Biblical truths that seem to rally Christians together are ones like: “I am saved by grace through faith” and “I am eternally secure in Christ.” While these are both accurate and wonderful realities for the genuine Christ-follower, these same biblically derived statements also have been misused in a way that seems to justify one’s lack of spiritual growth.  In other words, many have inappropriately made it seem as if our responsibility to obey Christ is not nearly as important as our ability to rest in the fact that God has done all the work of regenerating and justifying us. Too many Christians have been stunted in their growth as a result of a lackadaisical approach to Christian living. God demands that we live Holy lives and while it is true that our sins are completely washed away it is important for believers to know that we will still be judged for how we lived under the grace that God has extended to us. This is exactly why I have chosen to write this month’s blog post on, “The Judgement Seat of Christ: What No One Seems to be Discussing.”  

As a means of adhering to a more universal understanding of the eschatological judgements mentioned in Scripture, most churches (based on website doctrinal statements) seem to affirm the general judgement theory. In other words, rather than see the Judgement Seat of Christ (the Bema seat) and the Great White Throne Judgments as separate events (one for believers and one for nonbelievers), most collapse them together into one final judgment for both the righteous and the wicked.

The goal of this short blog is not to give a thorough study of the Judgment seat of Christ, but to demonstrate quickly that there is such a judgement solely for Christ-followers and that it ought to motivate us to live out our salvation with fear and trembling. The purpose is to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

So the question before us is not simply will Christians be judged? The unequivocal answer to that is yes. However, it is not a pass or fail judgement by which we simply move along into glory due to the unmerited favor of God. As Christians our sins have already been punished and dealt with in Christ. With this biblical reality stated the question truly becomes: what is the purpose of a Christian judgement?

The answer is: to assess how we lived under the justifying grace of God. Under the new popular (not new historically) approach to the general judgement theory  the final judgement would simply be the last assessment as to whether or not one is redeemed and will enter into the eternal state with God or be cast into the lake of fire.  However, the judgement seat of Christ is a specific judgement for New Testament Saints that have been washed clean by the precious blood of Christ and have been placed on mission to advance the gospel and live according to God’s law which is written on our hearts.

Again, just to be clear, the judgement seat of Christ is not to assess whether or not we are saved, but how we will be rewarded for our commitment to gospel-centered living. For example:

Romans 14:10–12 states:
 “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. . . . So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 states:
“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

It is clear that each of the passages above are referring to Christians, not unbelievers. The “us” in Romans, contextually is referring to the Church, likewise, Paul states to the Church of Corinth that we all must appear before the judgement (Bema) seat of Christ to be judged according to what we did “while in the body.” The Judgment Seat of Christ involves believers giving an account of their regenerated lives to Christ.

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers will be rewarded based on how faithfully we served Christ. Did we commit ourselves to proclaiming the gospel as fervently as we ought? Were we dedicated to overcoming sin in our lives? Did we diligently study and hold fast to the truths revealed in Scripture? These are the types of things that Christians will be held accountable for at Christ’s “Bema” seat. Sadly, many professing Christians today seem to ignore or are ignorant to the fact that we will one day be judged for how we utilized the grace of God.

Paul stated the importance of working diligently under the grace of God in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15:

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

In other words, while we (who are in Christ) are saved by grace alone through faith alone, we still may suffer loss at the Judgement Seat of Christ if our work for the Kingdom proves to be lacking. Such a judgement is meant to motivate Christians to keep pressing on toward the prize of an eternity with our Lord. Seeing as how the rewards given for faithfulness to Christ will ultimately be a means by which we are able to offer up praise to Him (Revelation 4:10) we ought to desire to live as Christ with every fiber of our being. This does not mean however, that if we make mistakes that we will have nothing to offer God, we all sin and make mistakes. The overarching question that Christ will evaluate in us is how faithful and sincere were we in our devotion to Him and the Kingdom of God. As children of God it should be our deepest desire to please our Lord. It is as John states in 1 John 2:28

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

May the imminent coming of our Lord and the soon-to-follow “Bema” seat judgement motivate us to be good stewards of God’s grace. May we live by the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:12-13: 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

***For a fuller teaching on the Judgement Seat of Christ and a refutation of the General Judgement Theory, I highly recommend the book The Judgement Seat of Christ: A Biblical and Theological Study by Samuel L. Hoyt.   

With every second that passes by God’s divine plan to redeem and restore His fallen creation is being played out in history. As a result of Adam and Eve’s failure to obey God’s command in the garden of Eden mankind was plunged into a wicked rebellion. The consequence of this rebellion is that every one of us is bound and shackled in the chains of sinful depravity for God’s righteousness could not allow for anything less.

​God’s Word declares His Holiness:

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil … cannot look at wrong” - Habakkuk 1:13

It is because God’s very nature of holiness demands that sin be punished that He placed a curse on his disobedient creation:

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” - Romans 8:20-21

Therefore we must conclude that the wickedness we presently experience in the world is a result of mankind’s selfishly diseased heart. God, however, was not content to destroy His fallen creation for He had determined before He ever formed it, to restore it:

“but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” - 1 Peter 1:19-21

God willingly sent His Son to redeem and restore sinners to Himself:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” - John 3:16-18

This loving reality of redemption was thoroughly presented in the Old Testament though at the same time it was concealed and perceived to be a mystery:

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.” - Romans 16:25-26 

In the present age the Church (sinners purchased by the blood of Christ) by faith in the risen Messiah are to seek to live holy lives with biblical values, declare the gospel and make further disciples of Christ:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” - Matthew 28:18-20

However, the questions that many ask is how long does this age last and how will it end? Well, there are many professing Christians that come to different conclusions when seeking to answer these important questions. These questions are considered eschatological questions. Simply put, eschatology is the study of last things and seeing how these questions pertain to how the present age will end they are eschatological in nature. Sadly, there are numerous conflicting approaches to understanding biblical eschatology and for the most part, the Church has agreed to disagree on these matters. For the sake of unity the Church has diluted the importance of biblical eschatology resulting in tremendous confusion and biblical illiteracy. For example, there is a growing trend in Western Christianity today to focus on forms of social and political activism, in an attempt to “redeem the culture.” As a result, more time and energy is wasted on endless debates and frivolous protests than on proclaiming the gospel. So why has the Church largely shifted its focus from the Great Commission to matters of Social Justice? While there are several reasons for this, one in particular is a misunderstanding of biblical eschatology. Some believe that the Church is to transform the world into a Christian utopia in preparation for Christ’s “postmillennial” return. In other words, the Church’s goal in the present age is to transform the world and its institutions, while at the same time righting all the social wrongs. But is this what the Bible teaches concerning the culmination of the present age? It is for this very reason that I have chosen to write this blog post and entitle it “Eschatology Matters: Why one’s Understanding of the End Makes a Difference.”

The Bible absolutely has something to say concerning how the present age will end and how God’s plan for the world will play out. Thus, as students of God’s Word it is important for us to know what the Bible says concerning such things.  Quite frankly, it is not as confusing as many would like to make it out to be. To the contrary God’s Word is pretty clear regarding these matters. The disciples themselves where concerned with these same questions and Jesus prior to going to the cross sought to relieve their worries. He stated:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” - John 14:1-3

Jesus here instructs His church to believe in God (the Father) and also in who He is, namely the Christ. Furthermore, he assures His church that when He has completed His work for the present age He will return for His bride (the Church) and take us to heaven where He has prepared a place for us. The apostle Paul affirms this teaching by stating:

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Again, the present Church age will end with Christ returning for His bride. We will most certainly face trying and difficult times, however we are to encourage one another with these words regarding the imminent return of Christ. In the meantime we are to be living holy lives, advancing the gospel, making disciples and awaiting Christ’s return. Paul again states:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:11-14

While the gospel goes forth and God continues to draw sinners to Himself through the atoning work of Christ crucified it is noteworthy that the world itself will continue to grow darker and darker. The Word of God reveals this in such passages that follow:

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” -2 Timothy 3:1-5

“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” -2 Peter 3:3

“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” –Matthew 24:12

Sadly, there are some who reject what the Bible has to say concerning the culmination of the present age and as a result many are distracted with futile efforts to restore the fallen state of the world. While it is important to stand for what is true and for what is right, believing that the culture of fallen man can be redeemed results in the displacement of ones efforts to evangelize the lost. Rather than seeking to redeem sin-stained institutions, Christians must be focused on the gospel which will bring about the transformation necessary to redeem the souls of unbelievers. Of the present world God’s Word declares:

“…the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” - 2 Peter 3:7-10

While it would be a gross misunderstanding on the part of the Church to simply do nothing but wait for Christ to return, the mandate given to the Church is to proclaim the gospel to every nation and to make disciples of those whom believe by faith that Christ Jesus is both savior and Lord. At the coming of Christ to implement the promised millennial kingdom the fallen institutions of man will no longer be an issue for all will submit to the authority of Christ. The greatest danger the false views of eschatology (such as postmillennialism) pose to the Church is not a misplaced hope in redeeming the culture, but that an effort to do so will enviably shift its gaze from 1. the mission of redeeming sinners and 2. from the blessed hope of Christ’s imminent return. Jesus and His disciples did not endeavor to transform the fallen world and its systems, but to call sinners to be set apart from the world with the hope that Christ would one day return to take us to be with Him. The question we all must answer is this far reaching one, “In this matter are we willing to do as Christ taught?”

As we enter into 2019 and look back on 2018, there has been much that should cause the Church to far more fervently seek God and His will. To say that 2018 has been a tumultuous and turbulent year would be an understatement. 2018, by and large, has promoted and propagated new levels of flagrant displays of debauchery as seen in the following examples:

• A state of continual unbridled political tension, where apparently anything goes and there is no “out of bounds.” In short, lives are destroyed all for the sake of power.
• Murdering innocent children is viewed as a right of women, and even as an act worth celebrating.
• The LGBT movement continues to gain widespread acceptance, thus fueling the fire in their enraged onslaught against religious liberty.
• Transgenderism (which doesn’t actually exist) has become so accepted that new born babies in New York may now (at the start of 2019) be considered gender X rather than male or female.
•  Gross displays of sexual immorality are superfluous and found in practically every form of entertainment (even in children’s programming).
• The youth continue to be brainwashed by the entertainment industry and the so-called higher educational establishments continue to grow in hostility towards anyone who uses logic and reason, let alone one who adheres to a biblical worldview. Feelings and opinions have become more important than facts and truth leading to a further negative effect upon our youth.

This list is hardly scratching the surface of all that has taken place in 2018, but it surly demonstrates the large strides the world has made in its efforts to wholly reject the God that graciously formed it.
While the wicked acts of the world are concerning, they come as no surprise. The Word of God clearly declares that such things would transpire prior to Christ’s return.
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” -2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” -2 Peter 3:3
 “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” –Matthew 24:12
The reality that is most troublesome is not in witnessing the world’s adherence to such lawless debauchery, but of those who profess to be believers in Christ. Satan is actively at work in the worldly church, deceiving the minds of countless individuals under the guise of biblical Christianity. More and more so-called churches around the globe are openly partaking in worldly and sinful activities, as well as affirming sinful behavior. In an effort to gain acceptance of the world and under the guise of reaching the world, the apostate church has pandered to pagans and abandoned the preaching of the gospel. The apostle Paul boldly declares in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” When a professing church sees the gospel as foolishness or even too offensive to preach, we have ample evidence to know that it does not belong to God, but to Satan. This is yet another symptom of the times in which we live, for the Word of God declares in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” There are many today who claim to be followers of Christ but are sadly more concerned with acceptance and self-exaltation than committing themselves to humbly serving the Lord. There are more churches today that are afraid of offending sinners than they are of offending the Holy and sovereign God of the universe; this is evidenced by the way in which church worship takes place. Most churches today no longer have a pulpit from which the Word of God is preached, but instead they have large stages from which they put on theatrical productions and rock concerts to entertain rather than instruct the saints in the Word of truth causing the church to continue down this path of corruption. The church has catered to the flesh’s desire for comfort with cafés replacing foyers, theater seating replacing pews, and iPads (or nothing at all) replacing Bibles. Not to mention the illustrations/stunts continue to be more and more grandiose. Preaching in most churches have little to do with repentance and dying to self, but much to do with “being a better, more empowered, you.” Again, this falling away from biblical Christianity to worldliness is also to be expected:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” -1 Timothy 4:1
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” –Matthew 24:10-11
If the church isn’t being enticed by worldly allures, it is distracted by futile efforts. While the prosperity gospel continues to be a prominent and powerful tool of the devil, Satan also has deceived devote believers into assuming that Christ’s return is anything but imminent. There is a growing trend in Christian circles to “redeem the culture” and relegate the passages previously mentioned, concerning times such as these, to the first century and the closing of the Old Covenant age. Each of these warnings are linked to the coming of Christ which the church was to be living in expectation of. The authors of the N.T. constantly wrote in regards to Christ’s “appearing” and always conveyed the sense that this event could happen at any moment:
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” -1 John 2:28;
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” -1 John 3:2
“When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”-Colossians 3:4
“Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.” -2 Timothy 4:8
“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” -1 Peter 5:4
It certainly seems odd to assume that these watchful warnings of Christ’s return were in regards to what took place in AD 70 at the hands of the Romans. Rather, each of these passages refer to Christ’s physical return and coming on the clouds of heaven.
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” –Acts 1:9-11
The church in 2018 has become more divided with many seeking to participate in worldly efforts rather than in heavenly ones. As the author of Hebrews indicates, it is better to fix our eyes on heaven rather than the present world in which we are strangers.
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” –Hebrews 11:13-16
To live as citizens of heaven rather than citizens of earth is the goal of the church. To live holy lives before our Holy God and to call out others to do the same. We are to go into all the world and make disciples as Christ declared before He departed to sit at the right hand of the Father:
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” –Matthew 28:18-20
In other words, we as the church have been given the task to proclaim the gospel (Christ shedding His blood to redeem sinners) to all people, to make disciples of those who believe from all nations, and to teach them to observe the commands of Christ until then end of this present church age when He returns for His bride (the Church).
While 2018 has proved a trying time for the Church of Christ, we can expect the pressure from the world only to increase. 2019 surly will be a year of tests and trials for Christ’s bride, but we have great reason to rejoice as Christ’s soon return is closer than ever before! With all of this being said, I encourage the Church to remain faithful to Christ and to live holy in 2019 and beyond.