The Judgement Seat of Christ
The Judgement (Bama) Seat of Christ is for believers only.
2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12; Revelation 11:15-18
Believers, all of the Age of Grace who appear before the
Judgment Seat of Christ will receive the following rewards,
depending upon how they have lived their lives while on earth.
Some will lose rewards if they have lived in disobedience;
others will gain rewards if they have lived in obedience.
This judgment will NOT be a judgment for sin.
Everyone who appears at this Judgment Seat
WILL BE SAVED! Jesus took all sin upon
Himself on the cross - past, present and future!
The Bible mentions at least five (5) rewards:
THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN
This crown will be for those who "ran a good race"
in the Christian life; those who mastered the
old nature, maintaining self control, disciplining
their bodies. It is also called the Imperishable
Crown or the Victor’s Crown. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
THE CROWN OF REJOICING
This crown will be given to those who labored
to save souls - the believers who obeyed The
Great Commission of Jesus Christ. It is also
called the Soul-Winners Crown. 1 Thessalonians 2:19
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
This crown will be for all believers who were ready
and waiting for Jesus to return - they looked for
His return and loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
THE CROWN OF LIFE
This Crown will be given to those who faithfully
suffered, even unto death, knowing there is a better life
in the world to come. It will be for those who endured
patiently through testings, temptations and trials. This
is also called the Martyr’s Crown. James 1:12, Revelation 2:10
THE CROWN OF GLORY
This crown will be given to those who faithfully taught
and preached the true Word of God - the Leaders, Pastors,
Elders and Teachers who were godly examples to His flock.
This is also called the Elder’s Crown. 1 Peter 5:2-4
Jesus says in Revelation 3:11, I am coming soon. Hold on to
what you have, so that No One Will Take Away Your Crown."
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. For it is written, As I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us
shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12
What do we confess and what are we going
to have to give an account of before God?
We will give account of every word
we have spoken. Matthew 12:36
Yes, as Christians, we will answer for every
useless word we have spoken. We need to
realize just how powerful our words are and
how wicked our tongue can be. James 3:5-6
We need to learn how to hold our tongues
and not speak without thinking because we
will give an account for every idle word we speak.
We will give an account of our lives lived: Some men's
sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment;
and some men they follow after. Likewise also the
good works of some are manifest beforehand;
and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Timothy 5:24-25
The verse says that the good works of some are
manifest beforehand for others to see, but when God
reveals everything at the judgment, nothing will be hid.
We must consider the difference between our
standing and our state. There is no condemnation
in your standing - you cannot lose your salvation;
however, there is condemnation in your state.
We will give an account of our stewardship: And he
said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich
man, which had a steward; and the same was accuse
unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called
him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this
of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for
thou mayest be no longer steward. Luke 16:1-2
Who are the stewards today?
It can only be Christians!
Paul tells us: Moreover it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Being
faithful is the one requirement God gives us today.
Faithfulness covers every aspect of the Christian walk.
As Christians, we need to step back and evaluate
just what kind of stewards we are. Are we good
stewards of the word of God and men’s souls?
We fail to grasp the eternal consequences of our actions.
We do not fear the day when we will stand in judgment.
Those in positions of authority will give an account: Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
account, that they may do it with joy, and not with
grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17
We will give an account of our witnessing: When
I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and
thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn
the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life;
the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but
his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:18
We need to be warning other Christians to live for God
because we will be required to give an account of our
faithfulness in warning the lost of their sinful condition.
We are not getting away with our sin today. Yes, the
Christian is forgiven, thank You, Jesus! But, God is not
mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Christians playing fast and loose with the things of God
IS a very big deal! We better be thinking of the day we will
stand before the Almighty Righteous God of this universe!
There is much more to faithfulness than simply
going to church to punch your card. Remember,
God is not mocked. We cannot do as we please.
Too many Christians act as though they have God’s
hands tied behind His back because they are saved.
Knowing the terror of the Lord we need to live
for Jesus. There is nothing else that matters!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
We are saved by the righteousness of Jesus
Christ, but rewarded based on our own
righteousness. Philippians 3:9
That means that our standing is determined by
the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but our state
by our own righteousness. Our work is related
to righteousness. The fine linen that will clothe
us individually is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 16 talks about keeping the garment.
So, what kind of garment will you have for all eternity?
Will you be naked? God is not mocked.
We are joint-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12
By nature God is both holy and just and He
can not act contrary to who He is as a Person.
Therefore, it is inevitable that He must evaluate
men and nations from time to time. The book of
Romans, tells us that God judges everyone on the
basis of his or her knowledge ("according to truth"),
and according to his or her deeds. This applies to
Christians and non-Christians alike but this does not
mean that people are saved by their deeds or works.
Whether a Christian dies before his time from an accident
or tragedy, or whether he or she lives out a normal life
span of 70 or 80 years, each and every one of us must,
at death, pass a special reviewing stand of God known
in Scripture as the "Judgment Seat of Christ."
Even those Christians who remain alive on earth until
Jesus comes will experience this judgment as they
pass from the earthly realm to the heavenly.
The Gospel of John and Romans 8, promise that Christians
have passed out from under all condemnation and will not
fail to pass the test of the Judgment Seat of the Christ.
None of us shall reach the other side without
passing through a process of seeing ourselves as
we really always were and have finally become.
This will be a time when God makes known
"the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Only what Jesus does survives, all else is burned up.
Christ is our inheritance. We have an inheritance
in Him and He has an inheritance in us!
We do not serve Him out of duty or because we want
big rewards. We want to be found well-pleasing in
His sight. We love Him because He first loved us!
God will honor those who have served Him well.
1 Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19;
2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10
"...the twenty-four elders fall down before him
who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives
for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before
the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord
and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will
they were created and have their being."
Revelation 4:10-11
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