Monday, 24 January 2022
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 be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Judgment Seat of Christ is different from the Great White Throne judgment. The Great White Throne judgment is the most terrifying of all judgments, and it’s reserved for sinners. The Judgment Seat of Christ, on the other hand, is where we, the Christians, receive our rewards one by one from the Master, and not in groups: “…that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Notice what the Bible says: “In his body”; this refers to the Body of Christ. When you were born again, you were baptized into the Body of Christ, and you’ve been there ever since. How have you functioned in the Body thus far? Have you done good or bad in the Body? Be careful what you do in the Body of Christ because everyone will receive a reward of the things done in the Body, whether good or bad: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:10-11).
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, not one of us in Christ will be condemned: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5). We’re all going to be praised, even though it’s a judgment where we’ll give account.
“What about the bad things a Christian might have done?” someone may ask. The answer is in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built there upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Do more for the Lord and serve Him with wholehearted devotion. Hallelujah!
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the privilege and opportunity to participate in the propagation of the Gospel. I look forward excitedly to that great day when I’ll stand before you and give account of everything I did in the Body. I’m overjoyed knowing that all my services and sacrifices for the Kingdom aren’t in vain! What a day of rejoicing it will be! Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Revelation 22:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 16:13-17:1-13 & Exodus 6-7
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 12:1-10 & Job 18-19