Hi all,
I am trying to understand the whole nature of how we will give an account for our lives before Christ one day. Basically what I am wondering is this: I understand that those who die without accepting Christ will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment and will be punished according to their deeds and condemned forever.
However, believers will face the Bema Seat Judgment, in which we will give an account of our lives--not to be punished, but to receive or lose our rewards.
I know there are many scriptures that speak of us having to give an account for our deeds done in the body, every idle word spoken, etc. BUT, for the believer, will our deeds done BEFORE we accepted Christ also be judged? Will people have to make an account for their lives and deeds that they had done before they accepted Him? I'm not speaking of punishment here, because I know that Christ paid our penalty--past, present, future, confessed and unconfessed. I'm just wondering how those who die, but have a death-bed conversion, have any deeds to give an account for, since they just got saved. Or, do you think that, as believers before the Bema Seat, all our deeds, words spoken, etc. for our entire life shall be examined in order to determine our rewards?
Are only our deeds/words that are done/spoken AFTER we are saved, eligible to receive and lose rewards? Or are our deeds/words that are done/spoken in our entire lives, even before we are saved, eligible to receive and lose rewards?
Any thoughts? Any verses would help here, too.
Thanks so much!
Pam
First, we are saved by GRACE that we do have ETERNAL life that do not require works of merit.
Now, regarding our rewards for SERVING the Lord while on earth as a believer.
1 Corinthians 3:14
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
1 Corinthians 9:18
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
Colossians 3:24
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Hebrews 11:26
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
"If you are a Christian , you are in the same circumstance as the early followers of Jesus. You have been commissioned to manage an asset for your Master. Your asset is your life-the sum of your talents, strengths, personality and interests. [Live every day to answer the question]. How will I steward what my Master has placed in my care?"Bruce Wilkinson, "A Life God Rewards"
My works will be tested by fire each day I walk, and while I am walking, my works will be burned and purified. Some rewards will be burn up and some will remain. I won't know until I get into heaven.
Reading the Scriptures, I understand that I will be rewarded for the good that's remaining after my spiritual motivations (however anyone wants to term this) have been burned up, and the burning of the stuff occurs in 1 Corinthians 3. Sin in my life towards the end of my life. I can begin to forfeit my rewards and those things listed would be taken back off the list, added to the "wood, hay, and stubble" kind of thing, and your reward would be less.
Gold, silver, and costly stones. These are symbolic of good work. But its more than good. Its eternal work, spiritual work. Its work that is born of the Spirit of God, ordered by Him. Its work that is born out of an abiding relationship with Christ.
Wood, hay, and straw. These are symbolic of inadequate work. Now that does not mean that its not perceived as good. It may look good, but in reality it was not good at all. Thats because it had its origin in the flesh. The Spirit of God never authorized it. Its work that is not led by the Spirit, but is merely human effort to please God.
Motive may be a selfish desire to do something for Jesus. It may be a desire to look good in the eyes of others. In the WoF world, motives are my primary problem because many desires are related to "NOW" rather than later. It is not enough to do good spiritual works, such as prophesy, healing and other spiritual gifts. Spiritual works must flow from the will of God. Jesus said it is the one who does the will of the Father who really does good works. Thats the key requirement for doing the works of the Kingdom. When the Lord looks, He sees all. He sees beyond the surface, even to the thoughts and intents of our heart. So perhaps this fire that will try our works is the all seeing eye of the Lord Himself. But in any case, the nature of our works will be revealed. And what is the outcome? What is the prize which awaits those who do Kingdom work? The nature of the spiritual work determines the reward or loss.
Example
If what I have built survives, I will receive my reward; however, if it is burned up, I will suffer loss. I am still saved and I am sealed to enter into heaven regardless. Whatever I built spiritual during my human life, my rewards may escape through the flames. If my works passed the test and stand because they are true spiritual works of the Kingdom, then I will be rewarded according to my works.
Now if my works are consumed because they were works built on the flesh based on wrong spiritual motives, then I will suffer the loss of them, and there will be no reward.
So, my spiritual goals are to lay up treasure in heaven. I am going to focus on building on the foundation (Christ) with the right spiritual motives, that my spiritual work will be gold, silver, and costly stones. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)
Reading 1 Timothy 4 explains that Christians must choose their priorities carefully like an athlete as to have disciplined lives forgo some desires that may hinder doing God's will and please God as you are after God's own heart. "An athlete who aspires to win the coveted prize does not indulge himself"(J. Oswald Sanders).
With God's grace, we have the power to reach the prize of God's will. Reading Hebrews helped me understood that I am to be aware of obstacles and hindrances I would meet during my life, to throw me off balance that hinders doing the Will of God that could entangle my life easily if I do not submit myself to God's power of grace. God's grace is more than sufficient in my life that I am to fix my eyes on Jesus who is my author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). Faith and Grace together is to "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV).
What should motivate me like an athlete who trains for the Olympics to win a gold medal such self-discipline and willing to face the endurance of the spiritual training as Hebrews 12 and other biblical passages describes? What is my spiritual prize since I already have my gift eternal life? What are my eternal rewards? If I am to claim and take my temporal rights and privileges, what happens to God's eternal will? I have learned that it is God's will to submit to the Holy Spirit and keep on filling me (Ephesians 5:18). Like an athlete when training, I should always keep drinking water so that I won't be dehydrated and feeling weak. With that thought in my mind, I should always keep filling the Holy Spirit in my life so that I am able to act and react any difficulties in my life with God's power (Grace). The power of Grace through the Holy Spirit is my strength that I am able to boast and win for Christ at all costs (see 2 Corinthians 12:1-12).
Regarding Judgement Seat. I believe this is only for those who died without Christ.
We will be judged based on our works but not our salvation. . When the Lord looks, He sees all. He sees beyond the surface, even to the thoughts and intents of our heart. So perhaps this fire that will try our works is the all seeing eye of the Lord Himself. But in any case, the nature of our works will be revealed. And what is the outcome? What is the prize which awaits those who do Kingdom work? The nature of the spiritual work determines the reward or loss. Christian have a right to look upward and wait for the fulfillment of every promise. A faithful Christian will see to it that his/her anticipations conform to the revealed Word of God and he/she has nothing to doubt or fear in life or in death.
