The Judgment Seat of Christ

By Sidharth Mohandas

As we move on in this series of Eternal Judgment, we will be dealing with the different scenes of judgment. In this article we will look at one such judgment scene – the judgment of believers.

The Bema

 First of all, it is vital to know that the wicked will not stand in judgment along with the righteous (Psalm 1:5). The judgment of the wicked and the judgment of the righteous are two different realities with two different purposes. The first group of people subject to judgment will be the righteous (1 Peter 4:17). This judgment, as discussed in the preceding article, is not for condemnation, but for commendation (Romans 8:1, I Corinthians 4:5).

The term that is used to refer to the judgment of the righteous is “the judgment seat of Christ/God”. This term is never used for any other judgment save the judgment of believers. (The verses quoted below were addressed by Paul to all believers)

· For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10)

· For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10)

Note that the Greek word used for “judgment seat” is the word “bema”. This word is very peculiar and different from the other Greek words used in connection with judgment. This word, “bema”, was used in Classical Greek to denote the judge’s seat in an arena of Olympic Games. The bema was the seat where the judge sat – not to punish the contestants, but to reward them. This again establishes the fact that the judgment of believers is primarily for the commendation of the works we have done in our body.  

Revealed by Fire

Paul describes in detail, the judgment of believers in I Corinthians 3:11-15:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

In the above passage Paul makes it clear that this is a judgment of each believer’s work, and not his soul. Even if his work is totally burnt up, his soul will be saved. (I Corinthians 3:15).  Again let me emphasize, this judgment concerns only those who have built their faith upon Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:11)

Further, in the above assessment of a believer’s work, Paul brings up two categories: on the one hand there is “gold, silver, and precious stones”; on the other hand there is “wood, hay, and straw”. The basis of this division is their ability to withstand fire. The items in the first category will pass through fire, while those in the second will be consumed by fire. Another implication from this categorization is that quality is of higher regard to God than quantity. You would need more volume of “wood, hay, and straw” to balance an equal mass of “gold, silver, and precious stones”.

Today, we need to examine what we do for the Lord. We aren’t required to make a final evaluation of ourselves, but we are to judge our motives, our obedience and the message we carry. I want you to ask yourselves a few questions:

(1)  What are my motives in my works? Do I work for name, fame, and number? Do I work for the Lord for any selfish gain or praise?

(2)  Am I seeking to obediently serve God even in the little and unseen things?

(3)  Is my lifestyle one that is of power or is it only of words? Am I truly depending on His Spirit to do what He has commissioned me to do? Am I denying the power of the Holy Spirit by my theology?

Your answers to these questions will determine the category that your works will fall into – wood, hay, and straw vs. gold, silver, and precious stones.

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