Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: judgement seat of Christ

bema seat – part 2 — March 30, 2022

bema seat – part 2

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Cycling is a sport with some crazy prizes.  There’s a race in France where the winner gets a piglet.  Wow – what do the losers get? 

In the Paris-Roubaix race they give the winner a cobblestone which was part of the pavement from the race.  Gee that’s nice. 

However, in the classic Hairibo race in France, the winner gets their body weight in gummy bears.  OK I’m in!

In Bema seat – part 1, we found that Christians will one day stand before Christ and be rewarded for the manner in which we have lived our lives.  (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

So, what is this reward and is it worth it?

The victor will be given crowns

James 1:12 speaks of those who “will receive the crown of life…”   The Greek word for crown is “stephanos” better known as the Victor’s Crown.  This was a wreath made of olive or ivy branches which was given to honor a military or sports victory.  It was worn on the head.  

There are 5 different situations where a victor’s wreath could be won 1) There is the Crown of rejoicing (1 Th. 2:19; Phil 4:1) which consists of the people we have led to Christ. 2) and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4) given to those who have labored to care for and disciple other Christians.  

3) And the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:6-8) given to those who live their lives in the light of Christ’s return, 4) the crown of Life is given to those who lose their life for the cause of Christ (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10)  5) and the crown of mastery (1 Cor. 9:24-27) for the one who faithfully completes the race of faith       

Now before you cast your ivy hat in the trash, let’s consider this.  In the first century a crown represented ruling authority

The victor will rule with Christ

When Christ returns, He will rule this earth for a thousand years. He will invite believers to participate with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”  2 Tim 2:12 says, “If we endure, we will also reign with him.”  The believer who squanders their heritage today will be privileged to live and dwell in the Kingdom, but the believer who lives for Christ shall rule alongside Him.

The victor will receive commendation

To the victor, Jesus, Himself will one day say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) We all have our various love languages.  Mine is words of praise. Anticipating Jesus’ commendation motivates me way more than winning my weight in gummy bears. 

So what do we do about the Bema seat?

At graduation all of us got a prized piece of parchment. Among us were some who received special honors for stellar grades and college scholarships.  The Bema seat will be a graduation day of great rejoicing for all of us but it may be tinged with some regret for those who didn’t make a greater effort.

I have a container of foreign coins I have accumulated through my travels.  The money has value in the country where it was issued, but no practical value to me in the US.  Heaven is kind of like that.  We can accumulate lots of stuff down here.   But when we get there it will no longer have value.  We need to work to obtain an inheritance today, that will mean something when we get to heaven

Bruce Wilkinson, the founder of Walk Through the Bible told this story.  He spoke at a conference where he met a 9-year-old boy named Will.  Will asked Bruce to donate to his mission project? 

Bruce asked, “What’s the money for?”  He said, “It’s for people who live in the jungles so they can hear about Jesus.”  

Bruce said “OK but I have one rule: You have to give first.  I will match and multiply whatever you first give.”

Will’s eyes were as big as saucers then his face fell.  Bruce asked, “Don’t you like my idea?”  “Yes!”  “So, what are you going to do?” 

Will said “Nothing! I already gave everything I had.”  “You mean you put all your money in your own fund drive.    Will nodded yes.

Bruce said, “Will, I have another rule.  If you give everything, I will give everything too.  As it happened, he had just been to the bank and had withdrawn a considerable amount of money with which to finance his trip.  He opened his briefcase and gave a huge stack of cash to Will. 

I think the Bema seat will be a lot like that.  We sacrificially give and serve today, what little we have, only to receive a ridiculously lavish reward from Jesus in the future.  Serve Him.  You will never be sorry.

A PRAYER: Oh, Jesus give me the heart of Will    

This has been Jim Johnson will pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you   

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

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 ®