Payday

Introduction: The Bible teaches us that one-day Jesus Christ is going to return. Actually, His return takes place in two parts or stages. The first is called the rapture of the Body of Christ, the second the revelation of Christ. These two events will be separated by a period of seven years. During this seven-year period, those on earth will experience a time of great tribulation such as it has never known (Matthew 24:21). While this tribulation confronts those on the earth, the “raptured” or “caught up” saints will have the joy of celebrating the marriage feast of the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ. However, before the joys of the marriage feast, every believer must face a day of accountability as he or she stands before the Bema or Judgment Seat of Christ. There will be a “Payday Someday”. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

I. THE BELIEVERS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A TIME OF REVELATION.

A. II 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 has done, whether it be good or bad.”

B. I Corinthians 3:13 “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.”

C. This will not be a judgment of our salvation but of our conduct and service as stewards of Jesus Christ. This will be a judgment for the commending of the saints not the condemnation of sinners.

D. God is a just Paymaster and will balance all of His accounts with His saints on that day.

E. 2 Corinthians 5:10 "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." (NIV)

F. Grantland Rice wrote:

WHEN THE ONE GREAT SCORER COMES

TO WRITE AGAINST YOUR NAME--

HE MARKS--NOT THAT YOU WON OR LOST--

BUT HOW YOU PLAYED THE GAME.

Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997)

G. I Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

H. "We are judged," said Channing, "not by the degree of our light but by fidelity to the light we have." (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997)

I. While here, every believer is called and gifted for a special task. As such he or she will be judged based on how well he or she has been faithful to perform that task and the lasting value of their service for Christ

J. I Corinthians 3:11-12 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;"

K. Every work will be tested and the truth and quality of their work exposed.

II. THE BELIEVERS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A TIME OF REWARD OR REMOVAL.

A. Some Works shall be Rewarded

1. I Corinthians 3:8b, 14 “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor... If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

2. Proverbs 11:8 “The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.”

3. These works are described as "gold, silver, and precious stones." They are works of lasting or eternal quality - the selfless results of works of faith and committed utilization of one’s spiritual gifts.

4. It is neither the grandeur nor the enormity of the works that will be measured. It will be what have you done with what Christ has given you.

B. Some Works shall be Removed or Destroyed

1. I Corinthians 3:15 “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss…”

2. Not all the works that we think are lasting will make it through the Jesus Christ’s refining fiery judgment. Some of the performance we are most proud of will go up in smoke under the scrutiny of the Judge of all ages.

3. MATTHEW 6:1-2, 5-6, 16 " Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. And when you pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. [6] But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father, which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. [16] Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward."