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The Judgment Seat of Christ
Christians will be judged on the basis of their actions while they were living on the earth:
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. 2 Corinthians 5:10
This judgment is not for eternal salvation. True Christians
will already have secured eternity with God. This judgment will be
for the purpose of either rewarding or withholding rewards based on our earthly service to God.
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. For
no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is
Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 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. If
what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it
is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as
one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Jesus Christ will test our actions and motives, and reward us as
appropriate. Again, the last verse here indicates that even
if we receive no rewards, we still maintain our heavenly status for eternity.
We're not told specifically what these various rewards will be. Some
rewards may simply be commendations from Christ (Matthew 25:21, 23).
Other rewards will be in the form of special crowns to be worn (1
Corinthians 9:25, Revelation 3:11, 1 Peter 5:4, 1 Timothy 4:8, James
1:12, Philippians 4:1). Still other rewards will be positions
of authority or leadership (2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:6, 22:5, 1
Corinthians 6:3). Whatever they are, we can be sure that they
will be wonderful rewards from a wonderful and loving savior.
We are also not told specifically when the Judgment Seat of Christ will
occur. Although it may be a moot point of mixing time with
eternity, it seems only natural that it will immediately follow the
rapture, during the time of tribulation on earth.
Owen Weber 2009 |
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