Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Bema seat

bema seat – part 1 — March 23, 2022

bema seat – part 1

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I like to work, but I don’t really get to enjoy my paycheck.  Payday at my house is like the Academy Awards.  I walk in the door and my wife says, “May I have the envelope please?”  (just kidding!)

Speaking of which, did you know that there is an award ceremony in your future?  The apostle Paul described it in 2 Corinthians 5:10.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.

The place of judgment.

In the Greek, the phrase judgment seat is rendered by one word, “Bema.”  Back then, the Bema was a raised platform at the city gate, where justice was handed down and war heroes and star athletes were honored. 

The bema is a place of judgment, but fortunately Christ who gave His life for us on the cross is the judge.  When we stand before Him, we can expect him to be gracious and yet, fair.

The subjects of judgment

Paul says we must “all” make an appearance to undergo a thorough examination of the way we lived our Christian lives.   There is another judgment reserved for unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15.) but the Bema is for those who believe. 

The basis of judgment

Paul said, “according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.”   We will be judged based on how we have lived our lives.  Jesus will be concerned with specific thoughts, words, deeds and attitudes – good and bad.

Wait! Doesn’t God forget our sins? (Ps103:12).  Yes, He does, He will never condemn a believer to hell because of their sins.   The Bema seat is NOT concerned about condemnation but rather commendation.  Jesus will be looking for ways to affirm us.

Another critical passage on the judgment seat of Christ is 1 Cor 3:11-15 where Paul tells us that Jesus will examine the quality of our work.  He pictures us as builders who use various materials: wood, hay, stubble, gold, silver and precious stones.  These materials symbolize the things we do as being either worthless or worthwhile   

For example, there is a specific reward promised for those who fast (Matthew 6:16-18) and those who give (Matthew 6:19-21) and for godly motivation (1 Corinthians 4:5) and worthy words (Luke 12:1-3) and for investing in others (1 Corinthians 3:6-8) and for extending hospitality (Luke 14:12-14) and for loving the hard to love (Luke 6:35) etc.

Our works will be tested, and Christ’s searing judgment will sift them as a fire that refines gold and silver, but consumes wood, hay and stubble.  Paul promised (vrs 14) that the one whose work survives the testing shall be rewarded.

But the one whose works burn, will be saved, yet so as through fire.   In other words, there is no possibility to be cast into hell, but his life’s work made of flammable, inferior materials will be lost, and he will go unrewarded. 

Think of it this way.  On the day we were saved we had nothing to lose, and yet everything to gain.  From that day forward, many of us engaged as Christians and we have been creating reward for ourselves. Others haven’t.  Some are still at net zero because they have treated their walk with God with apathy and indifference.  

You may ask, is this grace?  It is!  For we were once deserving of condemnation and hell, now having been saved, we have the unmerited opportunity to accrue treasure for ourselves in heaven.

The impact of judgment

So how should the prospect of this judgment affect us today.  In the next verse (5:11) Paul said, “Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people.” 

Paul spoke of his reverence for Christ as His future judge.  He feared being caught short of what the Lord would expect. So, he gave 100% to the work that God gave him to do.

Should a Christian be motivated by rewards?  Paul was motivated by many things especially his love for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:14) But it is clear here that the Bema seat was a considerable goad to him as well.  He wanted to win the prize.  How about you? 

A PRAYER: Lord help me to keep my eye on the prize. 

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

giftless — July 21, 2021

giftless

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It was Father’s Day and my grandchildren honored me with handmade cards and gifts.  My little grandson wanted to join in, but he wasn’t prepared, so he slipped away and used a king-sized marker to scratch out a sweetly illustrated card. 

He even enclosed a five-dollar bill.  When I opened it, I was amazed, but his brother was angry – because it was his money that was given.   I handed the five back to brother over the protests of my precious gift giver.  Then the sad little guy wrapped himself up and cried because he had nothing to give his granddad. 

His tears broke my heart and also alerted me to my own condition.  For there is a day coming when I will eagerly want to give a gift to someone that I love.  Let me explain if I may.

When we enter the Kingdom of God, we do so only by the merit of Jesus. Paul said, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works…“  (Ephesians 2:8-9)We cannot work to be saved.

But, once we have been saved, we are expected to work.  Paul went on to say that we have “been created in Christ Jesus for good works….” (v. 10)

God expects the saved to work – to love Jesus and to practice His teachings.

A worker is usually compensated with a paycheck, and the Christian is rewarded in a similar way.  Scripture speaks of “crowns” that can be earned.   

There is the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19) which consists of the people we have led to Christ.  The crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4) is given to those who have labored to care for and disciple other Christians.  The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8) will be given to those who love Christ and live in the light of His return.   The crown of life is given to those who lose their life for the cause of Christ (Revelation. 2:10)                         

Jesus will one day review the life of each Christian and award these crowns accordingly.  Some of us will be receive one or more; the less faithful will be denied a crown.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

In Jesus’ day, a crown represented authority.  It is thought that those with crowns will be awarded responsibility in ruling along side Jesus in His Kingdom.  (Revelation 2:26)

Now fast forward to heaven where this scene takes place.  “Seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.”  (Revelation 4:4)  

The white robes of redemption suggest that the Elders represent us, the church of the redeemed with their heads adorned by the crowns they had earned.

But then something unexpected happens as they prepare to worship. “The twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne…”    (Revelation 4:10-11)

They wanted something to give to Jesus who had given everything for them, so they took the only thing of value that they possessed – the crowns that they had earned in this life.   

You and I will be among that group someday, there in the presence of Jesus, awed by his majesty and overwhelmed with gratitude for what He had done for us.

We will fumble around, searching the pockets of our white robes looking for a gift to give. Nothing there, however, but righteous lint. 

But what about the crowns?  Those could be offered.  Some of us will reach up, find the gift, and then gladly lay it as His feet.

Others will reach up and find only air.

I wonder if they will wrap themselves up and cry because they had nothing to give to the one they love?

A PRAYER: Lord help me to serve you well this day, so that I have something to offer You then.

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®