WEEK 1 - SATURDAY
Bible Reading: 1 Co 3; 2 Co 5
THE JUDGMENT SEAT
How will God give us the reward? The time to be rewarded is when Christ comes again to execute judgment. Peter tells us that judgment begins with the house of God. In the future, before judging the people in the world, God will first judge the Christians.
In relation to what will God judge us? He will not judge us for eternal salvation or perdition; that judgment was carried out on the cross. All our sins were judged on the cross, and the problem of eternal perdition was settled. However, we, the Christians, will be judged in the future. Such judgment will determine whether or not we will have a share in the kingdom.
For some, not only will there be no participation in the kingdom, but there will also be punishment. At that time, Christ will set up the judgment seat and will judge His Christians at that judgment seat.
Let us read two verses that further clarify this matter. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 5:10 says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad" (IBB - Rev.).
Each one of us who believe in the Lord will be manifested before the judgment seat. The word "judgment seat" is "bema" in the original Greek. It means a raised platform.
"Bema" is the place where family matters are decided. This verse says that we must all be manifested before the judgment seat so that each one may be rewarded according to what he has practiced. Eternal salvation or eternal death is a matter of believing. But the judgment of a Christian is according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad.
This is the judgment before the judgment seat. Concerning the kingdom, there are a few things we need to know. Whether someone can or cannot enter the kingdom is one matter. Even if someone can enter the kingdom, there will be a difference of position in the kingdom. If someone cannot enter the kingdom, he will go into the outer darkness, that is, he will be punished.
Therefore, after we have believed in the Lord, although our good works cannot save us, they will determine our position in the kingdom. Thank God that the matter of our eternal life or eternal death has been settled, but we will still be judged before the judgment seat of Christ.
This judgment is not to determine our eternal life or death. It is to determine our position in the kingdom. There are many other verses in the Bible that show us that Christians will be judged by the Lord Jesus before the judgment seat of Christ.
Among these verses, 1 Corinthians 3 shows us very clearly how we will be judged by the Lord before the judgment seat. The First Epistle to the Corinthians 3:8 says: "Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor". The matter here is how each one will be rewarded according to his own work.
Verse 10 says: "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it". The foundation is Jesus Christ. Each one’s own work is the way each one builds.
The way we build is determined by the material we use. Verses 12 to 15 say: "Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire".
This passage shows us that everyone who is building on this foundation is saved. The work that some build upon the foundation will remain, and they will be rewarded. The work of some will not remain and will be consumed by fire. They will suffer loss, yet they will still be saved.
Let us remember that there is still a judgment before us. This judgment will not determine whether we perish or not, but it will determine whether we will receive a reward or not.
Enjoy more:
Hymn - Union with Christ - "Identified with His Death and Resurrection"
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