I came across this bible teaching in my bible reading and thought it was very good. I wanted to share it
with you all. I am copying it down word for word. None of this is my own. I hope you enjoy it, chew and
digest what is written here.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
This is titled, “The Judgement Seat of Christ.”
“In Greek, the word for the amount of ground covered by one foot-bema, a single pace (Acts 7:5)-
ultimately referred to the step leading up to a raised platform and then the platform itself. Such platforms
were common in biblical times, just as they are in ours. It is simply convenient for the one who is speaking
to stand higher than those spoken to, as when Ezra the scribe mounted a raised platform to read the Law
to the assembled postexilic Israelites in Jerusalem.
By NT times, bema was also used to refer to a throne-a seat for royalty higher than one’s subjects
– as in the throne of Herod (Acts 12:21). But with royalty came royal pronouncements and judgements,
and bema became the word for “judgement seat.” That is how it occurs most frequently in the NT. Pontius Pilate sat on a “judgement seat” when judging Christ (Matt 27:19), and the apostle Paul stood before
various Roman officials in courts of judgement (Acts 18:12; 25:6).
When it came time for Paul to choose an image to represent Christ’s evaluation of His followers’
lives at the end of the age, bema was the obvious choice: “For we must all appear before the judgement
seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or
evil” (2 Cor 5:10; see also Rom. 14:10: “For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God”).
The phrase “good or evil” in 5:10 could lead one to think this judgement will be the basis of salvation – the “good” being saved, the “evil” unsaved. But salvation is not its purpose. Because “all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), no amount of good deeds can qualify a person for
salvation. The reality of our sin since the Fall means that no effort, no matter how virtuous, will earn us
merit toward salvation in God’s eyes. Rather, this judgement is a believer’s judgment, where Christ assesses their earthly works to determine rewards for faithfulness.
First Corinthians 3:11-15 is the clearest passage in the NT on Christ’s judgment of believers. While
Paul does not mention the judgement seat in this passage, it is certainly what he had in mind. Paul was
addressing division in the church at Corinth-cliques of believers were following different leaders. Each
leader is important, Paul writes, but God provides the results-“each will receive his wages according to his
labor” (1Cor 3:8). But the primary criterion for rewards is whether the work was done in the name of Jesus
for the building up of the local church.
with you all. I am copying it down word for word. None of this is my own. I hope you enjoy it, chew and
digest what is written here.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
This is titled, “The Judgement Seat of Christ.”
“In Greek, the word for the amount of ground covered by one foot-bema, a single pace (Acts 7:5)-
ultimately referred to the step leading up to a raised platform and then the platform itself. Such platforms
were common in biblical times, just as they are in ours. It is simply convenient for the one who is speaking
to stand higher than those spoken to, as when Ezra the scribe mounted a raised platform to read the Law
to the assembled postexilic Israelites in Jerusalem.
By NT times, bema was also used to refer to a throne-a seat for royalty higher than one’s subjects
– as in the throne of Herod (Acts 12:21). But with royalty came royal pronouncements and judgements,
and bema became the word for “judgement seat.” That is how it occurs most frequently in the NT. Pontius Pilate sat on a “judgement seat” when judging Christ (Matt 27:19), and the apostle Paul stood before
various Roman officials in courts of judgement (Acts 18:12; 25:6).
When it came time for Paul to choose an image to represent Christ’s evaluation of His followers’
lives at the end of the age, bema was the obvious choice: “For we must all appear before the judgement
seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or
evil” (2 Cor 5:10; see also Rom. 14:10: “For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God”).
The phrase “good or evil” in 5:10 could lead one to think this judgement will be the basis of salvation – the “good” being saved, the “evil” unsaved. But salvation is not its purpose. Because “all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), no amount of good deeds can qualify a person for
salvation. The reality of our sin since the Fall means that no effort, no matter how virtuous, will earn us
merit toward salvation in God’s eyes. Rather, this judgement is a believer’s judgment, where Christ assesses their earthly works to determine rewards for faithfulness.
First Corinthians 3:11-15 is the clearest passage in the NT on Christ’s judgment of believers. While
Paul does not mention the judgement seat in this passage, it is certainly what he had in mind. Paul was
addressing division in the church at Corinth-cliques of believers were following different leaders. Each
leader is important, Paul writes, but God provides the results-“each will receive his wages according to his
labor” (1Cor 3:8). But the primary criterion for rewards is whether the work was done in the name of Jesus
for the building up of the local church.
When Christ evaluates what believers have “constructed” with their lives, it will survive the fire of
judgement if built with spiritual “gold, silver, [and] precious stones,” but it will be consumed if built of “wood,
hay, [or] straw” (1 Cor 3:12). Work done for Christ and His glory will be rewarded; that which is revealed to
have been not for Christ but for oneself will “suffer loss.” The Christian will be saved, but their work will be
destroyed along with the hope of rewards (1 Cor 3:14-15).
More than one kind of crown to be given to believers for their service is mentioned in the NT: an
“imperishable” crown (1 Cor 9:25), a “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:8), a “crown of life” (James 1:12), and
a “crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). Christ even issued a warning to the church in Philadelphia to remain strong in
the faith “so that no one may seize [their] crown” (Rev 3:11). There is reason to believe that those crowns will
ultimately be returned to Christ as a way of honoring His glory and power (Rev 4:10,11).
Just as there will be degrees of punishment for those who have rejected God (Luke 12:47, 48), so it
appears there will be degrees of reward for those who have served Christ faithfully (Luke 19:16-19). The most
important aspect of the doctrine of rewards is that what we do in this life will impact the life beyond: “Do
not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” ( Gal 6:7). The promise
of rewards tells us that ” in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). “
judgement if built with spiritual “gold, silver, [and] precious stones,” but it will be consumed if built of “wood,
hay, [or] straw” (1 Cor 3:12). Work done for Christ and His glory will be rewarded; that which is revealed to
have been not for Christ but for oneself will “suffer loss.” The Christian will be saved, but their work will be
destroyed along with the hope of rewards (1 Cor 3:14-15).
More than one kind of crown to be given to believers for their service is mentioned in the NT: an
“imperishable” crown (1 Cor 9:25), a “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:8), a “crown of life” (James 1:12), and
a “crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). Christ even issued a warning to the church in Philadelphia to remain strong in
the faith “so that no one may seize [their] crown” (Rev 3:11). There is reason to believe that those crowns will
ultimately be returned to Christ as a way of honoring His glory and power (Rev 4:10,11).
Just as there will be degrees of punishment for those who have rejected God (Luke 12:47, 48), so it
appears there will be degrees of reward for those who have served Christ faithfully (Luke 19:16-19). The most
important aspect of the doctrine of rewards is that what we do in this life will impact the life beyond: “Do
not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” ( Gal 6:7). The promise
of rewards tells us that ” in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). “