The Judgment Seat of Christ

Rev. Jack Howell

“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” (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV).

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you are saved, you will not
be judged by God, and are free to live and do as you please, for as Paul points
out in the above verse, even Christians are going to stand before God in judgment.
This judgment is not the same as that for the unsaved as depicted at Revelation
20:11-15 where they will be judged guilty of sin and of rejecting Christ as Savior
and Lord and cast into the Lake of Fire. Rather, this judgment is commonly
referred to as the “bema judgment” or judgment seat of Christ where we will stand
before Him to be judged and rewarded according to our works, that is according to
our service to Him. It is commonly referred to as the “bema judgment” because of
the Greek word “bema” which is translated as “judgment seat” and refers to the
official seat of a judge and is usually on a raised platform. Our works will be
carefully scrutinized as to motive, intent, and sincerity and anything that does
not pass the test is “burned up.” The Apostle Paul speaks about this in his first
epistle to the Corinthian church where we read at chapter 3 verses 12-15: “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 every man’s work of
what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” The works that we do in His power and
for His glory are likened to gold, silver, and precious stones, and they will
survive the fire of His discerning judgment. The works that we do in our own power
and ability, the works we do to be seen of men and receive the praise of men, the
works we do for selfish motives, are likened to wood, hay, and stubble, and will
be burned up. Are we doing the works to be tooting our own horn so as to be seen
of men and receive the praise of men, or are we doing them to glorify God? Are we
living godly lives, or are we living like the world? All of this will come out at
the Judgment Seat of Christ and we will not be able to fool Him.