RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-11-09	What Is The Judgment Seat of Christ?
		2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2Co 5:11  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. Paul is saying we will all appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ Rom 14:10  But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom 14:11  For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD." Rom 14:12  So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. The word “judgment” in both the Corinthians and Romans passage is the Greek word, bema. This word was used by the Romans for athletic events like races. The winner of the race would come up to the judgment seat which is where all the dignitaries who did the judging sat. They would stand before them and receive his olive wreath as a symbol of a winner. There were no losers in the judgment seat. There were no second place winners. These were only the ones who won in the games. They came to receive their award. The Judgment Seat of Christ will not have any unsaved people in it. The believer is pictured as a competitor in a spiritual contest. There is another judgment called the Great White Throne judgment (Re.20:11-15) At the Great White Throne judgment there will only be unsaved lost people. Now all of us saved and unsaved will be judged according to our works. The difference is, the sinner judged by his works, the works determine the degree of damnation. The believer judged by his works, the works determine the degree of reward. The Bible describes 5 crowns that are given to the believer as rewards. These crowns describe the good works deserving one of these crowns as a reward. Rewards are given in Scripture in general terms. They include crowns, accolades (“well done”), authority over cities (Mt.25:21,23), and a good life (“no more sorrow”). 1Co 3:12  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 1Co 3:13  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 1Co 3:14  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 1Co 3:15  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Paul says our works will be tried by fire. Good works are things you do that enrich other people's lives. There will be works that will burn up (wood, hay, straw), and there will be works that endure the fire (gold, silver, precious stones). What will burn up will be the works done with selfish motives. The works that endure the fire will be for our reward. Because of the finished work of Christ the child of God shall not be judged for sin (Jn.3:18; Ro.8:1). All our sin, past, present, and future (Cl.2:13) has been borne by Christ as our perfect substitute. Sorrow will be present, at least for a time when our works are made manifest. However, joy will be the predominant and enduring emotion of life with the Lord. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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