Beam Seat – Ministry of Grace Church

Romans 14:10 – Rewards For Works

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Truth to Learn

Christ will judge all the works of all Christians.

Behind the Words

The word translated “judgment seat” is the Greek word bematos, which means “an elevated step often with a seat upon it where a judgment or tribunal is held.” In the 1st century A.D. a bematos was where the victor in a race or other contest was awarded a crown (wreath) by the judge who sat on the bema seat. A bematos was always used as a place to hand out awards.

Meaning Explained

If we compare this verse to verse three we will see that Paul is talking to both the Jewish converts and the Gentile converts in the church at Rome. Back in verse three Paul told the Jewish believers not to “judge” the Gentile believers, and he told the Gentile believers not to “despise” the Jewish believers. The words in this verse translated “judge” and “show contempt” are these same two words. The reason we should not judge or show contempt to other believers is that Christians are all going to appear before the judgment (bema) seat of Christ. At this bema seat Christ will judge the works of all believers, Jew or Gentile. Those who are judged will be given rewards, in the form of crowns, for the works they have done while on this earth.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Corinthians 5:10)

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1Corinthians 3:12-15)

It is the works of believers that are judged at the bema seat. We shall receive rewards for the works which have been done for Him. The works which we have done for ourselves will be burned up. According to 1Corinthians 3:13, the fire will “try” our works. This word is the Greek word dokimadzo, which means “testing or proving a thing to find its worth or goodness.” Hence, the judgment of the bema seat is for the purpose of finding good so that rewards can be given, not for the purpose of finding bad to be punished. Also notice that as the fire “tries” our works, those which are worthless will be burned up. There is no penalty or punishment, simply a loss of what was done because it is worthless in God’s eyes.

Application

We should not be judging the things that our brothers and sisters in Christ are doing. Instead, we should be focusing on doing works of righteousness that will bring glory to God, which He will judge and for which He will reward us.

Are you performing works that are worthy of reward from your Lord? Or are you too busy being critical of your brother or sister in Christ? We are not the judge, He is!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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1 Peter 4:18

Now “if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Truth to Learn

All unbelievers will face a horrific judgment.

Behind the Words

The word translated “scarcely” is the Greek word molis. This is an adverb (it modifies the verb “is saved”) which means “with difficulty.” It carries with it the notion that it almost didn’t happen because of the difficulty.

The word translated “ungodly’” is the Greek word asebēs, which literally means “irreverent” and by extension means “ungodly.”

Meaning Explained

On the surface it may appear that today’s verse is simply a restatement of yesterday’s verse. On closer inspection, however, we can see that what Peter is talking about in today’s verse is slightly, but significantly, different. In the previous verse he referred to God’s day by day work in believers that accomplishes spiritual growth. In theological terms this is known as “progressive sanctification.” It refers to our progress in becoming more holy and more like Christ. In the current verse he calls us righteous, a reference to our legal standing in God’s book that is our “positional sanctification.” From God’s perspective, we are already sanctified (holy and set-apart) and righteous because Christ paid for our sins at the cross.

Today’s verse contains a conditional clause. As we have noted in previous verses, there are at least three (some say four) different conditional class forms in New Testament Greek. This one is the first class condition, which assumes that the protasis (the “if” clause) is true, and can be approximated by substituting “since” in place of “if.”

So, we could paraphrase this verse as: “And since the righteous one is barely saved because of the difficulty of it, where shall the one who is a sinner and is an ungodly disbeliever appear.”

Peter is talking about judgment here, so it is important to note that according to 2 Corinthians 5:10 believers will appear before the Bema (judgment) Seat of Christ where we will receive crowns as rewards for the works we have done for God. We will not appear at the Great White Throne judgment that is talked about in Revelation 20:11-15. This is where unbelievers will appear, and they will all be cast into the lake of fire.

So to answer Peter’s rhetorical question in today’s verse, “where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” the answer is “The Great White Throne Judgment.”

So, let’s all bear our suffering patiently and glorify God for it, remembering what Peter said in chapter two about Christ, our example,

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (1Peter 2:23).

Application

Peter’s message in these last few verses is clear. We may very well suffer as Christians. If we do, we should glorify God for it because we are being judged daily in order to make us more Christ-like. The unbelievers, the ungodly, may not be getting judged on this earth like we are, but they will face a far more fearsome and horrific judgment after this life is over, when it is too late for them to make excuses.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Tag: Beam Seat

Romans 14:10 – Rewards For Works

Romans 14:10 – Rewards For Works

Truth to Learn

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

1 Peter 4:18 – Final Judgment