Heaven Questions.com
Judgment Seat of Christ
The Judgment Seat of Christ
ALL the lost will one day stand before God at The Great White Throne Judgment. ALL the saved will also stand before a judgment called The Judgment Seat of Christ. The result of this judgment will be the gain or loss of eternal rewards. All Christians go to Heaven,
but there are numerous rewards and Crowns that must be earned!
After being saved every Christian has the opportunity to win these rewards, which will be presented sometime after the Rapture and before Christ returns with His saints to rule on Earth. Listed are some of the numerous Scriptures which speak about these eternal rewards.
Matthew 5:12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.
Matthew 16:27: The Son ... shall reward every man according to his works.
Luke 6:23: Behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Luke 6:35: Love your enemies, do good, lend ... and your reward shall be great.
1 Corinthians 3:8: Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25: They who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain... They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible (Crown).
2 Timothy 4:8: There is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness.
James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endures temptation... he shall receive the Crown of Life.
1 Peter 5:4: When the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a Crown of Glory.
Revelation 22:12: I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Jesus Himself will make the presentations in what will be the biggest awards ceremony ever in the history of mankind.
1 Corinthians 4:5: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
All Christians will be judged on the basis of their deeds and knowledge. We will answer for every word, every thought, and for every deed done in our body while on this earth. Some Christians think they will never be judged because they are saved by grace and not with works. Others believe they can live their lives holding hands with the world, and still be fully rewarded, not suffering any loss. Millions have little discernment of the Christian’s day of reckoning when every blood bought believer must stand before a Holy God for a scrutinizing examination and have their life reviewed before all of Heaven. Just imagine standing alone before the Righteous God of the Universe with His eyes like flames of fire searing into the depths of your soul.
Revelation 1:14: His eyes were as a flame of fire.
Revelation 2:18: These things says the Son of God, who has His eyes like a flame of fire ...
Revelation 19:12: His eyes were as a flame of fire ...
In the original Greek, the English term “Judgment Seat” is “Bema Seat”. When the Apostle Paul used this expression in the first century, every educated mind immediately knew the severity of the warning because their thinking took them to the runner's track in Athens, Greece. It was like our modern day sport stadiums, containing thousands of seats. One seat was elevated above all the rest so the judge of the games could sat there with no obstruction to view all the racing participants. He could see every movement clearly.
This is a picture of our God elevated upon His Throne watching the Christian's Race of Life. God is watching His people and keeping records for the day when we must all appear before The Judgment Seat Of Christ, and we will all be judged and receive rewards or loss of rewards from those things that are written in the books, according to our works. We are in a battle for Christ, we are running a race.
Philippians 3:14: I (Paul) press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth.
Salvation was freely given to Paul as a gift, but only works of hardship, suffering, and perhaps even death could bring him the prize of a Crown to lay at Jesus' feet.
Revelation 4:10: The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the Throne, and worship Him that lives forever and ever, and cast their Crowns before the Throne...
The Judgment Seat of Christ Has Nothing To Do With Salvation
This judgment has nothing to do with salvation, because the security of the believer is not a question in the Word of God. The scriptures are very clear that the child of God under grace will never come under judgment for sin. We are made righteous in our standing before God because the penalty for all our sin past, present, and future, has been paid; bore for us by Jesus Christ who is the perfect substitute, and so by being in Jesus Christ, the believer is accepted in standing before the Father as perfect. It is very important to understand that the believer is loved of God as Christ is loved of God.
We are not saved on the merit of our works, but on the grounds of the divine grace of God that has been revealed through Jesus Christ. And we are saved, we are secure, we will be taken into Heaven on the basis of what God has done through us.
Ephesians 2:5: By grace you are saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9: By grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest anyone should boast.
2 Timothy 1:9: Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord… Who has saved us, and called us to a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace.
Colossians 2:14: (Christ) Blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it (sin) out of the way, nailing it (our sin) to His cross.
John 3:18: He that believes on Him (Christ) is not condemned.
Titus 2:11: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.
Hebrews 8:12: Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Under grace the character of the believer’s life and service does not affect the believer’s eternal salvation, but our life, our works, our faithfulness, or lack of faithfulness, in following the purposes God has planned for our life, will come into judgment and will affect us for eternity.
So, even though the believer will not come into judgment because of sin, we will come into judgment in reference to our daily life and service for Christ. Notice that God’s Word says in Revelation 19 that the Bride made herself ready!
Revelation 19:7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (the Bride) has made herself ready.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
We are his workmanship saved by His grace, created for good works so that after salvation we are to abound in good works. We are not saved by our good works, but we are created to do good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. This means that God has marked out for each of us His purposes beforehand, the particular good works He has chosen for us and also the time and way in which He sees best. God makes ready by His providence the opportunities for us to do the works, and if we abide in Christ, we will be made ready to perform them. Works do not justify us, but the justified Christian is called to do good works. Just think, God not only provides the works for us, but He loves us so much that He then rewards us for doing them!
All Are Lost at The Great White Throne Judgment
The Great White Throne Judgment, which is the final judgment after the thousand year Reign of Christ, is where the unsaved will be judged. The degree of their penalty will be determined by their works. Here the issue is not are they saved or lost, all the people at this judgment are lost!
Revelation 20:5 & 7 & 11-15: The rest of the dead (unbelievers) did not live again until the thousand years were finished..... 7And when the thousand years are
expired..... 11I saw a Great White Throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book Of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whoever was not found written in the Book Of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Romans 1:20: They are without excuse:
The hour is coming when every unsaved person must stand before a Holy God for a complete examination of their entire life. When the books are opened listing every detail, there will be no excuses. There will be no hope then, the time for salvation will be gone, this will be the Judgment Day! When standing at the Great White Throne Judgment, as Loretta Lynn sings, it will be too late then to pray. Below are the Lyrics and a link to the song.
Loretta Lynn singing “Standing Room Only”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlpXLdmKHhQ
Standing Room Only
Standing room only, not even room to kneel and pray
Standing room only, on the Judgment Day
Last night I had an awful dream, that the end of time had come
The trumpet had been sounded, and life on earth was done
An angel stood one foot on land, the other foot on sea
And as I tried to kneel and pray, a voice said unto me
There's standing room only, it's too late now to pray
There's standing room only, this is the Judgment Day
People filled each church and churchyard, just as far as I could see
I heard a pitiful cry for mercy, and then I realized it was me
I saw the Savior then appear, as He split the Eastern sky
I saw tears of joy on a Christian's face, and I heard the sinners cry
And as I tried to touch His hand, with one last feeble plea
I cried again have mercy, have mercy Lord on me
I saw a tear come to His eye, as He turned my soul away
I didn't know Him yesterday, and He knew me not today
The earth was burning all around, the world went up in smoke
And as the flames engulfed me, thank God I awoke
Then I got out of bed and got down on my knees
And you should've heard me pray
For in my dream I witnessed, God's great Judgment Day
Standing room only on God's great Judgment Day
All Are Saved at The Judgment Seat of Christ
At The Judgment Seat of Christ, it’s not a question of are we saved or are we lost, all the people standing there are saved. The issue that will be determined is what is the degree of our reward, what is the degree of our eternal responsibilities that we will enter into with our Lord, what will be our position before Him as a result of how we have faithfully carried out the commandments He gave to us. All Christians will give account of themselves at this judgment, which will occur sometime after Christ has taken His people to Heaven. But, even though no believer will be in danger of being sent to Hell, many will suffer great loss. It will not be a heavenly family reunion, and it will absolutely not be an enjoyable experience for millions of believers.
Romans 14:10: For we shall all stand before The Judgment Seat Of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before The Judgment Seat Of Christ.
When Paul said we, he was talking about himself as well as all other Christians.
Ecclesiastes 12:14: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The Ripple Effect
One may wonder why God doesn’t just go ahead and judge His people one at a time, as they die. The answer for this could be called the Ripple Effect. You can toss a st
one into a pond and watch as the little circle of ever expanding ripples upon the water became larger as they spread out, away from the point of contact, finally touching the edges of the pond? This is the Ripple Effect and it is a great image of how we as God’s people should be making a difference and sending ripples throughout our homes, communities, workplaces, and churches.
The Ripple Effect. starts when you do something for the Lord, helping others, or sowing the seeds that lead other people to the Lord. Those people then touch the lives of others, and the Ripple Effect. will continue until we all stand before Christ.
Think about the guys who witnessed to Mark Cahill. Have you seen the Ripple Effect Mark is making in this world! When Mark reaches out to sinners, the guys who led him to the Lord receive a portion of the blessings. Mark wrote the book “One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven” which has inspired every Christian who reads it. As Mark says, “Three-hundred-million years from now the only thing that will matter is who is in Heaven and who is in Hell. What are you doing of significance today that will matter then?”
Luke 8:5 & 11: A sower went out to sow his seed..... The seed is the Word of God.
Are you doing any sowing? Jesus said we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the 
world. Light wherever it shines, defeats darkness. We are to make an impact and difference, we are to send forth a Ripple Effect everywhere we go, we should not leave places the same way we found them. We are not to do this for our own glory, but to glorify our Father who is in Heaven!
Matthew 5:13-14, 16: You are the salt of the earth ..... You are the light of the world ..... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
There will be degrees of reward in heaven in the same way that there are degrees of punishment in Hell, and what happens at the Judgment Seat will have permanent consequences. We will not all have the same privileges, responsibilities, or position, because the way we live and the things we do after our salvation, will have a Ripple Effect that will affect our lives for Eternity.
In speaking about Ripple Effects, consider the following saying.....
You can never recover...
The Stone ......... after it's thrown
The Word ......... after it's said
The Occasion ... after it's missed
The Time ..........after it's gone
If We Abide in Him We Will Be Fruitful
Jesus told us in John 15 that to abide in Him means to be fruitful, to have the life of the vine flowing through us. Then John warns us in 1 John 2:28 to abide in Him so that when He, Christ, appeared, we would not be ashamed before Him at His Coming. There will be Christians who will shrink away in shame from the Lord because they did not abide in Him and so have not been fruitful. Imagine the heartbreak and embarrassment of having consumed the grace of God upon oneself but having borne no fruit. The shame of never having anyone in Heaven to come and thank us because we shared our knowledge about the Lord with them.
1 John 2:28: And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His Coming.
John 15:1-2, 4-8, 10, 12: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He 
purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit… If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love… This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
2 Timothy 2:20-21: In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some are for honor (noble purposes), and some for dishonor (lowly use or basic service). If a man (Christian) purge himself from these (depart from iniquity), he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:4: No man (soldier/Christian) entangles himself (gets tied up) with the affairs of this life; so that he may please Him (Christ) who has chosen him to be a soldier.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is an Accounting Experience
Revelation 22:12: Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Romans 14:10 & 12: We shall all stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Matthew 12:36: I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of in the day of judgment.
Christians will give an account for every idle, careless, thoughtless, foolish word spoken. Often we complain too quickly and talk about things without knowing the full facts. We should think and consider the effects our words may have, before we speak.
Ezekiel 3:18: When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the wicked man shall die in his iniquity (sin); but his blood will I require at your hand.
God will require us to give an account of our witnessing, and our faithfulness in warning the 
lost so they can change their sinful ways in order to save their lives. Can we make the same statement as the Apostle Paul when he said that he was innocent from the blood of all men.
Acts 20:25-27: Now, I know that you all, among whom I have been preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Therefore I declare to you this day, that I am pure (innocent) from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned (hesitated) to declare (proclaim) to you all the Counsel of God.
Knowing the Terror of the Lord We Persuade Men
Paul says, we must all appear before The Judgment Seat of Christ that each one may be recompensed for his works done in the body, according to all that he has done, whether good or bad, and then he adds this warning, “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11: For we must all appear before The Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest to God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
For most Christians, the idea of "knowing the terror of the Lord" sounds strange, some Christians have never taken notice of this passage of scripture, while the genuine Christians of the past knew of this terror of the Lord. They worked hard for Christ because they loved Him and because they knew that they would stand before Christ at the Bema Judgment to give an account of those things they did or did not do for Christ in this life.
The purpose of the believer’s life is something more than getting to Heaven, having their sins forgiven, or making the Rapture, it’s being conformed to His purpose, and being useful in His service. The goal of the Christian life is servant hood and usefulness.
The quote, "Only One Life, 'Twill Soon Be Past. Only What's Done For Christ Will Last," is from a poem by Charles Studd, Missionary to China, India, and Africa. He demonstrated what it meant to follow Christ without counting the cost and without looking back.
Philippians 1:21: For to me to live is (to live for) Christ, and to die is gain.
Our "wood, hay, and stubble" will all be burned up on that day. The endless hours of watching television, reading meaningless books, and various other pleasurable pursuits will be burned up that day and will cause us to lose rewards for eternity. Our "good works" which we did to be seen by other people will all be burned up as well. Only what we actually did for Jesus Himself will not be burned at the Bema Judgment.
Few Christians see the importance of spending time in daily prayer and in the study of God's Word, or in finding ways to serve Jesus, but when they stand before Christ, they will see how unimportant, unnecessary, and meaningless so many of their other seemingly important things were. As a Christian, we need to ask ourselves, "Am I bearing fruit for Jesus by doing this, is this pleasing to the Lord, will Christ say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant?”
There are many things that are necessary for us to do simply because we live in this world, but our daily prayer should be that God would direct us in the things that we can do for Him each day. Pray that He will guide our steps, lead us in the words we speak to others during the day, and give us opportunities to show others our love for Him through our daily life.
Would you want to stand before Christ and give an account for your life as you are now? If not, there is still time to change!
The Eternal Status of Our Life is Settled Forever on That Day
Our future relationship to Jesus Christ is totally based on our earthly record, and the Eternal Status of our life will be settled when we stand before the Lord on that day. Similar to what King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes about the tree falling. Our life on this earth is the arena in which we can change for Eternity. This is the opportunity to be perfected, this is the probation period, this is the time to mature, this is the time to work for the Lord and to fulfill His purpose for our life. When this life ends, our opportunity to change things is finished. And the future position we hold in Heaven will be determined by what we are doing in our life now.
Ecclesiastes 11:3: Where the tree falls, there it shall be.
That day is going to be awesome for many and a terror for others. Each of us will stand there alone before the Holy Son of God and be judged for every phase of our lives - for our praying, giving, talking, and doing. There will be no rehearsal, or possibility of a do-over. Because this is the Final Judgment for Christians, where all rewards or negative consequences will be administered to Christians for their life’s work.
Luke 6:23: Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
You Lay Up Treasure in Heaven
The Judgment Seat of Christ closes your opportunity to accumulate any of the commodities of Heaven. Jesus made it clear; you lay up treasure in Heaven.
Matthew 6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Some Christians have came up with the idea that they can live their lives as carelessly as they want, consuming, and wasting, and never fulfilling the purposes God had planned for their life, and then when we all get to Heaven, suddenly God’s going to magically change us and we’re all going to become mature and we’ll all have the exact same privileges and rewards in Eternal life that every other believer has. But, God is very clear in His Word, you are going to have in Heaven what you have laid up, and there will definitely be believers in Heaven who have laid up nothing in Eternal Treasures.
The most significant treasure we can lay up in Heaven are the people we take with us. You will create friendships that will last for Eternity with every person you have invited to the Wedding Feast! Jesus said.....
Luke 16:9: And I say to you, Make for yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness (worldly wealth); that, when you fail (your life on earth ends), they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (The ones who have preceded you will be there to welcome you to your Heavenly home)
Matthew 22: 1-5 &8-9: And Jesus... said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, which made a marriage for His Son, And sent forth His servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner... all things are ready: come to the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways... Then said He to His servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go you therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid (invite) to the marriage.
Luke 14:23: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Build up treasure in heaven by praying for others, providing for the poor, helping the sick , being a friend to lonely people, forgiving everyone who has hurt you and saying you're sorry when you hurt someone. Give pamphlets filled with God’s Word out to people. Keep tracts near your door, in your purse, in your shirt or pants pockets, and.....
• Lay tracts in convenient places or give to people you meet when you are out.
• Place a tract in everything you mail, bills, cards, letters.
• Give a tract to anyone who knocks on your door or to people working near your home.
All Christians Will Be Perfect, Yet Differ Greatly In Glory
Some believers may say, “But, aren’t all Christians going to be perfect in Heaven? As one minister stated, “Of course all Christians will be perfect in Heaven, just like all light bulbs are perfect. Some are perfect 25 Watt and some are perfect 100 Watts.” We will be perfect at the level that we allowed ourselves to be brought to by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:41-42: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption (perishable); it is raised in incorruption (imperishable):
All Christians will rise imperishable, but . . . just like the orbs of the universe differ in glory, and just as perfectly made light bulbs differ greatly in brightness being 15, 25, 40, 60, 75, 100, 200 watts and up, there will be a difference just as stunning as the difference between the sun and the moon!
Everyone Will be Happy in Heaven
ill Be happy in Heaven, but God did say He would wipe away the tears. There will be weeping at the judgment when many realize what has been lost through careless living for things that had no Eternal value.
Isaiah 25:8: He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.
Revelation 7:17: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
God's Word teaches that the lukewarm, carnal, idle, slacking Christian with his careless living, his every neglected opportunity, every forfeited privilege, and every forgotten duty will have all these things taken into account when he stands before Christ. That Christian will not receive the same rewards in Heaven as the Spiritual, active Christian who is living a dedicated life serving God?
Romans 2:6: God will give to every man according to his deeds.
Remember, this judgment is not a place where the believer's salvation is being questioned, it is a place of scrutiny, assessment, and being rewarded or having loss based on what one did with their life in Christ. The Bema could also be compared with the raised platform at a county fair where the sheep are passed over, and they are declared good, better, best. It is a place of evaluation, as seen at the Olympics, where people are brought forth and awarded according to their accomplishments, first place, second place, third place, and some not even finishing.
The Rewards in Scripture are Many
Although there will not be any envy or jealousy in heaven, there will be great distinctions between the people in heaven. There are crowns mentioned in the Scriptures as rewards to be earned. These crowns will be awarded to qualifying believers at the Judgment.
Receiving a crown has nothing to do with salvation, it is a reward. One might lose their crown and yet not lose their salvation.
Revelation 3:11: Hold that fast which you have, so that no man can take your Crown.
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man's work be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The Incorruptible Crown for the Victors
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27: Do you not know that they who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain it. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate (self controlled) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible (perishable) crown; but we to obtain an incorruptible (imperishable Crown). I (Paul) therefore so run, not as uncertainly; I fight, not as one who beats the air: But I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified).
We most discipline ourselves and our body and not let our body become the enemy to the purposes that God has for us! God says there’s a unique and special reward for the man who brings his body under, and who disciplines himself to finish the course.
The Crown of Rejoicing for the Soul Winners
There is a special reward for those who have committed themselves to bringing others to a knowledge of the Lord, to multiplying the work of salvation, to taking the talent as it were, the investment of God in their life and seeing it multiply.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20: For what is our hope, or joy, or Crown of Rejoicing? You are that as we come into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
Philippians 4:1: Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Proverbs 11:30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
The Crown of Life
James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endures temptation (trials): for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.
Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried..... be faithful to death, and I will give you a Crown of Life.
This particular passage says there is a special reward for the man who is blessed by standing in trial, and letting the work of test produce character in him, that will glorify the Lord. The Crown of Life is for those believers who remain faithful to the Gospel even under persecution, and who trust God in all their circumstances, and are even faithful to the point of death. The Crown of Life is for those who suffer for Christ.
The Crown of Glory for the Shepherd’s or Pastor’s
1 Peter 5:1, 2 & 4: (To) The elders which are among you... Feed the flock of God... And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a Crown of Glory that fades not away.
The greatest need in the church today is for Shepherd’s. Not just those who are the anointed God appointed leaders over a local body of believers. God also has raised others up in the body who have the love of Pastoring. Pastoring means to shepherd, to love the sheep, to care for them, to have that affection, it doesn’t just mean full time ministers, it means people who love the sheep! Christians with this love are needed, particularly for the new lambs of God.
Crown of Righteousness for Those Who Love His Appearing
2 Timothy 4:5-8: Watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also who love His appearing.
Other crowns are designated for those who have served well and suffered much for Christ, but the Crown of Righteousness is especially designated as the reward for those who have loved His appearing. This reward it is tied into an attitude that loves His appearance. The mark of loving His appearance is living in such a purity and holiness of personal life that you welcome Him at any moment to step into your life, you live with your books open, you live with the light on, it’s a spirit. Loving Him doesn’t mean having a bumper sticker saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Loving His appearing means you love His presence, you are open to His presence, your life is one of constantly saying come on in and look at everything. I want you to tell me if anything’s wrong, I want you to talk to me about it, and I want you to deal with me. That’s the Crown of Righteousness.
Judgment Of Believers’ Works
A false doctrine being taught by many today says that the worst thing that can happen to a Christian at the Judgment Seat of Christ is simply the loss of rewards. Those that claim that Christians need only be concerned with a loss of rewards never consider that the Bible clearly points out that we will receive for the wrongs we do too.
Colossians 3:24-25: From the Lord you shall receive the reward ..... But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done.....
The judgment of believers’ works according to the Scriptures will be a time when God will reward to us exactly what we have earned.
Ephesians 6:6-8: Not ... as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, do the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Colossians 3:23-25: And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect (favoritism) of persons.
These verses speak about all relationships, and the most important thing is that we are serving the Lord, and whatever thing we are doing, we are to do it for the Lord. In other words, it’s the motive, we are not doing it to be seen, or to be popular and receive recognition from men, but we are doing it as unto the Lord. And we are doing it, Paul says, in both passages because we know whatever good thing any man does, he is going to receive of the Lord whether he is a bond man or he is free.
The Ephesians verse is only the positive word, whatever we have done that is good, regardless of what our position in the body of Christ has been or our social position in life, what we have done with a pure motive unto the Lord, we are going to receive. Our God is faithful to keep a perfect record of all accounts.
Colossians gives us the same message but adds a verse, “He that does wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect (favoritism) of persons.”
The wrong being spoken of here is not sin. It’s that which we have done in using our life which has implicated the gospel in a negative sense. Something to disturb the unity of the body of Christ. Christians don’t mind talking about the good they will receive, but it’s upsetting to hear that the believer who has used his influence wrongly will receive that also. Some Christians are astonished to learn that God also keeps that record.
Paul says in Romans 12 to the believers, don’t try to take vengeance yourself, because vengeance is God’s, He will repay. When other believers have been offensive, when they have not controlled their speech and have caused harm to others, God says don’t take personal vengeance, I have that in account, believers will receive the wrong which they have done at The Judgment Seat of Christ.
Romans 12:19: Avenge not yourselves… for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.
2 Peter 1:10-11: Therefore, my brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you will never fall: And so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly (You will receive a rich welcome) into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Those who have borne the heat of the battle following their Lord, will not stand on the same plane as those who avoided the battle. Every prayer, every tear, every trial suffered, every service rendered, every tract passed out, every time you spoke to someone about the Lord, all these things will all be taken into account at The Judgment Seat Of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:8: Each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Sowing Seed, Whatsoever A Man Sows, That Shall He Reap
Galatians 6:7-8: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
2 Corinthians 9:6: He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully.
We are told that if we sow sparingly that’s the way we will reap, if we sow bountifully that’s the way we will reap, and Galatians 6 has the same image when it says, God is not mocked, whatsoever you sow, that you will reap. This has nothing to do with unbelievers, it’s to Christians, and he says if we sow to the flesh, of the flesh we reap that which is corruptible. If we sow to the spirit, we reap that which is Eternal. That’s very simple if we think it through. Flesh simply means that which has to do with our own desires, our own self. If we sow to self, then the harvest is stuff that perishes with this earth. If we sow to the spirit, the harvest is that which is Eternal. Our focus is on the wrong thing, we are concentrating on things that are temporary, passing, transient, they won’t even survive in most instances in our own lifetimes, let alone in Eternity. These verses state that the believer will receive or reap Eternally the result of their sowing (witnessing) here, during their time on earth.
My Word Shall Not Return To Me Void
Paul and Apollos sowed bountifully..... but only God can make the seeds grow. In Isaiah, God said His Word that would not return to Him empty, but it would accomplish what He desired and achieve the purpose for which He had sent it forth to do. He has given us the privilege of being a part of His great work.
1 Corinthians 3:6-10: I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then he that plants is not anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry (you are God’s field under cultivation), you are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds upon (the foundation which is Jesus Christ).
Isaiah 55:11: So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void (empty), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where I sent it.
We Shall All Give An Account Of Ourselves To God
Romans 14 deals with how Christians should live with each other and not be judging one another when we are all going to have to stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ and give an accounting to God. Every Christian should read the entire Chapter closely.
Romans 14:10 & 12: Why do you judge your brother? For we shall all stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
In Corinthians Paul said we labor, to the point of sheer exhaustion, we labor that whether we are at home or somewhere else, if we are around people who know us or people who do not know us, that we may be accepted of Christ. For we must all appear before Christ, and will receive the things done in our body, whether it be good or bad. These things done in our body are not a sin issue, it is the opportunities we have to do things for the Lord, or not do what we should, while we are in our body.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11: Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before The Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest to God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
God gave His only Son who was given at great cost to make salvation and fruitfulness possible for everyone. We will give an account at The Judgment Seat of Christ for what we have done with this gift, His Son. This verse says every believer will appear, or be manifested, before the Lord. At that time, everything in the believers life will be reviewed.
Multitudes of Christians love Jesus, they fully plan to be with Him in Heaven, they consider their relationship with Him to be important, and yet the purpose God intended for them, is worth less, because carelessly, not through intention, not willfully, but many times just through carelessness, they are involved in everything else except the release of God’s purpose in their lives.
The Bible in Luke 14:14 says that this judgment will happen at the resurrection of the just, when the believers are raised to meet the Lord.
Luke 14:14: You shall be recompensed (repaid) at the resurrection of the just.
The Fire Will Show The Quality of Our Work
The place is called The Judgment Seat of Christ or the Bema, and the basis of it is clearly given to us in First Corinthians 3.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: For no other foundation can man lay than that laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The above scripture is talking about the day when all believers will stand before the Lord. Paul clearly says in the passage, there is only one foundation for the believer which is Jesus Christ. After salvation, all Christians begin to build with an identical beginning, on the foundation which is Christ. Our salvation has set us on the rock which is Christ!
Psalm 18:2: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 62:6: He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Matthew 7:24: Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Paul says, The Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal our work by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work, what sort it is, and if any man’s work shall abide which he has built upon the foundation (Christ), he shall receive a reward, but if any man’s work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, so as by fire. Paul is not talking about salvation or lostness, remember everyone at The Judgment Seat of Christ is saved, but some will suffer the loss of everything, Nothing will remain, except the foundation which is their standing in Jesus Christ.
We can build carelessly or carefully. And notice that Paul compares our building in two ways, one is the quality (value) of our workmanship, and two is the quality (value) of the materials we choose to use, and it is the materials which becomes the most important, because he says some christians choose to build out of wood, hay, and stubble, which is consumed by fire and only leaves a blackened circle and smoke. Others choose to build with gold, silver, and precious stones, fire only purifies these. Paul said, "...the fire itself will test the quality (value) of each man's work." God is going to put our motives and our ministry on the fire, if it was pure, it will only be purified and glorified. If it was self serving and ego driven, the smell of smoke will be on us.
The wasted hours watching endless television shows and pleasure pursuits will be burned up that day. The "good works" done to be seen by other people will be burned up. Only things actually done for Jesus Himself will not be burned at the Bema Judgment. Many will be saved as if "by fire", with all their works burned up?
The Word is clear about what we will be judged on, our building materials are our doctrine, attitudes, choices, priorities, maturity, carnal traits in our life, conduct to other people, our words, broken promises, wrong dealings, slander, quarrels, foolishness, dishonesty, use of our finances, our giving, praying, use of our possessions, use of our time, the quality of our Christian service, our witnessing, did we abide in Christ, walk in His steps, and obey His commandments, did we even try to reach out to a lost and dying world for Him. These are the standards the Word speaks about. We will even be judged by how we have affected our own lives in effectiveness by the things we have done to ourselves.
1 John 2:3 & 6: We know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that says he abides in Him (Christ) ought himself also to walk, even as He (Christ) walked.
For some Christians, it will be as though they had never lived past their salvation. Every follower of Jesus will give an account for his life’s work and his deeds before all of heaven. Our life's work can be wood , hay, or straw -- or it can be silver, gold, or costly stones. And on that day, the fire will put it to the final test. The Bible tells that God is love, but it also tells us that He is a consuming fire.
Deuteronomy 4:24: For the LORD your God is a consuming fire...
Hebrews 12:29: For our God is a consuming fire.
Our entire Christian life, from the first moment we begin to witness for Christ, including all our service and labor for Him, is going to be tested by fire. We must be careful to make wise investments, or in the end, only ashes will be left. All ministries will pass through the fire. Many public ministries will go up in flames at the Judgment.
Matthew 16:27: For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.
Romans 2:6: (God) will render to every man according to his deeds.
A Time of Great Embarrassment and Shame For Many Christians
The Judgment Seat of Christ is obviously going to be a time of great embarrassment and shame for many Christians. There will be some people who we thought were great and big and highly favored and used of God in great ways, and we are going to see them with little. Even though multitudes supposedly came for salvation, and so forth, this will be because their motive has reduced their work. We’re going to hear about the hero’s of Heaven and some of those people are going to be people we may have never heard of. But they walked in total faithfulness to the purposes that God had put before them. They were focused, consistent, and Biblical in their motives and in their spirit and lived their life in complete fellowship with Christ.
1 John 2:28: Abide in Him; so that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His Coming.
Revelation 16:15: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
It Is Our Responsibility To Study God’s Word
Many Christians have gone for years with a complete lack of understanding and are totally unprepared for this judgment, having no knowledge of even what is required. Few ministers preach on The Judgment Seat of Christ, and most Christians don’t study the subject for themselves.
We owe it to ourselves and our children to Study God’s Word and learn what the Bible says, and be Biblical Christians! God’s Holy Spirit will teach us and we will grow and mature as we feed on the Word of God. This is our responsibility. In America, we have churches and Bibles in abundance, but God’s people are still being destroyed for lack of knowledge. On judgment day Christians in this country will have no excuse with all the resources available to us.
Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
II Timothy 2:15: Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly (accurately) dividing (understanding) the Word of truth.
Hebrews 5:12: (By this time) You ought to be teachers, but you have need that someone teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you … have need of milk, and not strong meat. (Comparable to a baby who needs milk and cannot eat solid food.)
Psalm 119:130: The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to
the simple (straightforward person).
1 John 2:27-28: But the anointing (Holy Spirit) which you have received of Him abides in you, and you do not need any man to teach you: because the same Anointing (Holy Spirit) teaches you about all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him; so that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His Coming.
The Verdict At The Judgment Seat Is Unchangeable
Whether a person receives great reward or no reward at all, the verdict at The Judgment Seat is unchangeable and it is going to happen! As already mentioned, the position of service we will hold in eternity, and how we will serve God forever will be determined by the choices we make and how we live in this life now!
Matthew 25:21 & 23: His Lord said to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.
Luke 19:17: He said to him, Well (done), thou good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, you are to be in authority over ten cities.
God’s rewards show His approval that our life on earth has been useful and pleasing to Him. The fire will reveal what has real value and what is worthless. Christians who are useful to God here will be given greater opportunities to be useful to Him throughout Eternity. God promises them who have been “faithful in little” will be given “authority over much”, so, let God use you to bless other people. Those who will be rich in heaven are those who do not live to impress people, but they live to bless others here on earth, and in so doing they delight the heart of God.
As one minister put it, “Although all Christians will be in heaven because of faith in Christ, some will receive great reward, and some will receive no reward at all. Some will enter into the joy of their Master, and some will not. Some will take hold of the life which is life indeed, and some will not. Some will wear Crowns indicative of the Father's pleasure, and some will not.
1 Timothy 6:17-19: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded (conceited), or trust in uncertain riches, but (they should trust) in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Luke 12:48: He that did not know, and did commit things worthy of stripes (who does something wrong), shall be beaten with few stripes (will be punished only lightly). But to whoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask even more.
Daniel 12:9: And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Revelation 3:12: Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God
Revelation 4:10-11: The four and twenty elders (Bride of Christ) fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worshiped Him that lives forever and ever, and cast their Crowns before the Throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
They don’t lose the Crowns they cast at Jesus’ feet, because Eternal rewards will last forever, but they are acknowledging that all their righteous works are as filthy rags. The rewards they received were for things the Lord had done through them, so they realize their rewards should go to Jesus! Just as no branch can bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot bear good fruit apart from Him. Therefore, these rewards bring continual honor to Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 64:6: All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
John 15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you unless you abide in me.
In the light of The Judgment Seat of Christ, there may be things in your life you want to change. Don’t waste or misuse another day of your life. Get rid of any bitterness towards anything or anyone, change some habits, reconcile with people, write letters or make phone calls, and take full responsibility for your actions, knowing they will count for Eternity. Strive to transform your life. Make your life more effective, more fruitful, more meaningful, more joyful. Purify your motives and follow the commandments of God.
2 John 1:8: Watch yourselves, that you do not lose those things which you have accomplished, so that you may receive a full reward.
Revelation 3:11: Behold, I come quickly: hold on fast to what you have, so that no man can take your Crown.
Here the Coming of Christ is related to those believers who are ready to receive Crowns. Not every believer will receive a Crown. Some will be saved by fire.
Many Christians believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus so they won't have to account for anything when they get to heaven. They are standing on the following verses and not considering all the others.
John 3:18: He that believes on Him (Christ) is not condemned.
Romans 8:1: There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There is no condemnation for our past sins, and the promise is no condemnation for the Christian who walks after the Spirit. But the same verse implies that there is condemnation if the individual determines to walk after the flesh. The condemnation has nothing to do with the standing of the Christian, but everything to do with his state. Just because our standing in Christ is guaranteed, it is still clear from God’s Word that we will have to give an account for our actions and how we have lived following our salvation. Paul warned us to examine and judge ourselves.
Romans 14:10 & 12: We shall all stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
1 Corinthians 11:28 & 31-32: Let a man examine himself..... For if we would judge ourselves, we will not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
We can examine our lives now against a future judgment. We can change our priorities and attitudes, review our motivations and redirect our energies toward the things that matter in God's sight. Above all, may we remain open to the Holy Spirit to guide us into a fruitful, spiritual Christian life and service.
2 Timothy 1:12: I (Paul) know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He (Christ) is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
1 Corinthians 15:58: Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Either through death or the Rapture, all of us will one day soon stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of our lives. Even the longest life on earth will end abruptly and one will find themselves suddenly ushered into eternity. Time as we know it will have vanished into the past, and only the words we have spoken, the choices we have made and our deeds will have affected our eternal standing before Christ for eternity. How we have lived this brief life will carry eternal consequences.
Few Christians have a real vision of eternity, while Heaven is the place where everyone wants to go, their lives reflect the attitude of “but not yet!”
Many are too busy pursuing the temporal things of this world, wanting to finish college, get married, take that long planned for trip. Others have song that old song, “Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus,” Just a few more days to get our loved ones in, far too long, and they don’t comprehend that while they are filled with concern about their immediate family, thousands of lost people are entering eternity daily. On an average, every day, 160,000 people will take their last breath and walk into eternity. That’s approximately 105 people every minute or 2 people every second. God hears your prayers, they will not be in vain, many of our lost loved ones will turn to the Lord during the Tribulation. It would be wise for us all to heed the fact that it is only the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ, who are asking Christ to Come!
Revelation 22:17 & 20: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come..... He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Begin today to make every moment of the rest of your life count for all eternity! Let these verses put the knowledge of the terror of the Lord in your heart.
Matthew 3:10 & Luke 3:9: The axe is laid to the root of the trees: and every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
John 15:2 & 6: Every branch in Me (Jesus) that bears no fruit He (My Father, God) takes away ..... If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
HIS PLAN FOR ME
When I stand at The Judgment Seat of Christ and He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been had He had His way,
And I see how I blocked Him here and I checked Him there, and I would not yield my will,
Will there be grief in my Savior's eyes? Grief, though He loves me still?
He would have made me rich, and I stand there poor, stripped of all but His grace
While memory runs like a hunted thing down the paths I cannot retrace.
Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break with tears that I cannot shed;
I shall cover my face with my empty hands, I shall bow my uncrowned head.
Lord, of the years that are left me, I give them to Thy hand;
Take me and break me, mold me to the pattern Thou has planned.
Martha Snell Nicholson
