15 Minutes With Jesus / Robert Haymes
The Judgment Seat Of Christ
Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, Jesus said, there am I in the midst of them. To those of you who love Him in truth: mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.
Today we’re going to look at a long-standing doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ: The Judgment Seat Of Christ. Let’s look first at the main scriptures that those who teach this doctrine refer to. Before we go there, there’s something which is so important that every one of us should consider. Whenever a scripture is used to support a doctrine, go to the scripture; take a look at the other scriptures that are there and consider carefully the context of that scripture. Also we must always consider the whole counsel of God’s written Word on the subject at hand. Search the scriptures to see if what is being taught is really true. Our trust must be in what is written in God’s Word above what any man is saying, or has said in the past. So let’s look at the scriptures as they are usually quoted to support the judgment seat of Christ doctrine. Let’s turn to Rom 14:10, But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Ok, let’s go to 2 Cor 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Let’s go to John 5:24, Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Now let’s consider the main aspects of this doctrine as it is presented in the Church today. First: the bema seat. The judgment seat of Christ: the word is bema. It’s a judgment only for believers in Heaven after the rapture. Number two: a judgment, not for any condemnation nor for any sin, as all our sins were already dealt with through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. They say, Jesus took our punishment, once-and-for-all. Number Three: It’s a judgment only for rewards; for service; rewards meaning only good things, like metals of honor or crowns. Those who have not been faithful in their service will receive loss of rewards, even punishment, but no one will be damned. And they quote Rom 8:1, the modern version, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, period. John 5:24, Whoever hears my Word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not come into condemnation, but is crossed over from death unto life. Number four: The judgment seat of Christ, they say, is different from the Great White Throne judgment. That will be the final judgment of the wicked: only unbelievers. Number five: They say, believers are secure in Christ, but they must still appear before the judgment seat of Christ. It will be a time of examination and a time of rewards.
Now let’s look at the scriptures that they use again, only in their context. John 5:24, Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Then, just go down to verses 28&29, Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. The judgment seat mentioned in these scriptures is just that: a judgment seat. The Greek word used here is bema. It means a step, foot breath, a rostrum, tribunal, judgment seat, or a throne. Rom 14:10, …For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. That word “all” means the whole, or every kind of. So every kind of person is going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Verse 11, …every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Verse 12, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 2 Cor 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive, that’s everyone, the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Verse 9, Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. Verse 11, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men… Clearly these verses say that those who have done good will be there, as well as those who have done evil; that is the righteous and the wicked. There is nothing in these verses that says this is a separate judgment only for Christians. Everyone shall receive from the Lord according to what he has done; good or bad.
Let’s look at Rom 2:4-11, Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, notice: the day, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. In Mat 7:21-23, Jesus said, Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, notice: in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! These are Christians, standing before Jesus, being judged for what they have done, both good and evil. Those who practice evil will be cast out; they shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who have done good will enter in; those who have kept Jesus’ Words in the Sermon on the Mount; those who denied themselves every day, took up their cross and followed Jesus every day to do the will of the Father, being led by the Holy Spirit; being sons and daughters of God. It’s not “believers” and “non-believers”. It’s the righteous: those that keep Jesus’ Words and do the Father’s will; those that do good to the least of Jesus’ brethren, and the wicked: those who practice iniquity, and do not do good to the least of Jesus’ brethren. This false doctrine: the judgment seat of Christ doctrine, is all about a separate judgment for “believers”. There is no scripture that actually says that there is a separate judgment for believers. They say, The believer’s judgment with respect to sin is long past. I recommend reading Heb 10:26-31. They say, Therefore the judgment seat of Christ is not designed to punish believers, but rather to reward them for their faithful service. It’s a judgment for believer’s works after salvation; only rewards. Either you receive a reward, or you miss out because of unfaithful service. Jesus said, Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. The Lord said He will cut asunder the evil servants, there are evil servants, and appoint them their portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They say that the judgment seat of Christ is different from the great white throne judgment. That will be the final judgment of the wicked; only unbelievers. Where does it say that? They reference Rev 20:12-15, And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, and they were judged, verse 13, every man according to their works. Verse 15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 3:5, He that overcomes, I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life; he that overcomes. He that doesn’t overcome and remains a servant of sin, shall be blotted out of the Book of Life, and shall have his part in the lake of fire.
The fruit of this false doctrine is that millions of Christians believe that they will never be condemned to the lake of fire, that they will, at the worst, only suffer loss of rewards or some varying degree of punishment, and so they don’t fear God as they should, as they would, if not for this lie, and they don’t overcome sin in their life. They continue to practice sin and they believe that it will be ok for them. The scripture says, Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection, on such the second death has no power. There is nothing to fear if you pursue holiness; if you fear the Lord; if you walk after holiness; if you love Him and serve Him with all your heart, there is nothing to fear. But unholy Christians, as I said in a previous message, will not make it: holiness, without which, no one will see the Lord. It is a horrible deception of Satan, and they will end up being destroyed if they don’t repent and believe the truth of God’s Word. Just as Satan told Eve in the Garden of Eden, “You shall not surely die”, so he deceives Christians today.
Also they reference Rev 22:12, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. They stop there. Check out verse 14, Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. If we don’t keep His Word, we don’t love Him, and we won’t be able to enter into the City. Verse 15, For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, or fornicators. How many fornicators are in the Church today? And murderers: how many mothers and fathers have murdered their babies through abortion and have not repented, in the Church!? And idolaters: how many people worship their pastor or their church; how many are involved in idolatry? And whosoever loves and makes a lie: do you think that there are any believers who practice lying? All liars are going into the lake of fire. No, people of God! It is not the “believers” and the “unbelievers”; it is the righteous and the wicked. 1 John 3:7&8, Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins, or practices sin, is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning… Both shall be rewarded by Jesus Christ, our Savior, and our judge, in that day: every man and every woman, according to their works.
Thank you for reading this message from 15 Minutes With Jesus at roberthaymes.com . May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you who love Him in truth, Amen.