The Judgments
The Judgment of the god's of Egypt
Exodus 12:12
The Judgment of Sin
On the Cross
The Judgment of the Prince of this world
John 16:11
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Bema Seat
The judgment seat (the Bema) is mentioned in five "New Testament" books, and only ten times over all in the scriptures.
The Greek word Bema is used two additional times in scriptures, and it is translated once as the english word "throne" in Acts 12:21 concerning Herod.
The title used above, the judgement seat of Christ for this chapter in our study only appears twice in the whole bible, and they are both found in Paul's Epistles in the following verses:
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
From these two verses we learn some very definite things:
I. All of those in the group being mentioned in these two verses above will stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day.
II. The same group shall all recieve the things done in their body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
This judgment is not the great white throne judgment, that occurs later (Revelation 21:11-15), this is a special judgement just for the body of Christ spoken about in 1 Corinthians 3:
1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 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. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
From these verses we learn some other important things concerning the judgment seat of Christ:
I. We learn it is the work of each believer that is to be tried by fire, to see what sort it is, not the believer.
It is not the believer that is being judged, because that judgment occured at the cross for us 2,000 years ago when our sins were placed on Christ. Many "great" works built on the wrong foundation will burn up.
Jerry Falwell built big buildings, he didn't understand how to rightly divide the word of truth, and much of the rewards that he would have receive for his teaching and preaching will burn up because he was preaching a mixture of Law and Grace.
II. Rewards will be recieved for those whose works remain after the judgment.
III. The individual themself is not being judged for sin, but for what they did in the body since they were saved.
What did they build upon the foundation that was laid for them? Did they add Israel's law to the body of Christ teachings on grace? That will all be flammable material which will not survive the fire.
Imagine your life's work one day all in a pile that is the size of Noah's Ark. If it is of the same sort of material as the Ark is, it will become a small pile of ashes that will blow away. All that work, and nothing to show for it.
What a waste it will be my friend. Start today building on the foundation of the wise masterbuilder, things that will withstand the fire.
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
There are those who judge that since under the Law Israel was required to give 10 % plus all the other required offerings each year, that we under grace should give more, because we are giving out of love not debt.
A guilt trip is placed upon believers in the dispensation of grace to outgive Israel under the law. Some grace preachers tell their people that they should be constrained by the love of Christ under grace to give at least as much as Israel, if not more.
All I will say on this subject is what God's word says, if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. Find someplace that is building on the right foundation and sow into that ministry.
The Judgment of the Great Whore
Revelation 19:2
The Judgment of the World
1 Corinthians 6:2
Acts 17:31
The Judgment of Angels
1 Corinthians 6:3
Israel's Judgment
The Wheat and the Chaff
Revelation 11:18
The Judgment of the Nations
The Sheep and the Goats
The Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20:12-13
