Doctrine of the Future: Eternal Judgment [Judgment Seat of Christ]

10 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.

1 Corinthians 3:11–16 (KJV 1900)

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 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.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Time of Revelation

1 Corinthians 3:13 (KJV 1900)

13 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.

We are going to see our life from God’s point of view.

Sort vs. Size:

Now, notice he doesn’t say what size it is, but what sort it is. What he is saying is that quality is more important than quantity. Now, we, as Americans, put a great deal of emphasis upon size, but be reasonable. I want to ask you a question: Which would you rather have—a truckload of hay or a handful of diamonds? That’s what he’s saying. Wood, hay, and stubble—that’s hay. Gold, silver, and precious stones … He’s talking here about quality.

Judged according to Attitude

Number one: God is going to judge us, when we come to the Judgment Seat of Christ, God is going to judge us by our attitude—not only what we did, but why we did it. Let me give you a key verse here. Put this in your margin: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-17 :

1 Corinthians 9:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

God is going to judge us at the Judgment Seat of Christ for our ministry, our service—not only for what we did, but did we do it willingly, gladly, from a free heart?

Sometimes people are forced into service to preach or to sing, to be in the choir, to work in the nursery, to work on the grounds because somebody has to, and that’s why we do it, rather than doing it with a joy and a gladness of saying, “Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege—thank You for the privilege of serving You.”

I want to make it abundantly clear: the Judgment Seat of Christ has nothing to do with whether we’re saved or lost. Once you’re saved, you’re going to Heaven. That is settled. But, He’s going to judge us according, first of all, to our attitude—not only what we did, but why we did it.

Judged according to Authority

Did you have authority from Heaven to do what you did? That is, are you serving God according to the Word of God? Does your ministry have Heaven’s authority behind it? Some people are doing things that God never commissioned, God never asked, and God never wanted. Listen to this scripture—put it down: 2 Timothy 2:5:

2 Timothy 2:5 (KJV 1900)

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Now, what does that mean? The masteries—he’s talking about an athletic contest. If you were running in the Olympics in this day and you wanted to get a laurel, you wanted to get a crown, you wanted a reward, a recognition, you can’t cut across the track—you can’t cut across the field. You have to stay on the track, and you have to stay in your lane. You can’t break the rules.

Now, God has given us a rulebook, and you have to ask yourself this question: Does my ministry have the authority of God behind it?

Judged according to Ability

Now, God is going to require more from some people than He does other people because other people have more ability than others. Here’s the operative verse—Luke 12:48:

Luke 12:48 (KJV 1900)

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Is there anybody here who can’t do what you can do? Lift your hand—I want to laugh at you. Of course not. If you can, you can. And, that’s all Jesus asks of you, young people—to do what you can. He doesn’t ask you to do what somebody else can do. He doesn’t ask you to sing like somebody else can sing or give like somebody else can give. That’s the reason that we’re going to be tested. We’re going to be rewarded according to our ability.

God is not going to compare you to somebody else. God is going to test your work “of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13), not how big it is. And, God’s going to look at your attitude—not only what you did, but why you did it. God is going to look at your authority. Were you obeying Him and doing what He told you to do, because “to obey is better than [to] sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)? And, God is going to look at your ability. Did you serve Him according to what He gave you? One of these days, I’m going to give an account for the ability that God has given me—good or bad.

A Time of Reward

1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV 1900)

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

The reward

1 Corinthians 3:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Revelation 22:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Matthew 6:20 KJV 1900

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

5 Crowns:

Incorruptible Crown - 1 Cor 9:25

1 Corinthians 9:25 (KJV 1900)

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The athlete in the Olympic games would discipline their-self and lifestyle to win a race. The victors crown was made of olive leaves and was perishable and would wither in the heat of the day.

Paul says the Christian is working for an Incorruptible crown that will not perish.

Crown of Righteousness - 2 Tim 4:8

2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

This crown has to do with the Christian living in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

Crown of Life - Rev 2:10

Revelation 2:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Christians that give their life as a martyr for Jesus Christ. Also, James says this crown if for those that don’t compromise their witness for Jesus Christ.

James 1:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Crown of glory - 1 Peter 5:4

1 Peter 5:4 (KJV 1900)

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

This reward is for the pastors that are faithful with what God has put within their stewardship. The care and growth of the church.

Crown of rejoicing - 1 Thess 2:19

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV 1900)

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

This is the reward that every believer should gain. This reward is for those that faithfully witness and bear fruit of the Holy Spirit.

John 15:16 (KJV 1900)

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

A Time of Regret

1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV 1900)

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

What is our foundation?

1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV 1900)

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We repent of our dead works and have faith toward God.

Then, we are baptized and authorized.

Then we are resurrected.

Then we are rewarded.

Christ is the foundation.

Do you have to be baptized to be saved? No

Do you have to be authorized by the church to go to heaven? No

Will you be resurrected? Yes

Will you be rewarded? Yes

1 John 2:28 (KJV 1900)

28 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.

Matthew 5:19 (KJV 1900)

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

You can lose your accrued reward if you do not continue to be faithful.

2 John 8 (KJV 1900)

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Revelation 3:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

God is not going to judge you based on your sins.

Romans 5:1 (KJV 1900)

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 8:1 (KJV 1900)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This judgment is not a judgment of sin [Redemption and Justification] determining our salvation. We will talk about that judgment next week. This is a judgment of service.

The Bible calls the Judgment Seat of Christ the Bema—B-E-M-A.

In the middle of the Olympic field was a raised platform. If a runner ran and he didn’t win the race or he broke the rules, they didn’t execute him; they didn’t put him in prison. He just received no reward. Now, that’s the word that is used for the Judgment Seat of Christ. We have been judged as sinners. Thank God, Jesus, on the cross, paid our sin debt.

Day by day, we’re being judged as sons and daughters. [Sanctification] If we disobey, He chastises us. But, one of these days, we’re going to stand before the Lord and we’re going to be judged as servants. [Glorification]