The Bema
The Bema
INTRODUCTION Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement." .
1 Corinthians 5:10, .. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." As there is more than one resurrection, there is more than one judgment.
Because Adam sinned, all die. Because Christ rose, all must rise to be judged.
God has appointed His Son Jesus Christ to be the Judge of all the earth. The Bible speaks of at least seven different judgments:
The Saviour on the cross being judged for our sins.
The believers’ self-judgment. 1 Corinthians 11:31, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." . . .
At Communion and daily the saint judges himself.
The judgment of the believers at the Bema-the subject of this lesson.
The judgment of the nations; Matthew 25:32. (division of the sheep and the goats.)
The judgment of Israel, Ezekiel 20:30-44, post-tribulation.
The judgment of angels, Jude 1:6. They are reserved in darkness, waiting.
The judgment of the wicked dead, Revelation 20:12 -the great White Throne Judgment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEMA-THE JUDGMENT SEAT In 2 Corinthians 5:10 it is called the" judgment seat of Christ. "
It is generally conceded that this judgment will take place in the air. This fact is probably drawn from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, which speaks of the Second Coming, the first resurrection and then says, "... to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
TIME OF THE BEMA-THE JUDGMENT SEAT
At the first resurrection. Luke 14:14, "... for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. "
At the Second Coming of Christ. Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works."
WHO WILL BE JUDGED AT THE BEMA?
Only believers will be judged at this judgment. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-21, the pronoun "we" is used 26 times and in each instance it refers only to believers.
WHAT IS BEING JUDGED AT THE BEMA?
The judgment is not a trial to decide the fate either of the saved or unsaved. The Bible is very plain, John 3:16-18, that salvation is not the issue. The issue is settled in life. The believer is being judged for his works. The returning Lord examines the servants in the use of the one, two or five talents that He has entrusted to them.
Sins committed before conversion will not be judged. Hebrews 10:17, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." To judge them, God would need to remember them, to dig them up from the lowest sea, etc. The next chapter (Hebrews 11:1-40) sees the saints as perfect, for all their sins and imperfections were hidden beneath the blood of Christ. The believer’s sins committed and confessed after conversion will not be judged at the Bema.
John 1:9, confessed sin is forgiven and cleansed forever.
Our works will be judged. 1 Corinthians 3:13, "Every man’s work shall be made manifest. . . and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.?
Ecclesiastes 12:14, "For God shall bring every work into judgment."
Our words. Matthew 12:36-37, "... That every idle word that men speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Our thoughts. Matthew 15:19-20, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts. . .these are the things which defile a man . . ." See Matthew 5:28, "... looketh. . . lust. . ."
Our secrets. Romans 2:16, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel."
Our motives:
Correct-Constrained by His love, 2 Corinthians 5:14.
Wrong-Self glory, 1 Corinthians 3:21, "Therefore let no man glory in men. "
HOW WILL GOD JUDGE AT THE BEMA?
The test will be by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13, "... 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." This will be a fair impartial public display of justice. No one will be able to say that God showed favoritism.
Galatians 6:7-8, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE BEMA?
For the works that remain, there will be rewards. For that which is burned, the individual will suffer loss. 1 Corinthians 3:15, "If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." The Bible does not tell what that loss will be.
If the reward is a crown, the loss of a reward or loss of a crown will bring shame, for we will not have a crown to lay at the feet of Jesus Christ.
Building materials are of two classes:
Fireproof-gold, silver and precious stones.
Combustible-wood, hay and stubble.
What works are represented by fireproof materials?
Righteousness, a clean pure life in the sight of the Lord.
Honesty, not only before men but before God.
A life of faith, faith in God, Christ, the Bible, etc.
Love, true love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 love, love to God and love to man.
Patience. 2 Peter 1:6, a highly desirable and praiseworthy virtue.
Meekness and humility. Matthew 11:28-29, being moulded and fashioned like our Saviour.
Peaceful. Matthew 5:9; 2 Timothy 2:22, "... follow. . . peace. . ."
What works are represented by combustible material?
All forms of sin and wickedness.
Cheating, graft and bribery so common on earth, so hateful to the Lord.
All forms of dishonesty will be quickly burned.
Influence benefits will crumble in the flames.
Yielding to youthful lusts, 1 Timothy 6:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:22; Joseph in Genesis 39:12.
Good things done with wrong motives.
Pride is perhaps the most reprehensible sin in the sight of the Lord.
HOW CAN I BE PREPARED TO MEET THE BEMA?
By constant communion with my Saviour Jesus Christ. By much self-examination. By constant confession of my sins (Don’t confess the same sin twice. God forgives after the first honest confession.) By much prayer and meditation on the Word of God. By constant attention to the will of the Holy Spirit. By having a conscience void of offence before God and men, Acts 24:16.
CONCLUSION To the Christian the Bema should hold no terrors, for it ought to be the best day he has ever had. It will be his crowning day.
1 Corinthians 4:5, "... and then shall every man have praise of God." Much of our works may be burned, but God will find at least one thing to praise.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
List the 7 different judgments mentioned in the Scriptures.
What is the Bema?
When will the Bema take place?
Who will be judged at the Bema?
What five things will be judged at the Bema?
How will God judge at the Bema?
What is the relationship between Luke 12:47 and 1 Corinthians 3:15?
What seven works are represented by the fireproof materials?
What seven works are represented by the combustible materials?
How can we be prepared to meet the Bema?