Judgment Seat of Christ & Rewards
What is the Judgment Seat of Christ? It is the Rewards given to Believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10-12) for being Faithful Servants. The “Bema seat” (or Judgment Seat) was an elevated seat, located in Corinth. At this seat in the square, Roman magistrates would sit and administer justice. Athletes may also have appeared here and received rewards for having distinguished themselves.
It is important to distinguish this from other judgments. The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15) is the Eternal Punishment handed out by Jesus for all Unbelievers. It takes place at the end of the 1,000 yr Reign of Jesus on the Earth. If a person is a Born-again Believer in Jesus, they will be Judged at the “Judgment Seat of Christ.” Salvation is not an issue at this Judgment. Their sins have already been forgiven.
Scriptural Foundation for the Judgment of Believers
The Apostle Paul explains this accountability in his letters. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB) states, Paul writing to Believers, “For we must ALL appear before the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, so that each one may be recompensed for his DEEDS in the BODY, according to what he has DONE, whether GOOD or BAD.” Furthermore, Romans 14:10-12 (NASB) says, “For we will ALL (BELIEVERS) stand before the JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD. For it is written, “As I live, says the LORD, every KNEE shall bow to ME, and every TONGUE shall give Praise God. So then EACH one OF US will give an ACCOUNT of himself to God.”
The Testing of Works: Rewards and Loss
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NASB) provides detail on the nature of this evaluation: “According to the GRACE of GOD which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a FOUNDATION and another is building on it. But each man must be CAREFUL how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST.”
The quality of a believer's life and work is described using various materials:
- Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones: Works that remain and result in reward.
- Wood, Hay, and Straw: Works that are burned up.
As the scripture continues: “Each man’s work will become evident; for the DAY will show it because it is to be REVEALED with FIRE; and the FIRE itself will TEST the quality of each man’s WORK. If any man’s WORK which he has BUILT on it REMAINS, he will receive a REWARD. If any man’s WORK is BURNED UP, he will SUFFER LOSS but he HIMSELF will be SAVED, yet so as THROUGH FIRE.” Some Believers will Suffer a Great Loss of Rewards (1 Cor 3:14-15).
Comparison of Judgments
| Feature | Judgment Seat of Christ | Great White Throne Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | Believers / Born-again Christians | Unbelievers |
| Purpose | Rewards for being Faithful Servants | Eternal Punishment |
| Outcome | Receive Reward or Suffer Loss of Rewards | Lake of Fire |
| Timing | After the life of the believer | End of the 1,000 yr Reign of Jesus |
Theological Perspectives on Eternal Rewards
Charles Spurgeon [1834-1892] noted: “There are no CROWN-WEARERS in Heaven who were not CROSS-BEARERS here below.”
Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse [1895-1960] further elaborated on the gravity of this event: “Let us live, then, in the light of eternity. If we do not, we are weighting the scales against our eternal welfare. We must understand that “whatsoever a man soweth” must be taken in its widest meaning, and that every thought and intent of the heart will come under the scrutiny of the Lord and His coming. We can be sure that at the Judgment Seat of Christ there will be a marked difference between the Christian who has lived his life before the Lord... and another Christian who was saved... at the tag end of a depraved and vicious life. All will be in heaven, but the differences will be eternal.”