Bema is a Greek term meaning "judgment seat," a seat usually resting on an elevated platform. This will be a time of judgment for what we did/ did not do during our life.
Those appearing before the Bema Seat judgment have been justified by the shed blood of Jesus. What is at issue is the degree of our sanctification; did we hold fast/ endure to the end. This will determine what rewards and inheritances we received.
Applicable verses include:
Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Romans 14:10, “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.”
2 Corinthians 5:9, “9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-13, “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.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15, “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 as by fire.”
Add to these is this this rather dark verse:
Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Is this the fate of one who is justified but one who did nothing with it? Is this outer darkness for those who barely made it into heaven, but are not in proximity of Jesus?
My hope is to be alive at the time of the Rapture of the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (G726) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Whether after the rapture or my natural passing from this world I will stand before Jesus on the Bema seat. Of course I’m hoping that will be determined that I built upon a foundation of gold, silver and precious stones. I certainly hope that I will not be cast into the outer darkness as in Matthew 25:30.
Daily I seek to do God’s will not only to earn rewards and inheritance but also so that I will not be a disappointment to Him. I try to be guided by the expression,” What would Jesus do.” That said, I too often fail. However, I do attempt to do my best so that I will be pleasing to Jesus at all times.
G726 - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
Those appearing before the Bema Seat judgment have been justified by the shed blood of Jesus. What is at issue is the degree of our sanctification; did we hold fast/ endure to the end. This will determine what rewards and inheritances we received.
Applicable verses include:
Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Romans 14:10, “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.”
2 Corinthians 5:9, “9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-13, “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.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15, “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 as by fire.”
Add to these is this this rather dark verse:
Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Is this the fate of one who is justified but one who did nothing with it? Is this outer darkness for those who barely made it into heaven, but are not in proximity of Jesus?
My hope is to be alive at the time of the Rapture of the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (G726) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Whether after the rapture or my natural passing from this world I will stand before Jesus on the Bema seat. Of course I’m hoping that will be determined that I built upon a foundation of gold, silver and precious stones. I certainly hope that I will not be cast into the outer darkness as in Matthew 25:30.
Daily I seek to do God’s will not only to earn rewards and inheritance but also so that I will not be a disappointment to Him. I try to be guided by the expression,” What would Jesus do.” That said, I too often fail. However, I do attempt to do my best so that I will be pleasing to Jesus at all times.
G726 - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
Added Later:
Don't read this reply if you haven't seen the movie "God isn't Dead" as it will possibly ruin the ending for you.
In the final minutes of the movie and in the final minutes of of the professor's life he finally came to faith in God. I couldn't help but think of his standing before Jesus on the Bema Seat Judgment. I would expect that Jesus would refer the professor to the hundreds if not thousands of college students that he bullied into making an affirmation that "God is dead." In the final analysis, we are all responsible for our decision to accept or reject the gift of grace, however, role models such as college professors do play a role in this and they certainly bare responsibility. Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In the final minutes of the movie and in the final minutes of of the professor's life he finally came to faith in God. I couldn't help but think of his standing before Jesus on the Bema Seat Judgment. I would expect that Jesus would refer the professor to the hundreds if not thousands of college students that he bullied into making an affirmation that "God is dead." In the final analysis, we are all responsible for our decision to accept or reject the gift of grace, however, role models such as college professors do play a role in this and they certainly bare responsibility. Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
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