Bema-The Judgement Seat of Christ (part15)

Please visit The Doctrine of Rewards: The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ | Bible.org for the full study.

Continuing on from yesterday......

The Nature of the Rewards

What are they and how are they described in Scripture? They are described in terms of generalities. What we know about rewards is given in terms that are more general than specific. These are:

(1) The Promise of Crowns. This seems to be used as a symbol of victory, authority, and responsibility.

(2) The Promise of Heavenly Treasure (Matt. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:4). Stresses their eternal value and security.

(3) The Promise of Accolades or Commendations. This is seen in those passages where a reward is administered in the form of something like “well done thou good and faithful servant …” (cf. Matt. 25:21; Lk. 19:17; 1 Cor. 4:5b).

(4) The Promises to Overcomers. These could refer to special blessing of rewards to those believers who overcomer special trials and tests rather than a general promise to all believers. See Rev. 2:7; 2:11, 17, 26.

(5) The Promise of Special Responsibilities and Authority of the Lord’s Possessions (cf. Matt. 19:28; 24:45-47; 25:21, 23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rev. 2:26).

ANALOGIES TO CONSIDER
(1) A Thanksgiving Dinner. At a Thanksgiving dinner, each person eats a different amount, but each is satisfied. After our glorification, there will be no sinful nature to produce envy, or jealousy, or resentment, or feelings of dissatisfaction. We will each be enthralled with God and our glorified state.

(2) A Bat Boy at the World Series. Any young man who loves baseball would probably be thrilled to be a bat boy in the World Series, but he would not be jealous or resentful because he was not one of the stars of the game. He would just be delighted to be there and do what he was doing.

(3) A Graduate at Commencement. All the graduates are there and excited about graduating, yet at the time of rewards, some sorrow might be experienced, but it is quickly overcome by the joy of the event

(3) A Graduate at Commencement. All the graduates are there and excited about graduating, yet at the time of rewards, some sorrow might be experienced, but it is quickly overcome by the joy of the event.

(4) Our Spiritual Gifts. Our rewards may be likened to our spiritual gifts. Our rewards seem to primarily be a matter of responsibility and maybe opportunities, but they will not be like badges or medals we wear as in the military. Remember that all of our crowns will be cast at the feet of Christ, for only He is worthy (Rev. 4:10-11). Also, Matthew 25:21, 23 and Luke 19:17-19 show us our rewards consist of authority over either many things or many cities. They may include galaxies of the universe. All believers will live in the millennium and in eternity with the Lord. Some will reign with Him, but, because of loss of rewards, evidently some will not.

(5) In Scripture, the church is viewed as the heavenly kingdom and a universal priesthood. This may indicate something of our authority. We may rule over galaxies, celestial bodies, the heavens, and definitely over angels, and the world (cf. 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 4:8).

(6) Israel is the earthly kingdom and will undoubtedly have authority over portions and sections of the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom as emphasized in Matt. 25:21; Lk. 19:17-19; and Dan. 7:18, 22, 27.

(Join me tomorrow for part 16)

 Have a blessed weekend Friends!

Bema-The Judgement Seat of Christ (part 14)

Picking up where we left off on part 13 please feel free to visit this studies point of origin which you can find at The Doctrine of Rewards: The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ | Bible.org

Hoyt has a good summary of what this passage is talking about and involves:

The Bible suggests that there will be shame at the judgment seat of Christ to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the measure of unfaithfulness of each individual believer. Therefore it should be each believer’s impelling desire to be well-pleasing to the Lord in all things. Although Christians apparently will reflect on this earthly life with some regret, they will also realize what is ahead for them in the heavenly life. This latter realization will be the source of boundless joy. English strikes a proper balance on this subject.

“Joy will indeed be the predominant emotion of life with the Lord; but I suspect that, when our works are made manifest at the tribunal, some grief will be mixed with the joy, and we shall know shame as we suffer loss. But we shall rejoice also as we realize that the rewards given will be another example of the grace of our Lord; for at best we are unprofitable servants” (E. Schuyler English, “The Church At the Tribunal,” in Prophetic Truth Unfolding Today, ed. Charles Lee Feinberg [Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1968], p. 29)

The elements of remorse, regret, and shame cannot be avoided in an examination of the judgment seat of Christ. But this sorrow must be somewhat relative because even for the finest of Christians there will be some things worthy of unceasing remorse in the light of God’s unapproachable holiness. This would mean that the finest of Christians could be sorrowful throughout eternity. However, this is not the picture that the New Testament gives of heaven. The overwhelming emotion is joyfulness and gratefulness. Although there is undeniably some measure of remorse or regret, this is not the overriding emotion to be experienced throughout the eternal state.

The emotional condition of the redeemed is that of complete and unending happiness. Emotion proceeds from the realization of facts in personal experience. Hope will, at last, become reality for all those who are delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom. 8:18-25). Elimination of the curse, pain, and death will also remove sorrow, tears and crying (Rev. 21:4)

The judgment seat of Christ might be compared to a commencement ceremony. At graduation, there is some measure of disappointment and remorse that one did not do better and work harder. However, at such an event the overwhelming emotion is joy, not remorse. The graduates do not leave the auditorium weeping because they did not earn better grades. Rather, they are thankful that they have been graduated, and they are grateful for what they did achieve. To overdo the sorrow aspect of the judgment seat of Christ is to make heaven hell. To underdo the sorrow aspect is to make faithfulness inconsequential.12

To be continued tomorrow.......I hope you will join me.

  May God bless you, our military and our country!

Remembering Those That Fought in Viet Nam

In keeping with the July 4th holiday, I want to take one more day to pay tribute to those soldiers that came home to angry people that treated them as if they were dirt. 

My husband was one of those soldiers. He tells of when he and some of the soldiers he was with, boarded a bus in California, and how the bus was bombarded with tomatoes as it was pulling out. Those throwing the tomatoes were spuing out profanities as well.

War is a tragic part of life. And yet the bible tells us that there will be wars and rumors of wars. But it also tells us not to be alarmed because they have to take place until the end of this world comes.

Mathew 24:6.

And to fulfill this scripture, there have to be people that are willing to go the distance to fight them. Whether we like it or not.

Someday all war will end. Isahia 2:4. Soldiers will no longer lose their lives and come home broken or in caskets. And they won't come home to be humiliated by people that hate them for doing what they believe in.

Until then, we need to let these soldiers whether past, present or future know how much we appreciate that they took on the responsibility of helping to keep us safe in this country. Many did not/do not have to. That is our responsibility. It is the least that the rest of us can do.

Church Sign:

(Your choice)

Thanks for your visit today Friends. Tomorrow I will be back on the subject of the rewards etc in heaven. We are getting close to the end, so please come by. Have a blessed day. 

July 4th-The Ultimate Sacrafice

Ju

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm33:12

July 4th: A day of celebrating? A day of fun, picnics, and fireworks? Or a day of remembrance? For some perhaps a day of mourning their loved ones that made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy in this great country of ours.

My husband and I went to a neighboring county last evening to watch the firework display that was to be put on there. Scores of people crowded into the fairgrounds to be apart of the events that had gone on during the day and will continue today in celebration of this years holiday. People of all ages. We parked as close as was allowed to where the fireworks could be best seen and waited there until they were to start. Many people passed in front of our vehicle in the next hour as we sat there and I wondered how many of those people had had a loved one that actually knew what July 4th meant to those that did or do have loved ones that had joined forces with other men and women of the military to protect our country and it's freedoms. Or perhaps some that knew first hand what they had been through in fighting in war themselves. How many people have actually taught their children that it more than just a day of fun and fireworks?  How many of those people know someone that is missing in action. Never making it home either dead or alive and their families never knowing which they are. Others that did make it home, but had sacrificed parts of their bodies or even their minds being wounded perhaps for the rest of their lives, due to the ravages of the war they had fought in Still, others that made it home in caskets. Every veteran, no matter who they are or what branch of the service or whether they were wounded or not, they deserve our thanks. As for those that paid the ultimate price, they especially are the ones that need to be remembered today as we join in the celebration of our freedom.

My husband is a veteran and he wears a cap that acknowledges that everywhere he goes. Maybe that seems to some like bragging. And it really isn't. Who would really brag about having been to war?  But it identifies him with others that wear caps as well so that when he sees someone that has one on, he can get into a conversation with them about experiences they had. Something that many veterans need because the rest of us have no understanding of what they had gone through. He needs to talk about it to some degree with others that do. It is a way he can relate to those that know what he is talking about.

A lot of people see the cap and thank him for his service as well. This is something else that even years later he needs because when he came home after his time was up, he was ridiculed and hated because of the war he had been a part of. Some of you will remember those years for the Viet Nam soldiers. There were no parades for them after they had done what they believed in to serve in a war that took many lives.

For all those that laid down their lives, became MIA, or came home with wounds seen or unseen to the rest of us, July 4th should be a day of remembrance as celebration because, without their service, we would probably not enjoy the freedom we have.

After all, that is what Jesus Christ did for us: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.14You are My friends if you do what I command you.…John 15:12-14

Christ paid the ultimate price for you and me in that he went to the cross to pay for the sins of the world that whoever believes in him shall have everlasting life. John 3:16.

And that my friends is what life is all about for us. But is it for you? If not, it should be.

 Think about it today as you have fun in the celebrations that many have afforded for us, please just remember them. And reflect on the goodness of Jesus Christ and his love for us. Happy 4th of July!

Peace and blessings be with your today and everyday!

Bema-The Judgement Seat of Christ (Part 13)

Bema-The Judgement Seat of Christ (part 12)

Continuing on in this study, please feel free to read more on this subject at its original source. The Doctrine of Rewards: The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ | Bible.org

THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE BEMA

There are a number of passages that refer to the negative aspects of the Bema which need to be mentioned and explained. In these passages, we read such things as “give an account of himself,” “suffer loss,” “shrink away from Him in shame,” and “recompense for his deeds … whether good or bad.”

Will believers experience shame, grief, remorse at the Bema? If so, how do we reconcile this with passages like Revelation 7:17, “God shall wipe away every tear from their eye,” and Revelation 21:4, “and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away,” or with Isaiah 65:17, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind”?

The negative effects involve the following:

(1) The loss suffered in 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the loss of rewards, not salvation as the verse goes on to make clear. Please note that the clause “he shall suffer loss” would be better rendered “it (the reward) shall be forfeited.”

(2) The disqualification mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:27 means disqualified from rewards, not loss of salvation. This is clear from the context and the analogy to the Greek athletic games

(3) The “recompense” (NASB) or the “receive back” (KJV) of 2 Corinthians 5:10 refers to the dispensing of rewards or their loss. The verb used is komizo and means “to carry off safe,” “to carry off as booty.” In the middle voice as here, it meant “to bear for oneself,”10 or “to receive back what is one’s own.”11Compare Matthew 25:27 and Ephesians 6:8.

(4) That dispensing of rewards is in view is also evident from the Greek words in 2 Corinthians 5:10 translated “good” (agathos—valuable like good fruit) and “bad” (phaulos—unacceptable like rotten or spoiled fruit). The idea is not good in the sense of righteousness versus bad in the sense of evil or sinfulness. For those ideas, Paul would have most likely used Kalos, “good,” and Kakos, “evil.” For good works, those valuable like good fruit, we will receive back rewards, but for bad works, those rotten and worthless, we will receive no rewards or the loss of rewards.

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    (The negative effects of Bema to be continued on 7/3)

Thanks for visiting today friends. I hope you will be back tomorrow to join me for more this important study. God bless
America and God bless you and yours!

Bema-The Judgement Seat of Christ (my 11)

To read the full post on this subject, feel free to view it at its original source as follows: The Doctrine of Rewards: The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ | Bible.org

THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE BEMA

(1) To evaluate the quality of every believer’s work whether it is good or bad, i.e., acceptable and thus worthy of rewards, or unacceptable, to be rejected and unworthy of rewards. Actually, an evaluation is going on every day by the Lord (cf. Rev. 2-3).

(2) To destroy and remove unacceptable production portrayed in the symbols of wood, hay, and stubble. All sinful deeds, thoughts, and motives, as well as all good deeds done in the energy of the flesh, will be consumed like wood, hay, and stubble before a fire because they are unworthy of reward. Why? This will be answered as we consider the basis on which rewards are given or lost.

(3) To reward the believer for all the good he or she has done as portrayed by the symbols of gold, silver, and precious stones, that which is valuable and can stand the test of fire without being consumed.

Scriptures:

1 Cor. 3:13-15 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire

“Evident” is phaneros which means “known, plain, visible, revealed as to it nature.” “The day” refers to a day well known and refers to the day of the Bema after the rapture of the church. “Declare it” is deloo which means “to make evident, clear.” “Be revealed” is apokalupto and means “to unveil.” “Test” is dokimazo and means “to test for the sake of approval.” “The quality” is hopoios, a correlative and qualitative pronoun meaning “of what sort or kind.”

1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts, and then each man’s praise will come to him from God

“Bring to light” is photizo, “to bring to light, make visible.” “Disclose” is phaneroo, “to manifest, reveal.” The issue should be extremely clear from these two verses: The Lord will evaluate the quality and nature of every person’s work. Compare also:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done

                          Series continues 7:2 PLease stop by.

God bless you over this holiday weekend folks, please drive safely!