The Bema Judgement of Believers

  I wonder what goes through your mind when you hear parts of the Bible like these:

 Rom 14:10-12

“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

 2 Cor 5:10

“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.”

 Ever since my coming to Christ, I often struggled with these types of texts making me think of judgement as punishment until I came across a second Greek word for judgement called the “bema”.

 In ancient times during athletic events, an authoritative figure would be elevated to the Bema, which is an elevated platform, to judge the competition and award the winners. (John MacArthur & Richard May-hue, Biblical Doctrine pg. 865-866).

When talking about Christians being judged, the Bible always uses the word bema but what does it really refer to?

 What it cannot refer to—punishment:

 John 5:24

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

 Rom 8:1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

1 John 4:16-18

“And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world, we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

What it does refer to—a time of reward:

 Rev 11:18

“The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

1 Cor 3:12-15

“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”

Evil works or even good works spurred by wrong motives are burnt up. Those who served Christ most faithfully will be most rewarded.

Two conclusions:

 • There are degrees of enjoyment and blessings of heaven that are rewarded to us but not punishment.

• The reward is not dependent on whether our service was public or private, or whether it’s done by someone in an esteemed position, like full-time ministry worker or just a student faithfully living for Christ on campus. This should motivate us because even though we may be a “nobody” serving in a manner that the world does not see as worthy of reward, God sees all our deeds and works and will reward us justly.

This should sober us to know that the Lord will look at not only what we do but why we do what we do.

 Mark 9:41 

“Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”

The smallest deeds may just count for the most enjoyment and blessings in heaven. And the most wonderful reality for us all might be hearing our Lord say, “well done good and faithful servant”.

The reason we sinners will ever be called faithful servants and do anything worthy for God is, lest we forget, because of Christ alone. Christ who died to forgive us all our sins, to make us righteous, to sanctify us into that righteousness so that it may take a hold of our deeds, words and even thoughts, and then to one day glorify us so that we may glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

Oh, what a Saviour we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.