THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it good or bad.” [2nd Corinthians 5:10] The Judgment Seat of Christ is a place of judgment for the justified regenerate only (only for believers) that pertains to his afterlife. The Judgment Seat of Christ is not the Mercy Seat, for that pertains to this life.  Whereas the regenerate living on the earth may approach the Throne of Grace and its mercy seat (established on redemptive grace) where additional mercy and grace might be obtained for the sanctifying work that will answer to the Judgment Seat of Christ. (Hebrews 4:16, 2nd Corinthians 6:1, James 4:6) The Judgment Seat of Christ is for the final assessment of that sanctifying work and is extremely judicial. Exacting justice for service to the Lord after redemption is the focus of the Judgment Seat. (Israel’s type: redemption and inheritance, blood and leaven) 

The Throne of Grace in mercy will most definitely include chastising judgments upon the living saved with repentant faithful and fruitful works in view that will be discoverable after death at the Judgement Seat of Christ. (Hebrews 12:8 with John 15:2) The Judgment Seat is recompense for godliness and good behavior as well as for ungodliness and bad behavior administrated after death to the born-again. (Death being no magical additive to holiness nor cure for ungodliness.) 

It is declared in Scripture that Jesus Christ has all judgment authority. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.” [John 5:22] It is for that reason…. “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” [2nd Corinthians 5:9] That Jesus judges and administrates ongoing judgments (both past and presently) in His Church is bore out frequently in Scripture. It can be seen in the book of Acts, or Corinthians, and in the book of Revelation. That book of judgment, where in chapters 1-3, believers are addressed as either those who are overcoming or those who are being overcome.  

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”  [Revelation 2:21] with “..For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [1st Corinthians 11:30]…. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (verse 31) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (Verse 32 answers to Matthew 5:22, Luke 12:46.) 

These present judgments and threatenings are in accord with chastening disciplines, tests and trials as it relates to a race being run for an Inheritance prize, a race that must be run legally. (1st Corinthians 9:24-27 with 2nd Timothy 2:5) The judgment being administrated from that Throne spoken of in Hebrews 4:16 is offset by Atonement Grace. For we may only approach that Throne while we are alive and while Christ is still in His office as His Priest interceding on our behalf. Hebrews 4:16… “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” 

So it is that these frightening exhortations and judgments while we are alive have to do with, and have in view our most critical and highly judicial DEATH judgment when we depart this life. It is that judgment in finality declared at THE JUDGEMENT SEAT as seen in 2nd Corinthians 5:10. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat (Bema as opposed to Throne) of Christ (that is to say after we die); that every one may receive the things done in his body (that is to say those things done by act, or thought of mind and word of mouth, while we were yet alive), according to that he hath done,(as the righteous Judge that searches the reins and hearts determines) whether it be good or bad: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, (Note: If judgment rewards were all this BEMA represented, there would be no need to speak of its terror) we persuade men.…” The warning persuasions of spiritual words, or with judgments in disciplines or chastening, testing and trials are being prompted by the Lord and High Priest so that the very best result may be realized after death. For it is after the death of a Christian that the word “terror” takes on its intended and fullest meaning, in that it is only then that the Judgment Seat of Christ comes into play. Because while an appeal to the Blood at the Throne of Grace, will help to deliver the leavened (that is to say the leaven–eater) while he is alive, there is no appeal to the Blood for relief of judgment for the leaven–eater after he dies at the Judgment Seat of Christ.   

In Ephesians 3:1-11, Paul speaks of the mystery of the inheritance of the new man. That mystery hidden from before the foundations of this world. A mystery that was hidden within the Old Covenant that is revealed by Paul, at first to the Jew then to the Gentile. That mystery being the one new man in Christ, the New Creature; to first be saved and then developed by the Word and Holy Spirit into a qualified worthy to Rule with Him from the heavenly realm. That it was a mystery first to the “rulers” of this world, is made clear from 1st Corinthians 2:1-8 as well as in Ephesians 3:10. It is the Wisdom of God who hid the Mystery of Glory to Men through Christ’s Atonement that would take over the future ruler-ship of this World from the satanic forces in the heavenly realm associated with this planet in the Millennial Age that is to come. It is in the fulfillment of this Mystery that the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST has in view,