in the house He has prepared for us, the New Jerusalem. The Bema occurs after the Rapture and before the 2nd Coming.

Maybe it’s because we as Christians are so delighted to know that we have escaped judgment through Christ who removed our judgment that the notion that we still will be judged for our “works”- not sin, mind you, but what we did with our Christian lives- is unnerving to us. It’s not because its teaching is not known in the Bible but it is just not taught. It is called the Bema or the Judgment Seat of Christ and is, in my opinion, the most untaught area of Christology. “For we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each of us may be recompensed for his deeds in the body whether good or bad.” 2 Cor.

Define the judgment seat of christ