must all appar before judgment seat of christ

Your life’s work as a follower of Jesus will be revealed for what it is under the scrutiny of our Lord. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. “… the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. As Paul puts it (1 Corinthians 3:13b-16): One metaphor of the judgment seat of Christ is fire – some “materials” survive fire, others are burned up. The result of Christ’s judgment of his people is not about their salvation or condemnation for, in Christ, there is no condemnation ( Romans 8:1 John 5:24 1 John 4:17). He also examines our motives behind those actions. So, Christ examines each of our actions to determine whether, to him, it is well-pleasing or worthless.

The Greek word for 'bad' is phaulos meaning worthless, rather than evil. The 'good or bad' refers to Christ's assessment of what we have done with our lives as Christians. Romans 14:12 tells us, as followers of Jesus, that “each of us will give an account of himself to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 adds “that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” I agree with Dwight Pentecost who writes that “there can be little doubt that the bēma of Christ is concerned only with believers.” What is at stake?

“we make it our goal to please him” (5:9).“away from the body and at home with the Lord” (5:8) and,.“we live by faith, not by sight” (5:7).“what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (5:4).they have “a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1).In addition, only of followers of Jesus can it be said that: Reading the contexts of Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:9 we can make numerous observations about those who will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.įor instance, Paul uses the first personal pronoun – “we” or “us” – referring to Christians. Theologian, Douglas Moo states that Paul “views God and Christ as so closely related that he can shift almost unconsciously from one to the other.” Who is judged?Īlthough this will not be the only divine judgment in the future, it is of particular interest to followers of Jesus. You probably noticed that one is “ God’s judgment seat” and the other “judgment seat of Christ.” This does not refer to two different judgment seats. 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. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me every tongue will confess to God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. I recommend that you read these two texts within their larger contexts, at least Romans 14:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. These two theological references to bēma are Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. Twice in the NT, bēma is used in a theological context for a future judgment by Christ. So, a judgment seat or a bēma is a place from which a person of authority dispenses judgment or rewards. Leonard Sale-Harrison (1875-1956) points out that bēma also referred to the raised platform where the president or umpire in Grecian games bestowed rewards. These officials heard and judged important matters from a bēma. In the Roman judicial sphere bēma is used for the judgment seats of Pilate (Matthew 27:19 John 19:13), Herod (Acts 12:21), Gallio (Acts 18:12, 16f.), and Festus (Acts 25:6, 10, 17).

It refers to a raised platform or dais where a judge or umpire addressed an assembly. In the Bible, “judgment seat” translates the Greek word bēma (pronounced bay-mah) which occurs twelve times in the New Testament (NT). What is this judgment? Who will be judged? What is at stake? What is a judgment seat? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, one of those future events will be the judgment seat of Christ. Our current focus is how biblical prophecies of the future can motivate us to live and serve faithfully in the present. If you knew that you will be accountable for how you lived your life today, would you do things differently?

Must all appar before judgment seat of christ