The Bema Seat

Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10

I. THE DOCTIRNE OF THE BEMA SEAT JUDGEMENT.

A. It is exclusively for believers. (No loss of salvation.)

It is never mentioned in conjunction with the unsaved, it is therefore a special place that all believers will stand.

B. It is not to be confused with the Great White Throne Judgment as mentioned in Rev.20.

1) The G.W.T.J. is the second death. Rev.20

2) Believers are not affected by the second death because we are part of the first resurrection. Rev.20

C. Parallels between the two judgments.

1) In both, people, are judged by their works.

a) At the G.W.T.J. unbelievers are judged according to their unrighteous works. Gal.5:

b) Believers are judged at the Bema seat by their works in the body, yet, without condemnation. Rom.8:1

2) In both there is a direct effect upon those being judged.

a) Unbelievers condemned to the lake of fire.

b) Believers feel the gain or loss in their bodies.

3) In both there will be, fear, loss, and pain.

I want you to pay close attention to what I’m going to say. For some of you this may come as a shock.

a) At the G.W.T.J. there will be…

fear of God,

loss of peace,

pain of flaming fire.

b) At the Bema seat there will be…

fear of God’s displeasure,

loss of rewards and treasure,

the pain of eternal consequence.

II. THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF CHRISTIAN JUDGMENT.

A. These scriptures of our text deal with three specific areas of Christian responsibility.

1) How have you treated the brethren? Romans 14:10

2) How and what are you building? 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

3) How is your general conduct? 2 Corinthians 5:8

B. We must begin now and leave the past behind.

Christians constantly revisit the past and the devil uses it against us.

The Apostle said, “forgetting those things which are behind (past) and reaching forth, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.”

The past is done!

You can neither change it nor erase it. You can only answer for it!

But you can change what you do from this point on.

My question is, what are you going to do?

Conclusion: Please do not think salvation to be the final plan of God. The appropriation of our redemption by Christ is not of itself the end of the matter. We know well the verses from Ephesians 2:8&9 that says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.” But do you know the next verse that says, “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works; which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them?”