Two things come to mind as I write this word about the Judgment Seat of Christ. The first is a comment made by J. B. Chapman, “We will know a lot more about Heaven five minutes after we get there than all the speculation this side of Heaven”. How true. So too when it comes to the Judgment Seat of Christ – the translation of bema – the Greek word that referred to the ancient place in Corinth where rewards and punishments were given. You can visit ancient Bema Seat in Corinth today – platform about ten feet high. Athletes were given garlands; criminals were given their sentences.
The second comment came from Dr. R. T. Williams, the man I was named after. He gave this advice to young preachers: “Stay away from prophecy and eschatology, let the old men do that; they won’t be around to see their mistakes”.
Well, I am old. And yet I don’t want to say anything that is not true regarding the Final Judgment. Whatever else can be said, it will be a fearful event. Indeed, the scariest moment I can imagine. The Old Testament prophets talked about “the day of the Lord” which possibly refers to a series of happenings at the End. Jesus spoke of “that day” (Matt.7:22). The affect of the Bema Seat on Paul was “therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord” (2 Cor.5:11 – ESV). And yet John spoke of having “confidence” (boldness – KJV) in the day of Judgment (1 John 4:17).
So, knowing that the Final Judgment will be a fearful, awesome event, how is to possible to have confidence or boldness?
First, it seems to me that the Final Judgment will be in two parts: (1) the saved and lost being judged; and (2) the saved being judged – whether they will receive a reward of saved by fire.
So if part of the Judgment will be when all people – saved and lost – stand before God, with the saved going to Heaven and the lost going to Hell, surely we may have confidence. Reason: our hope is in the blood of Christ. Those people whose hope of going to Heaven is in the shed blood of Jesus shed on the cross two thousand years ago should have no fear. None. If your hope is your good works, your faithfulness or sanctification, I would not want to be in yours shoes for anything in the world! You should fear. I would be scared to death! But I am not afraid. You need not be nervous or afraid if your sole hope of going to Heaven is trusting Jesus’ death on the cross.
Second, if part of the Judgment however has to do with rewards and punishments for the saved, how can one be so confident? Can you and I as believers have confidence, or boldness, on the Day of Judgment when as Christians the truth about us comes out? After all, Paul said we must all appear before the Bema Seat to give an account of the thing done while in the body – whether good or bad. That is very, very scary. How can I have confidence on this Day of days? Would a person be trusting his or her good works in this case? After all, 1 Corinthians 3 is all about building a superstructure of gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, straw – and the Day will declare it. It will be revealed by fire. So only those with a surviving superstructure of gold, silver, precious gems will get a reward. How can you and I be confident NOW?
I answer: Paul spoke of an earnest, or deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. See Ephesians 1:13-14. That is (in my view) the immediate and direct witness of the Holy Spirit. It is what enables you to be confident and fearless in that Day without being self-righteous about it at the same time.
Read more in my book on this fascinating and important subject. On sale this month.