THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST Dr. Criswell 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 4-22-56 7:30 p.m. Now, may we turn to the fifth chapter of the second Corinthian letter – Second Corinthians 5.

Question: 'What is the Judgment Seat of Christ / Bema Seat of Christ?' Answer:Romans 14:10–12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (ESV). Second Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” In context, it is clear that both passages refer to Christians, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Christ, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ.The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives.

Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we committed. However, that is not going to be the primary focus of the judgment seat of Christ.At the judgment seat of Christ, believers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). Some of the things we might be judged on are how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans 6:1-4), and how well we controlled our tongues (James 3:1-9). The Bible speaks of believers receiving for different things based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5).

The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. James 1:12 is a good summary of how we should think about the judgment seat of Christ: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”Recommended Resource.

The Judgement Seat of ChristThe ‘Bema’ seat of Christ occurs at the time immediately following the translation of the Church (“Rapture”–See 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The place of the Bema seat of Christ is placed in the sphere of the heavenlies.There are two primary passages for interpreting the Judgement Seat of Christ: Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.

The two Greek terms translated Judgement Seat in these passages are: bemati and bematos. In THAYER’S GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, we find the following definition for Bema: (1) a step, pace, (2) a raised place mounted by steps; a platform, tribune: used of the official seat of a judge (see Matthew 27:19; John 19:13; Acts 18:12,16); of the Judgement Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10).In the two passages (Romans 14 and 2 Corinthians 5) the term “judgement seat” Is used of the Divine tribunal before which all believers are hereafter to stand. In Romans 14:10, it is called “The judgement-seat of Christ,” A.V. (R.V., “of God”), according to the most authentic manuscripts. The same tribunal is called “the judgement-seat of Christ” in 2 Corinthians 5:10, to whom the Father has given all judgement (see John 5:22,27). At this ‘bema’ believers are to be made manifest, that each may “receive the things done in (or through) the body,” according to what he has done, “whether it be good or bad.” There they will receive rewards for their faithfulness to the Lord.

For all that has been contrary in their lives to His will they will suffer loss of rewards (1 Corinthians 3:15). (VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS)From 2 Corinthians 5:10, John 5:22 and Romans 14:10, we are told that the judge at the ‘Bema’ seat of Christ is Christ Himself.

One day all the dead will be raised to stand before Christ (the saved through the rapture to the ‘Bema’ Judgment, and the unsaved through the final resurrection to the Great White Throne Judgment (see John 5:29; Romans 14:10-12; Revelation 20:11-151). The Judgement of BelieversOnly those who are born again believers will stand before the ‘Bema’ seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1-19).

The purpose of the ‘Bema’ seat is to make a public manifestation of the essential character and motives of the individual Christian. The believer’s works are brought into judgment, called “the things done in his body” (2 Corinthians 5:10), in order that it may be determined whether they are good or bad. This judgment is not to determine what is ethically good or evil, but rather that which is acceptable and that which is worthless/unprofitable to the work of Christ.“Every man’s work shall be made manifest” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). While it is possible to hide the true quality of one’s service for Christ in this life, there will be a tie of reckoning for the Christian.

There is coming a time when all will be openly displayed for what one’s true motives were. F1 2013 player one fixtures. Results of Christ’s JudgementThe results of the judgment are two-fold: (1) a reward received or (2) a reward lost. If a man’s work remains undamaged by the fire, accordingly, he receives rewards (Greek misthos) If a man’s work does not endure, and is consumed in the fire, then he shall “suffer loss.” Everything he has devoted himself to in this life (those things done in his own strength and for his own glory) shall be burnt up suddenly. “But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). It is important to notice that such a man does not suffer the loss of his salvation, but the loss of reward.

The stress is not on a man’s relationship to Christ, but upon service to Christ. (Liberty Bible Commentary, Volume II, pp. Elmer Towns is a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (the editor of two encyclopedias), a popular seminar lecturer, and dedicated worker in Sunday school, and has developed over 20 resource packets for leadership education.His personal education includes a B.S. From Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. From Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. From Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. From Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, in 1971, and was the only full-time teacher in the first year of Liberty’s existence.

Today, the University has over 11,400 students on campus with 39,000 in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online), and he is the Dean of the School of Religion.Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.