A Biblical View of The End Times
HEAVEN’S CORONATION DAY
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Intro: As our journey through the events surrounding the end times continues, we come to an event that will take place in Heaven while the Tribulation Period is going on here on earth. During the time of the tribulation there are two great events that will be taking place in Heaven. It is these two events that will be the focus of the messages, both tonight and next Sunday tonight. These two events are The Judgment Seat of Christ and The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Tonight, I would like for us to take some time to look into the event known in the Bible as the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is an event that is spoken of in several passages of Scripture. Notice 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10-12. These passages, along with the passage I am preaching tonight, all speak of the same event. They refer to a time when every child of God will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of their service to the Lord.
I don’t mind telling you that when I think of that event, I do so with a bit of dread. I know that there will be plenty to answer for in that day. However, I also want you to know that there will be far more for us to look forward to than there will be for us to fear! For it is on that day that the fruits of the journey are rewarded. It is that day when we may hear the Lord Jesus say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant." It is that day that I want to preach about tonight.
I challenge every person in this room to allow the Lord to speak to your heart tonight.
I. A DAY OF INTIMATE DISCOVERIES (vv. 10-13)
• Verse 11 makes it clear that this is an event that is for believers only!
o In other words, if you aren’t building from your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you will not be at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but you will either be in the Tribulation or you will already be in Hell!
o Let me remind those of you that are not saved; you are one day closer to eternity than you were yesterday!
o You need to prepare to meet God!
• With that in mind, let’s see what will be discovered about the saints of God on that day.
A. Our Methods Will Be Discovered (v. 10)
• Paul tells us that "how" we built on the foundation will pass under the microscope of God in that Day.
• The whole idea of this verse is this:
• When the Lord saved your soul, He placed you on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since the very moment you were saved, you have been building a life.
o This life can either be a thing of glory to the Lord, or it can be a thing of disgrace before the Lord.
o When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will answer for how we have built our lives.
• At this point, it may help us to understand this thing better if we define just what we are talking about.
o In Paul’s day, in every city there was a place called the Bema, or judgment seat.
o It was from this raised platform, usually in the center of town that announcements were made, judgments rendered and commendations handed out.
o It was at the Bema Seat that rewards were given out to the winners of the Greek games.
o All public proclamations came from this Bema seat.
o So, we must not think that it was only a place for fear and trembling.
o Certainly some were rebuked when they came here, but many others were rewarded and blessed.
• Christ’s seat of judgment is no different!
• There are two issues that will not be addressed at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those issues are:
1. Salvation
• No lost person will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• There will be another Judgment that take care of the lost sinner.
• If you are here, you are saved!!!
2. Sin
• Sin was taken care of forever at Calvary when the Lord Jesus died, John 19:30!
• Now, when a sinner places his faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, all his sins are forever taken care of!
o They will not be mentioned when we arrive here!
o What will be dealt with is the manner in which we have lived this earthly life, from the moment of our conversion until the day we died, or were raptured.
• It will be about how we used the responsibilities, privileges and opportunities we were given by the Lord Jesus as we journeyed through this world.
• Perhaps it would help us to remember that every born again believer is a "steward".
• That is, we are the servants of God.
• He has placed in our hands His ministry to the world.
• To accomplish this ministry, the Lord has given each of us certain things.
o He has given us 24 hours in every day.
o He has given us money.
o He has blessed us with gifts and abilities to use for His glory.
o He has given us opportunities for service and for ministry.
• The Lord Jesus, has entrusted us with His business and He will require that each of His stewards give an account of their service unto Him when He returns.
o We will answer for the lives we are living in this world.
o Is that clear enough?
• This judgment will not determine whether or not you get into Heaven.
B. Our Materials Will Be Discovered (v. 12)
• This verse tells us that there are two possible categories of materials from which we can construct our spiritual house.
• There Are Worthy Materials
o Gold, Silver and Precious Stones. These refer to things that are precious, valuable, beautiful and hard to come by.
o These are also things that survive and even thrive in the fire.
o These picture the kind of works that the Lord will bless in that day, and the kind of works that every believer should have in his/her life as they journey through this world.
• There Are Worthless Materials
• Wood, Hay and Stubble.
o These refer to those things that are temporary, ugly, cheap and easy to come by.
o They would speak of things that are done out of the will of God, or things that are done out of a mean spirit, or things that are done out of selfishness, etc.
o They differ from the other materials in that each of these is immediately destroyed by flames.
o These refer to the kinds of activities that we should avoid as believers.
o Just how does one determine the difference between works that will burn and works that will endure the flames of judgment?
o That may be easier to answer by telling you of some areas that are sure to be judged by the Lord.
How We Treat Others
How We Exercise Authority Over Others
How We Use Our God-given Abilities
How We Use Our Money
How We Spend Our Time
How Much We Suffer For the Lord
How We Run the Race God Has Chosen For Us
How Effectively We Control The Old Nature
How Many Souls We Witness To and Win to Jesus
How We React To Temptation
How Much We Love The Rapture
How Faithful We Are To The Word Of God And To The Flock Of God
C. Our Ministry Will Be Discovered (v. 13)
• Verse 13 lets us know that all of our works will be put to the fire.
o Somehow, the Lord will apply the fire of His judgment to the things we did in this life and they will be made "manifest".
o This word means that they will be "Made known publicly."
o As we travel toward Heaven, there are those among us who have all the appearance of having plenty of good works in their life.
• However, behind the things they do is a self-serving motive.
o Their works will burn.
o There are others who do things and others see them and say they do them to be seen.
• However, behind their works it love for the Lord.
o They do what they do to glorify God.
o Their works will abide!
o What I am trying to say is that you cannot look around you tonight and tell much about a person’s works by what you see.
• However, on that day, there will be no hiding from the truth!
o Every motive, every work, every secret thought, every self-serving motive will be revealed for all to see!
o The fire of Christ’s judgment will make the truth known!
o I am sure that there are sermons which I have preached that will burn up when I stand before the Lord.
o I am sure that many of the things I have done in the name of the Lord will burn up before my eyes on that day.
o I cannot change the yesterdays of my life, but I can do something about the tomorrow’s, and so can you!
• What is the bottom line?
o Our cats will all be out of the bag when we stand before Jesus and face Him in Judgment!
II. A DAY OF INTENSE DELIGHTS (v. 14)
• While many things dealt with at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be unpleasant, not everything will be bad!
• In fact, for many, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be the moment when all their trials are made worthwhile.
• It will literally be their crowning moment!
A. A Potential Is Mentioned
• The first part of this verse tells us that there is the potential that some part of our works will remain after they have been put to the fire.
• Wouldn’t it be a glorious thing to see some of what you did for Jesus actually remain?
• Many will! What happens to your works all depends on you!
B. A Promise Is Mentioned
• Those things that remain will be the basis for rewards.
• The Lord Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him.
• That is almost beyond belief, but the Bible tells us five crowns that are available as rewards to the faithful saint of God.
• Those crowns are:
o The Incorruptible Crown - Awarded for faithfulness to the Lord - 1 Cor. 9:25.
o The Crown Of Life – For the person who endures and overcomes temptation – James 1:12.
o The Crown Of Rejoicing - This is the soul winners crown - 1 Thess. 2:19.
o The Crown Of Righteousness - This will be given to those who anticipate and live in the light of the return of Jesus - 2 Tim. 4:8
o The Crown Of Glory -This will be given to the faithful ministers who give themselves to lead and feed the flock of God - 1 Pet. 5:4.
• We need to understand that every deed done in the name of Jesus will be blessed and rewarded over there. Men may not see the value of your service, but rest assured that Jesus takes perfect note and that He will reward you fairly for your sacrifice for Him.
• God will apply the fire of His judgment to our works, and those that were done for Him and for His glory alone will pass the test and we will be rewarded accordingly.
• Why is He going to give us crowns?
o The answer is found in Revelation 4:9-11.
o We will cast those crowns at His feet to honor Him!
III. A DAY OF IMMENSE DISAPPOINTMENTS (v. 15)
A. The Pain That Is Mentioned
• While some of our works will remain, others will be destroyed before our eyes.
• This will surely be a painful time for every believer.
• There will be many tears shed right here!
• Thankfully, after this event is passed, Jesus Himself will wipe the tears away, and the past life will be remembered no more - Rev. 21:4.
B. The Price That Is Mentioned - "he shall suffer loss".
• This means that the believer will lose the reward he could have earned had his life been what it should be.
o Some would teach us that even earned rewards will be lost to.
o However, considering that God is Just, this probably refers to what the believer "could" have earned.
o Many of us will see rewards earned by others that could have been ours as well, if we had only been faithful too.
• I don’t know about you, but I want to be as faithful as possible so that I might win every reward that I can.
o The reason is not so I can parade around Heaven with my crowns and trophies and show off.
o The reason is that I may have more to give back to Jesus, thus enhancing His glory!
o That is what this thing is all about!
o The Master rewards the servants and the servants in turn use those things to glorify Him!
o That is what this whole thing boils down to!
o If I will live my life to glorify the Lord God here, 1 Cor. 10:31; then I will have crowns to lay at His feet there, adding even more glory to the Lord, Rev. 4.
C. The Promise That Is Mentioned
• Notice again that the believer who may see his works burn will still be saved.
• I cannot stress it enough that the issue here will not be about salvation!
• This was settled when you received Jesus.
• Now, some might take this and say, "Well, I’m saved!
o I can do as I please and live any way I want to and it doesn’t matter."
• If you are really saved, you won’t think like that!
o If you are really saved, there will be a part of you that will long to please the Lord.
o If you are saved, despite your best effort, there will be times when you will serve the Lord.
o If you are saved, you will prove it by living for the Lord, at least some of the time!
• I thank God that I am saved forever.
• I thank Him that nothing can ever change that!
• However, I want to have something to show for my life when I arrive there.
o I do not want to see everything burn up.
o I want some crowns to lay at Jesus’ feet. How about you?
Closing: Well, if these verses have taught us anything, they have taught us that there are two ways to ruin a good building: A faulty foundation and faulty materials.
Of the utmost of importance tonight is for every person in this room to determine what foundation they are building on. Only those houses built on the Lord Jesus Christ, His death and His resurrection will stand, Matt. 7:24-27. All other will perish in the waves of God’s great wrath. Are you saved? Be sure before you leave this building tonight!
If you are on the right foundation, what kind of materials are you building with? Are you using gold, silver and precious stones? That is, are you building a life to the glory of God? Are you building with good actions and attitudes? If so, then won’t it be a blessing to see those things stand the test and bring honor to the Lord? Maybe you are using wood, hay and stubble. If so, you know that your works are going to burn up before your eyes. You will miss out on some of the glorious things God has for those who are faithful stewards. Wouldn’t you like to scrap that shabby house tonight, tear it down in this altar and with God’s begin to build a house that will honor Jesus both here and in the hereafter? The choice is yours, but the reality remains: Heaven’s Coronation Day is coming. How it turns out is all up to you.
