JUDGMENT: AS CHRISTIANS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

This morning, we talked about judgment as sinners that either took place at Calvary , or that will take place at the Great White Throne.

In reality, we “appear” before Jesus as Judge multiple times.

At Calvary

In our Christian Walk

At the Judgment Seat of Christ (After the Rapture)

Immediately after the Rapture, each Christian will appear before Christ, but that appearance will not be to determine guilt or innocence.

Guilt or innocence is determined by Calvary. When you accept Christ as your Savior, your sins will never be held against you again.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

My sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Now, there is some misconception about the judgment seat of Christ, but the Bible explains it well.

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

The Bible is clear that all Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

In the Greek of the New Testament, the word BEMA is translated in the JSOC.

The BEMA was not used to determine guilt or innocence like appearing before a judge in a courtroom.

The BEMA was a raised platform from which a judged handed out rewards out after an athletic contest. Sitting upon the BEMA, the judge would monitor the rules of the athletic contest were followed and would reward the winners.

That’s what happens at the JSOC.

Christians will be judged for our performance as Christians. Some will be winners; some will be “losers.” Not losers of salvation but losers of rewards.

Let me just say this, and this is dismissed today as unimportant, and I do not understand how this notion ever started.

People want to live their lives as carefree as possible even as Christians like it does not matter, but how you and I live as Christians is important. How we live reflects the truth of our salvation.

Romans 6:1–2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Romans 6:3–4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

When we are saved, we are saved to a new life, and if you can carelessly sin with no regard to that new life, you need to examine yourself to make sure you are saved.

Now, if you are truly saved, you are not to rest upon your salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:10–12 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;”

In reality, all Christians are builders.

We are builders with Jesus Christ being the foundation.

We either build upon that foundation with the supernatural materials produced by the Holy Spirit, or we will build upon that foundation with natural materials that will burn. Those things that we do in ourselves and not under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is anxious to reward us. The New Testament tells of 5 different rewards we can win.

With that being the truth, how do we earn those rewards? Why do we appear as Christians before Jesus?

1. HOW DO WE EARN REWARDS?

Earning rewards begins with us allowing Christ to live through us.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

As Christians, we are to let our light shine as the children’s song says. Many Christians do not. Many Christians darken up a room when they enter. That definitely will not be rewarded. If we allow Christ’s light to shine through us, we will do things that promote Christ and His Kingdom.

You can earn rewards by sharing the gospel.

Mark 10:29–30 “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”

When we share the gospel, this is what happens.

Matthew 6:20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

When we share the gospel, we lay up treasures in heaven. It does not matter if the person we share the gospel with gets saved. It is our willingness to share the gospel that will be rewarded.

You can earn rewards by exhibiting Christian kindness.

Matthew 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

If you see to the needs of the youngest of children and the oldest of saints, you will be rewarded. Dear friend, what this world needs is Jesus Christ, and many times the way to Jesus Christ is shown and led by our kindness. We are to see to and be willing to satisfy the needs of those around us.

A grouchy Christian is an oxymoron. A selfish Christian is an oxymoron.

You can earn rewards by supporting your pastor.

Matthew 10:41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”

Did you know receiving the pastor with open arms, taking care of his needs, and praying for him and his leadership an ministry will be rewarded? As a matter of fact Jesus says that you will receive the prophet’s reward. Whatever rewards I get from ministry, you will receive too if you support me.

If you never pray for the pastor, if you do not receive him, you are building upon the foundation of Christ with hay, stubble, and wood.

That’s what happens to many pastors. The church’s do not receive as the Bible says, and as a result the fellowship of the church suffers. Some churches gossip about their pastor more than they pray for him. How effective do you think the pastor is going to be in that church?

You can earn rewards by keeping Christian company.

Look at the second part of verse 41.

You will be rewarded by keeping the company of other Christians. Christians miss out on a great source of strength and power by not fellowshipping with other Christians. Christians are sources of comfort for other Christians.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

This is talking about comforting each other about the Rapture, but I believe me we all miss out on blessing and rewards by keeping company with one another helping each other through difficult times. That is why the church is so important. If a Christian neglects church attendance, he or she will not grow as he or she should. He or she will not receive the reward of righteousness.

You can earn rewards by enduring temptation to sin.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

This is not talking about eternal life. The crown of life is given to the Christian who endures the temptation to sin. It is talking about a quality of life that a Christian can have on earth. It is the type of life a Christian is capable of living if he or she relies on Christ and not the flesh.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

We are sinners, but as Christians, when we are tempted to sin, God makes it possible for us to endure the temptation. If you do, you will be rewarded.

You can earn rewards by using your spiritual gifts.

You can earn rewards by letting the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

We can earn many rewards in this life. We will either be rewarded, or we will suffer loss. Suffering loss does not mean losing salvation. What it exactly means goes into why we appear at the JSOC.

2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST?

A. To prepare us for the great wedding.

The church is the bride of Christ.

In this dispensation of time, the church is promised to Christ. The church is betrothed to Christ.

The Judgment Seat of Christ prepares the bride so she can be presented to the Bridegroom.

Revelation 19:7–9 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

The Bride, the church, will be made ready for Christ. The JSOC prepares the Bride. When we appear before the JSOC, I believe everyone of us will realize how short we fell in serving Christ while on earth.

Revelation 21:4–5 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Yes, you will be changed at the Rapture, but I believe all of those things that are brought up at the JSOC will be wiped away making us presentable to the Bridegroom as His forever bride.

B. To receive our responsibilities.

IN eternity, we will worship Christ forever, but during the Millennium, Christians will have responsibilities. Those responsibilities are given at the JSOC.

1. We will be rewarded with the authority to reign.

Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

2 Timothy 2:11–13“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

We will reign with Christ during the Millennium if we have been judged worthy to reign. Who will we reign over? The people of the world that remain after Armageddon.

We will have the same authority to judge as Christ. It is authority we received from God.

Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

We will be like Christ made like Christ with the God-given authority to judge.

2. We will be given authority to judge the fallen angels.

Did you realize that you will judge the fallen angels?

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

How about that? Those rascals that have caused you so much trouble on earth will be judged by you. What do you think about that?

Rewards given are directly related to our responsibilities during the Millennium.

On earth as Christian, you are either earning rewards, or you are suffering loss. The Bible teaches us this so that we will live boldly on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:9 “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

1 John 2:28–29 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

Make no mistake about it friends. If you are saved, you are to live your life in a way that you will be rewarded and have confidence when Christ appears. I for one want all the rewards I can get because do you know what we will do with those rewards?

Revelation 4:10–11 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

I sure would hate not having anything to cast at the throne of Christ. AMEN!!!! The 24 elders represent the church, we will have been judged and rewarded. Whatever rewards we receive, we will throw at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.