THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

1 Cor 5:10 tells us that all believers will be judged at the “Judgment Seat of Christ.” When will this judgment take place? The Bible teaches that the church will be the bride of Christ. According to old Jewish wedding customs the bride’s veil is removed and her secrets are unveiled just after she is taken to the groom’s father’s house for the wedding. As we understand Paul’s teaching, this takes place for the Christian right after the rapture; the groom, Jesus, comes for the bride, the church, and takes her to his Father’s house in heaven for the wedding. At that time the churches, or the believer’s, veil is removed and her secrets are revealed (Rom 2:5-16).

WHO IS JUDGED AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST?

This judgment is for believers only. It is for those who are “saved” or who have received “salvation.” The parable in Matt 19:28-20:16 deals with who will receive salvation. Salvation doesn’t come in varying amounts. It only comes in one denomination. Either you have it or you don’t: it doesn’t matter whether you received it early in life or near the end of life. In fact, in Luke 7:40-48 Jesus points out that a person who has done many bad things but becomes a believer later in life may love Jesus more than someone who has basically been a good person and a long time believer because he is so thankful to have all of his transgressions forgiven.

TO BE A BELIEVER WE MUST INVEST IN THE THINGS OF GOD

A believer is one who has expressed faith in Jesus and become a follower of his, meaning that there was a sincere attempt to learn of and follow Jesus’ teachings. But what about a person who knows who Jesus is and has expressed a belief in him but has never followed up whatsoever in attempting to learn what Jesus taught and then tried to follow the teachings. The parable in Matt 25:14-30 presents just such a scenario. This parable teaches us that we must invest in the things of God if we want to receive salvation. It doesn’t really matter whether we invest a little or a lot, it only matters that we invest. The man in this parable who hid his talent in the ground certainly knew who his master was and should have known what he expected, but he didn’t bother to really find out. Because of that he lost everything, including an eternity in heaven. This teaches us that if we don’t invest anything in the things of God, if we hide all of our talents and abilities in the things of the world (the ground), we will not receive salvation, even if we know who our Master is. Again, salvation is a yes/no proposition; it doesn’t come in varying denominations. However, the matter of rewards is a totally different matter as we’ll see below.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A JUDGMENT FOR REWARDS

Luke 8:16-18 is one of the parables that discuses our coming judgment. It lets us know that there will be no secrets (Also Rom 2:16). We cannot hide anything from Jesus. Our true hearts will be made known. Our true love will be exposed. Everyone who has stored up treasures in heaven will receive even more, while everyone who has stored up their treasures on earth will lose everything (Matt 6:19-21).

We understand that our judgment will be one of rewards only and that these rewards will depend upon what we have done, or how much we have invested in the things of God so to speak. We will not be judged for our sins because of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice for our sins. Our sins will be forgiven because Jesus bought our pardon for them as we studied earlier. 1 Cor 3:9-15 demonstrates that salvation is a yes/no proposition. It tells us that as long as we live our lives upon the foundation laid by Jesus we will receive salvation, no matter what kind of life (house) we build on the foundation. However, the house we build will be tested by fire at the judgment and if it is built of enduring materials it will endure and we will receive our reward, while if it is built of combustible materials it will burn up. Even though our worldly efforts may all be useless and for naught, we will still have salvation provided that we tried to build our life on the foundation laid by Jesus. Some of us are just bumblers, I guess. In that case our rewards will be comparatively small. Luke 6:46-49 tells a similar story.

How do we open up our accounts so that we can put deposits into them, invest in the things of God and ensure our future eternal rewards? It’s very simple. We must simply become believers in Jesus as. That simple act results in our heavenly account being opened. If you would like to know how to become a believer in and follower of Jesus please go to Salvation; how to become a believer.

We will next look at and read some of the many scriptures that tell us about rewards.

SCRIPTURES ON REWARDS

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

2 Cor 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

John 5:25-30

25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

REWARDS WILL VARY

Rom 2:6-12

6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Matt 16:27

27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Rev 22:12-16

12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

Matt 19:28-30

28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

2 Cor 9:6

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Matt 6:5-6

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matt 6:19-20

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Gal 6:7-10

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Heb 11:6

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Luke 14:13-14

13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

1 Cor 4:4-5

4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Dan 12:13

13 "As for you (Daniel), go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

PUNISHMENT WILL VARY

Luke 12:47-48

47 "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Matt 11:20-24

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Matt 10:15

15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Heb 10:26-31

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

THERE WILL BE A BALANCING OF BAD AGAINST GOOD IN THE REWARDS JUDGMENT

1 Cor 3:8-15

8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Luke 6:38

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Col 3:23-25

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Heb 6:7-11

7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case-- things that accompany salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

II Jn 1:8

8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

James 3:1

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

SPECIFIC REWARDS

PROPHET’S REWARD (for those who receive prophets because they are prophets)

RIGHTEOUS MAN’S REWARD (for those who receive righteous men because they are righteous men)

Matt 10:40-42

40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

CROWN OF LIFE (for those who persevere under trial)

James 1:12

12 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.

Rev 2:10

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

CROWN OF GLORY (for shepherds of God’s flock)

1 Pet 5:2-4

2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1Thes 2:19

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

THE VICTOR’S CROWN OR THE EVERLASTING CROWN(for those who receive eternal life)

2 Tim 2:5

5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

1 Cor 9:24-25

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (for those who long for the Lord’s return)

(May be the same as the victor’s crown and/or the righteous man’s reward discussed above)

2 Tim 4:7-8

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

OVERCOMER’S CROWN (for those who endure patiently and overcome)

Rev 3:10-1210 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.