The "Bema" Seat of Christ 14

The 'bema' seat of Christ; what a great thing to think about.

  Jesus is the Righteous Judge.  He always does right.  He is all together beautiful. (Song 4:7a)  Christ will judge us believers rightly at His judgement seat.  We will receive rewards from Him.  We will lose rewards too.  He only does what is right.  We can trust Him. 

What of this bema seat?  Scripture reveals: FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, SO THAT EACH OF US MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE US FOR THE THINGS DONE WHILE IN THE BODY, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD. (2 Cor. 5:10 NIV)  I love the way the International  Standard Version explains it:  FOR ALL OF US MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF THE MESSIAH, SO THAT EACH OF US MAY RECEIVE WHAT HE DESERVES FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE IN HIS BODY, WHETHER GOOD OR WORTHLESS.  

Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, looked forward to that day.  Paul says:  NOW, THERE IS IN STORE FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL AWARD TO ME ON THAT DAY-- AND NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING.(2 Tim. 4:8 NIV)  When will we stand before Jesus at His bema seat?  I happen to think it is the moment we walk into heaven.  However Missler teaches this judgement occurs at the rapture, in heaven.  I like how the Oracles of God, our Bible,  describe it as  "THAT DAY". (2 Tim. 4:8B)  All of our work, our lives, will be shown for what they are at Jesus judgement seat.  THEIR WORK WILL BE SHOWN FOR WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE 'THE DAY' WILL BRING IT TO LIGHT.  IT WILL BE REVEALED WITH FIRE, AND THE FIRE WILL TEST THE QUALITY OF EACH PERSON'S WORK. (1 Cor. 3:13)  

HE WILL ALSO KEEP YOU FIRM TO THE END, SO THAT YOU WILL BE BLAMELESS ON 'THE DAY' OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (1 Cor. 1:8 NIV)  The bema seat will not be a judgement for our sins.  That was taken care of 2,000 years ago on the cross.  Jesus has freed us from our sins by His own blood, and made us kings and priests unto His God. (Rev. 1)  What Jesus will judge will be our 'works', the fruit of our lives here on earth. 

 Dr. Chuck Missler teaches on Christ's bema seat in his study of 1 Corinthians.  His study notes explain: "Bema is a Greek word meaning "tribunal seat, judicial bench, judgement seat, or throne.  At this judgement, the Bema Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10,1 Cor. 3:11-15) we will receive rewards: crowns, assignments. There will also be loss of rewards, and tears shed for missed opportunities to tell about Jesus.  Permanence:  "Whatever you have done for Christ shall remain.  Everything else shall burn.  Salvation is invariably presented as a free gift.  Rewards are earned by works (fruit bearing)."

Jesus is constantly searching our hearts.  "I AM THE LORD WHO SEARCHES THE HEART, WHO TESTS THE INNER DEPTHS TO GIVE TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO WHAT HE DESERVES, ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF HIS DEEDS." Says Jesus in Jeremiah 17:10 ISV.  This will all come to light at His bema seat.  THEN ALL THE CHURCHES WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE ONE WHO SEARCHES MINDS AND HEARTS.  I WILL REWARD EACH OF YOU AS YOUR ACTIONS DESERVE. (Rev 2:23 b ISV)  

Therefore we always make it our goal to please our Lord.  The Apostle Paul commands us: SO WE MAKE IT OUR GOAL TO PLEASE HIM..  FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. (2 Cor. 5:9a,10a NIV)  Pleasing Jesus is our whole purpose in life. SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD AND PLEASE HIM IN EVERY GOOD WAY: BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK, GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.   Ideally we do this because we love the Lord Jesus.  Plus, we tell others about Him because we have mercy on our fellow man.  We also live with Jesus' bema seat judgement in mind at all times, just as Paul did.  He writes: "I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS." (Phil. 4:14 NIV)

This is how the Apostle Paul explains all this in the Sacred Writings:  "NOW IT IS REQUIRED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TRUST MUST PROVE FAITHFUL.  I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN COURT; INDEED I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF.  IT IS THE LORD WHO JUDGES ME.  AT THAT TIME EACH WILL RECEIVE THEIR PRAISE FROM GOD." (1 Cor. 4:2,3,4c,5c NIV)