Keeping the Bema Seat in View
E.A. Johnston passionately urges believers to keep the Bema Seat judgment in view, living selflessly for Christ and investing in eternal rewards rather than earthly pursuits.
In this heartfelt devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston shares from his personal trials and spiritual insights to challenge believers to keep the Bema Seat judgment ever before them. He exposes the reality of spiritual warfare, the faithfulness of Jesus, and the dangers of false security within the church. Johnston calls Christians to live selflessly for Christ, investing in eternal rewards rather than fleeting worldly things. This sermon is a compelling reminder of the eternal consequences of our daily choices.
Full Transcript
I've been to hell and back, so to speak, time after time in my tortured life. It's a marvel of God's grace that I'm even still in this world, friends. There are things I've learned as a Christian, and some truths that stand out in my experience, which I'll share with you today.
Number one, Satan is a powerful adversary who hates the name of Jesus. He hates all true followers of Jesus, and he gets absolutely livid against a God-called preacher who damages his kingdom. And he's a coward who will attack you when you are at your lowest point.
There, while you are vulnerable, he will unload his arsenal of hell upon you. Number two, Jesus of Nazareth is a true and faithful friend who will never fail or disappoint, as other men will. One thing I've learned about my beloved Savior is that Jesus is not only worthy, he's worth it.
He's worth losing all for, so he may be gained. Number three, the majority of church people are unsaved individuals who sit upon a rotten foundation of an empty religious profession, and they hold a wrong view of God. They don't believe in a God who will and must punish sin, and therefore they feel this God of theirs will never punish them in hell, because they feel they are too good to go to hell.
So hell fills by the hour with baptized hypocrites who will spend eternity in the most unspeakable miseries. Number four, most Christians live lives consumed with the things of this world, and fail to live lives that are consumed with eternity. They miss God's best for them, because they are unwilling to go out on a limb for God, and risk everything for Christ and the sake of the gospel.
By playing it safe, they preserve their lives, but miss out on a deeper walk with God, and deny themselves any deep usefulness to God. Number five, men fail to keep the Bema Seat in view. Life is short, eternity is forever, and all that matters are the souls of men, when we take our eyes off of heaven and hell, then we gaze stupidly at this perishing world, which is merely an empty bubble, and we squander opportunities to pull men from the fire.
Was Christ's blood spent just for our own selfish benefit, or was it a springboard to live selfless lives on the out-and-out for Christ to reach the lost and perishing? We read about the Bema Seat in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 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 thereupon, 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 is by fire. When we stand before Christ Jesus on that day, and all our life's work is brought before him for testing and review, will we stand there as gold, silver, and precious stones, reflecting his great glory, or will we stand knee-deep in the ashes of wasted life, and then lean over to scoop up those ashes, to press them into his nail-pierced hands? O great God, let me spend the rest of my days with your Bema Seat in view.
And on that day, when you review the moments of my life, my thoughts, my deeds, every word I spoke since knowing you, and all is placed into the fire for testing and review, will what remains be gold and silver, or ashes heaped with hay? The day will declare to what degree I live my life for you.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
- Satan is a powerful adversary who attacks believers at their weakest moments
- He hates Jesus and those who follow Him faithfully
- Believers must be vigilant against his schemes
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II. The Faithfulness of Jesus
- Jesus is a true and faithful friend who never disappoints
- He is worthy of total surrender and sacrifice
- Believers can trust Him fully
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III. The Danger of False Security in the Church
- Many churchgoers are unsaved and rest on a false foundation
- They underestimate God's judgment and the reality of hell
- True salvation requires a genuine relationship with Christ
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IV. Keeping the Bema Seat in View
- Life is short but eternity is forever
- Believers will give account for their works before Christ
- We must live selflessly for Christ to receive eternal rewards
Key Quotes
“Satan is a powerful adversary who hates the name of Jesus.” — E.A. Johnston
“Jesus is not only worthy, he's worth it. He's worth losing all for, so he may be gained.” — E.A. Johnston
“When we stand before Christ Jesus on that day, will we stand there as gold, silver, and precious stones, or knee-deep in the ashes of wasted life?” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Live each day with the awareness that your works will be tested at the Bema Seat judgment.
- Resist spiritual attacks by trusting fully in Jesus, your faithful friend.
- Avoid complacency by pursuing a genuine, selfless walk with Christ rather than empty religious rituals.