![]() In the NT, there is a great deal of teaching on the Judgment Seat of Christ, where every believer will appear before Christ and give an account of the works he or she has done. For the Christian, the NT even gives this judgment a name. The NT teaches a similar idea of a judgment that brings to light even our secret works, whether good or bad. Solomon understood that even though he was saved by grace apart from works, one day he would give an account of the works that he had done, even those done in secret. ![]() Instead, he is talking about a day when men and women, including believers, will be judged according to their works. Once we understand that, as Paul states, the OT believer was eternally saved by grace through faith, we know that Solomon is not talking about what a person has to do to gain eternal life. Thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil For God willīring every work into judgment, with every secret Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes with this statement: Solomon’s Judgment of Worksīoth Jewish and Christian scholars have long held that Solomon was the author of the book of Ecclesiastes. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes indicates that believers in the OT did. Specifically, I would like to know: did a believer in the OT understand that even though he received eternal life by faith in the coming Messiah, he would also be judged according to his works to determine eternal rewards? In this short article, I would like to look at the issue of the Judgment Seat of Christ. How much did the believers in the Old Testament understand? The difference is, believers in the OT believed in the coming Messiah, while we today believe in the One who has already come -Jesus Christ.Īll of this, however, raises another question. It is by God’s grace through faith alone (Rom 4:3, 6 Gal 3:6). In both Romans and Galatians the apostle points out that both Abraham and David received eternal life the same way people today do. Paul makes it clear in the book of Romans that nobody can keep the Law (Rom 3:20). Of course, nobody believes a person could have kept the Law perfectly, but if a person in the OT was to be saved, they had to do a pretty good job of following it. Often, this erroneous view maintains that a person in the OT had to keep the Law of Moses. Have we rejoiced in trials so that our faith is proved genuine to the glory of God ( 1 Peter 1:6-7)? Have we escaped the “corruption that is in the world” ( 2 Peter 1:4) or have we succumbed to “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life” that characterizes the love for this world which is passing away ( 1 John 2:16-17 NIV)? Have we controlled our tongues ( James 3:1-9)? These are the kinds of things that will be exposed at the Bema Seat.There are some people who have the mistaken idea that people in the OT received eternal life by works. Have we built upon the Rock with gold, silver and precious stones-those things that last for eternity-or with wood, hay, and stubble which will be burned up. We make choices throughout our lives as to the kind of things we add to the foundation of our salvation. What kind of account will we have to give? According to 1 Corinthians 3:10-13, we will be judged based on what we have built upon the foundation which is Christ. First, according to Romans 14:10-12, believers are to “give an account” of ourselves to God. Rather than a judgment of condemnation or a determiner of salvation, there are two purposes for the Bema Seat. We know that believers cannot be punished for sin because Christ bore that punishment on the cross and “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” ( Romans 8:1). Unlike the Great White Throne judgment of unbelievers, the Judgment Seat of Christ is not for the purpose of condemnation. In the context, it is clear that in both incidents, Paul is addressing Christians, not unbelievers. He has a similar message to the believers in Corinth: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” ( 2 Corinthians 5:10). One such verse is Romans 14:10-12: “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God … So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Paul is speaking here to the Roman believers. However, certain Bible verses declare that Christians will indeed be judged at what is called the Judgment Seat or Bema Seat of Christ. Many people believe that Christians are not subject to any kind of judgment because all their sins have been covered by the blood of Christ, which is true. There is a good deal of confusion regarding the judgments that follow death. What is the Judgment Seat of Christ? by Compelling Truth
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |