What does it matter, then, as to the kind of Christian we are, if when the Lord comes again, we shall all be caught up anyway? It matters very much indeed, for: But there are different kinds of Christians - the faithful and the unfaithful (Matthew 25:21), the spiritual and the worldly (1 Corinthians 3:1), and the diligent and careless (Ephesians 5:15-17). Because, therefore, salvation is altogether of grace, when the Lord comes again, every Christian will be translated into His presence to be with Him for ever (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). Salvation is altogether of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10 Titus 3:5), and it is bestowed fully and freely, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, upon all who accept Him and trust Him alone as their personal Saviour. No one deserves to be saved, and no one can ever do anything to merit or earn salvation. The moment anyone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God saves him (Acts 16:30-31 Romans 10:9-10). Every Christian will be rewarded based on his words, deeds, and faithfulness.Series 6 Study 6 THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST At the Bema Seat, Jesus Christ will bring to light every deed-good or bad-that each believer has done on earth since he or she became a Christian. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul gives the Corinthian church an illustration of the Bema Seat, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." Paul is teaching us that all Christians will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. At the same time, I do not think judgment is going to be the focus of the Bema Seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." Part of this judgment is answering for the sins we committed. Romans 14:10-12 explains, "You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. Yes, we will surely have to give an account of our lives. We should not focus on the Bema Seat as Christ judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us according to our lives. In contrast, the Bema Seat is for believers whose salvation has already been secured by faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16 Romans 10:9-10). If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." The Great White Throne is where those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are judged and condemned. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. Revelation 20:11-15 describe this judgment, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. It is very important to not confuse the Bema Seat with the Great White Throne judgment. Rather, it is when believers must give an account of their lives to Christ. The Bema Seat judgment does not determine salvation. It is far more important that we be prepared for the Bema Seat. It does not truly matter when the Bema Seat occurs. Others believe the Bema Seat to occur during the end times, with all believers being judged at that time. Some understand it to occur at the moment of death for each believer. There is some debate as to the exact timing of the Bema Seat. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." Your gold, silver, and costly stones are works done for the glory of God, with the right motive, and in dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. 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. The concept of the Bema Seat comes from the ancient Olympics, where a judge would sit on the Bema Seat at the finish line. Bema Seat Bema Seat - What Is It and When Is It?
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