The purpose of the Judgment Seat of Christ is for review and reward.
If you are like me, and you know that you have sinned and made wrong choices over the course of your life, then it is not very exciting to think about standing before the Judge of all the earth and have your life unfold like a movie before you. It would be intimidating, to say the least, not to mention embarrassing and humiliating.
I have had a few embarrassing and humiliating experiences in my seven decades traversing the ups and downs of this life in a body of sinful flesh. I’m hoping that my Lord Jesus Christ is not into embarrassing or humiliating me before billions of redeemed saints at the Judgment Seat.
I take heart from II Corinthians 5:10 with the word ‘each’. Please notice that it says ‘each’ of us may receive what is due us. I believe that Jesus, even as Judge of all, is a gentleman and that He will correct us while still leaving us with our dignity. (I Peter 4:8, Proverbs 10:12)
“ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that ‘each’ of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The works of the believers are not only judged by the fire of trials and sufferings of this earthly life but by the very fire of the Glory and Presence of God in Christ at the Judgment Seat.
I Corinthians 3:12-15 says, “Now if any man build upon this foundation (Christ) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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 has 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.”
When the priests of the tabernacle divided the lamb they were making sure that there was no blemish or defect before it was offered as a sacrifice to Jehovah God. Christ was bruised and broken in all aspects of His humanity as our sacrifice and we are to be examined for purity of motive and action to enable us to be able to dwell eternally with a Holy God.
The Greek word for bad is phaulos meaning a sense of worthlessness or inferior quality. It has nothing to do with evil. It is referring to works done with the wrong motive. The worthless works done for selfish reasons will be consumed by the fire of Jesus Christ. God is a consuming fire and no physical man of flesh can enter His Kingdom. (Hebrews 12:29, I Corinthians 15:50)
The word reward means to pay in full or to receive a receipt for full payment. God owes no man anything. We owe God everything, even our breath. (Haggai 2:8)
We spend our lives seeking acceptance from people, while Jesus says our praise should come from Him. ( I Corinthians 4:5) What He says about us is all that matters.
Five Crowns will be given at the Judgment Seat of Christ to believers.
- The Incorruptible Crown will be given for self-discipline and self-control. (I Corinthians 9:24-27)
- The Crown of Rejoicing will be given for those who win souls to Christ. ( I Thessalonians 2:19)
- The Crown of Glory will be given to pastors, elders, church leaders who faithfully shepherd His sheep. ( I Peter 5:1-4)
- The Crown of Life will be given to those who faithfully endure under trials and the tests of life. ( Revelation 2:10)
- The Crown of Righteousness will be given to those who eagerly look for His coming and live a righteous life. (II Timothy 4:8)
After all, is reviewed and all the crowns are given out, Revelation 4:10-11 says, that we will give them right back to Jesus Christ saying, “thou are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and power, for thou has created all things, and for thy glory they were created.”
All works that qualify as precious metals shall endure the fire of God’s Glory and all that is wood, hay and stubble shall be consumed. Only what is left as pure will dwell with eternity with God who is Holy and without any darkness or sin at all.
That which is refined by His Presence will be increased and multiplied as He sees fit, to enable us to be used in greater capacities than we could ever dream for eternity. (Luke 19:12-27)