In the Treasures in Heaven lesson, we looked at the various rewards that believers can receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This Meat lesson will take a look at what that experience will be like.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." - 2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..."
There are two judgments that people can go through and that is the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment. If you are a believer in Christ, you will NOT stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment!
"And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." - Revelation 20:11:15
The Great White Throne Judgment takes place after the 1,000 year reign of Christ (see Dispensations lesson). This is the final judgment for all who have rejected Christ and the punishment is eternal banishment into the Lake of Fire. If you are a believer in Christ through the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4), then your name is written into the Book of Life and you will not partake in this judgment.
Take a look at the following verses because God's Word tells us who is written in this book:
"Let them be blotted out of the Book of the Living, and not be written with the righteous." - Psalms 69:28
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." - Romans 3:22
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.” - Revelation 21:27
We are righteous because of what Jesus did on the cross. We are considered righteous and our names will not be removed from the Book of Life.
"that every one may receive the things done in his body..."
We must understand that Paul is talking about the works done after a person is saved. Before we are washed clean by the precious blood of Jesus (1 Jn 1:7), our works are worthless before God (Is. 64:6). However, once we are saved, we can do good works that please Him. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved only by His grace through faith and not of works, but look at the following verse: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (v 10).
Furthermore, look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17 where the Apostle Paul said:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Again, it is only once we are saved through Christ that we can do good works. It is those works and only those works that will be judged.
"... that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done..."
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that "every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:13-15).
Please pay careful attention here because this is pivotal to understanding what we will experience when we appear before Christ. It is only our works that will be judged - not our sins. Remember that our sins were laid upon Jesus at the cross (Is. 53:6) and that "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).
The Judgment Seat of Christ is not about bringing up our sins. While we are on Earth, God will chastise us for our sins (see lesson), but not at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
What, then, are the works that will be "revealed by fire"? The works that will be rewarded.
There are many different rewards that we will receive at the Judgment Seat. Jesus will give accolades (Matt. 25:21, 1 Cor. 4:5). Jesus will give treasures (Matt. 6:20). Special blessings will be given (Rev. 2:7 and 2:17). He will grant authority over His Kingdom (Matt. 24:45-47, 25:21 and 23; Rev. 2:26).
Jesus will also reward us with various crowns:
The Incorruptible Crown (1 Cor. 9:25). This crown is given to people that suppress their fleshly desires.
The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19, Phil. 4:1). This crown is given to those that have witnessed and led people to the Lord.
The Crown of Life (James 1:12, Rev. 2:10). This crown is for Christians that have overcome trials and tribulations.
The Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). This is the crown given to those that are constantly longing and looking for His appearing.
The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4). This particular crown is given to elders. People that have fed His flock.
The works that we do now, in our fleshly bodies as saved believers, will determine what rewards we receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
"...according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
Since we have eliminated sin from having any tie to the Judgment Seat of Christ, we can look at what is considered a good work and a bad work.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 shows that we can have works that will not survive His inspection. Thankfully, the Apostle Paul shows us what is considered a good work and what is considered a bad work and we can see that by going back two verses.
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble" - 1 Corinthians 3:11-12
Always keep the context in mind when reading the Bible. The context of First Corinthians chapter three is the foundation for works.
The foundation for everything that we do should be God's Word. Let's break down the Gospel to see this.
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Allow me to provide an illustration for the inspection we will all go through at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 2 Timothy 4:8 says that there is a crown that will be given to believers that long for and are looking for His appearing. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, a believer's work of looking for His appearing will be judged by one thing: if the believer was looking through obedience.
The Bible says that it is doctrine to look for the blessed hope (Titus 2:1,13)! If you are studying your Bible you will know that the Rapture is referred to as the blessed hope (see Rom. 8:18, 1 Cor. 15:51-54, and 1 Thess. 4:13-17). If you are only looking for the Rapture because your pastor or friend tells you too, that is a bad work and will be burned up.
Please study and memorize this passage:"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Please understand that our good works are considered good because they are based upon the Bible. The bad works are bad because they have a foundation of "wood, hay, stubble" meaning they are not based upon Jesus as the foundation. Remember that Jesus is also called the Word (Jn. 1:1-3 and 14, 1 Jn. 5:7).
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be shame. The Apostle John said "and now, little children, abide in Him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 Jn. 2:28). This shame will come from our works being burned up and us having nothing but ashes to lay at His feet.