The Christian - The Judgement Seat Of Christ – Part 1 Of 3 Series

THE CHRISTIAN - THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST – PART 1 OF 3

[A]. THE INTRODUCTION

In the first half of this study on Judgement we studied The Great White Throne, a frightening and difficult study to do. We come this time to a whole new picture in judgement as we centre our thoughts in heaven. Now we have glory, and the face of the Lord Jesus Christ does not cause heaven and earth to flee away in fear. We have the glorious One who said, “Come unto Me all you who labour and are weighed down.” We stand before the Redeemer of our souls. He is looking at us. How do we feel? His love is clear to see.

Such a range of emotions COULD BE there. We don’t know, but would you permit me to mention a few of them. Love would be the outstanding one. Gratitude would be high on the list, for He has ransomed us from sin’s domain and brought us in freedom to His side. Awe will be present because the majesty of heaven would be beyond the human mindscape. Even for faithful Christians I think trepidation might be present also.

I have kept the final emotion until last. It is shame. Will we be ashamed before Christ for our lack of love, gratitude, awe, service and the selfishness we often had when working for the Lord? Will we know that we had many, many years to be faithful in service but were spasmodic and even poor in that commitment. YES, I know I am speculating because we don’t know how the Judgement Seat of Christ operates.

I believe Paul hints at the possibility of shame at the Judgement Seat in this verse in the wider sense – {{1 John 2:28 “Now, little children, abide in Him so that when He appears, we may have confidence AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME AT HIS COMING.”}}

I may or may not mention this later on, but unlike the great white throne, I am not inclined to think that this will be a mass judgement where everyone is present like at the Great White Throne, but souls are dealt with individually. I am reasoning that the Judgement Seat of Christ will be for each, when each enters heaven. Of course it will be different at the Rapture when hundreds of millions enter heaven all at once.

One last thing in this Judgement for believers. Most scholars and Christians believe that children who have not reached their age of accountability or a conscious position of rejecting Christ, will be in heaven. I do not believe that these or the infants that die will be judged at this Judgement Seat for rewards for obvious reasons.

Let me remind you again that some of that is reasoned speculation as I try to work through the great event in heaven. This is not for controversy as some love to be controversial and reject a reasoned position. Let us proceed with the breakdown of all this.

[B]. WHAT WAITS FOR CHRISTIANS IN JUDGEMENT?

Christians face a judgment but an entirely different one from the unsaved. We shall look at this passage – {{Hebrews 9:26–28 “. . . but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (27) Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and AFTER THIS COMES JUDGEMENT, (28) so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”}}.

Man is appointed to death and then to judgment. However even though verse 27 can be understood as being a universal truth, I believe this Hebrews passage is applying more to Christians. They are the ones who have availed themselves of His sacrifice putting away sin, and waiting for that grand appearance (the Rapture) with eagerness. There is something wrong with a Christian who is not waiting eagerly for the Lord. One Christian said to me, “Christ might not come back for hundreds of years. They have been saying that for a long time.” That is not the right attitude.

The judgment for Christians is that which is known as The Judgment Seat of Christ (sometimes referred to as the “Bema”). The judgment seat will have NOTHING TO DO WITH DEATH OR PENALTY. Its purpose is not for condemnation but for REWARDS. These verses shed some light on this matter –

(1). {{John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, AND DOES NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, but has passed out of death into life.”}}. There are only two sides of the fence – one side is death and judgement, and the other is life and reward.