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The Judgment Seat of Christ

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Dr. Alexander Kurian

 

(Central Passages: 2 Cori.5:10; Rom.14:10; 1 Cori.3: 10-15)

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1. The Meaning of the Judgment Seat (Bema): “a raised platform,” “a tribune,” “the official seat of a judge.” In the Grecian games, the arena contained a raised platform for the umpire from where he rewarded the winners. It was called the “bema” or “reward seat.” This is where the honored citizens also sat to watch the games. It was not a judicial bench. It is in this sense that the “bema” is used of the Judgment seat of Christ.

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2. The Purpose of the Bema: “Appear” in 2 Cori.5:10 might better be rendered “to be made manifest” - the purpose of the bema is to make a manifestation of the essential character, merit and motives of the individual. The bema will in no way be an evaluation of our sins. The purpose is to evaluate us the way we lived our Christian lives, for the quality of our service. The question is not whether you are a Christian, but what kind of Christian you are. Christ will determine our degree of faithfulness to Him and the eternal rewards (or lack thereof) we have earned. The question of salvation is not being considered, but the question of our “works.”

 

3. The Time of the Bema: Immediately following the rapture.

• Reward is associated with the resurrection (Luke 14:14)

• Reward is associated with the day of His coming (“that day”) for His own (1Cor.4:5; 2 Tim.4:8; Rev.22:12)

• When the Lord returns to the earth with His bride, the bride is seen to be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean which is the righteous acts of the saints. She is spotless and blameless and already rewarded (Rev.19:8; Eph.5:27). The rewarding will take place between the Rapture and the Second Coming.

 

4. The Place of the Bema: It will take place in the sphere of the heavenlies; in the Lord’s presence (1Thessa.4:17).

 

5. The Subjects of the Bema: It involves the same people who were involved in the rapture. All the references to the bema judgment are only in relation to believers.

 

6. The Judge at the Bema: The Son of God (2 Cori. 5:10). God has committed this judgment to the Son (Rom.14:10; John 5:22).

 

7. The Particulars of the Bema (the Bases for the Evaluation & Rewarding):

• A Test of our Deeds ( 2 Cori.5:10; 1 Cori.3:10-15) including the motives for the deeds (1 Cori.4:5)

• A Test of our Dependability or Stewardship (1 Cori.4:2; Matt.25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27)

• A Test of our Discipline (1 Cori.9:24-27)

• A Test of our Declarations – our words (Matt.12:36-37)

• A Test of our Desires – “secrets of men” (Rom.2:16)

 

8. The Result of the Evaluation at the Bema: A reward received or a reward lost (1 Cori.3:15: suffer loss of rewards, not of salvation).

 

9. The Positive Results

• The opportunity to serve Christ in greater ways in the Millennial Kingdom (Matt.25:19-23; Luke 19:16-19; Rev.2:26;3:21)

• Receive divine commendation (Matt.25:21)

• Experience special joy and fellowship (Matt.25:21,23; 1 Peter 4:12-13)

• Obtain a variety of Crowns (stephanos, “the victor’s crown,” not diadema, the royal crown”) – Incorruptible Crown for those who get mastery over the old man (1Cori.9:25); Crown of Rejoicing for the soul winners (1Thessa.2:19); Crown of Life for those enduring trials (James 1:12); Crown of Righteousness for loving His appearing (2 Tim.4:8); Crown of Glory for shepherding the flock of God (1Peter 5:4). But we will not take pride in those crowns, because we are not worthy to wear a crown. We will cast it at the feet of Him who bore the crown of thorns for us. He alone is worthy (Rev.4:10).

 

10. The Negative Results

• Disqualified from rewards (1Cori.9:27)

• Loss of rewards (1 Cori.3:15)

• Sense of shame before the Lord (1 Jn.2:28)

• Loss of rewards will carry with them negative consequences in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11; Heb.4:1; Matt.19:28-29; Rev.2:26).

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Christians will reign with Christ in the administration of the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 2:26; 20:6; 2 Tim.2:11). The Bible also speaks of Christians reigning with Christ in eternity (22:5). Apparently Christians will be given spheres of authority in God’s government both in the Millennium and in the eternal state. These spheres of service will relate how well we have served Christ in this life.

 

“The judgment seat of Christ might be compared to a commencement ceremony. At graduation there is some measure of disappointment and remorse that one did not do better and work harder. However, at such an event the overwhelming emotion is joy, not remorse. The graduates do not leave the auditorium weeping because they did not earn better grades. Rather, they are thankful that they have been graduated, and they are grateful for what they did achieve. To overdo the sorrow aspect of the judgment seat of Christ is to make heaven hell. To underdo the sorrow aspect is to make faithfulness inconsequential” (Samuel Hoyt).