Christ's Bema

"...[B]ecause anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"  (Heb. 11:6, NIV).
"... 'Fear not, Abram,  I am your shield, your reward shall be very great'"  (Gen. 15:1, NIV).
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you"  (Matt. 5:12, NIV).
BY WAY OF INTRO, SOME LAWYERS DON'T CARE SO MUCH WHAT THE LAW IS AS TO WHO THE JUDGE IS!  WE CAN REST IN PEACE THAT THE RIGHTEOUS FATHER HAS GIVEN ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON WHO SAVED US.

The Judgment Seat of Christ, known as His bema or tribunal, is where all believers get their appraisal (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:8,10) and evaluation of their life's work done in the Lord, as to whether it deserves reward.  Some will be saved, as if by fire (cf. 1 Cor. 3:14-15) and some will have a full reward.  But what are we to expect at the bema?  God isn't going to inquire as to what political party we aligned ourselves with or affiliated with, as to whether we are saved by virtue of it--for God is nonpartisan and doesn't give us brownie points for this!  He will not inquire about our denominational affiliation or positions on the issues and doctrines.  God isn't going to ask us about our highs and ecstasies in our walk, for God is more concerned with faith than feeling.

Oswald Chambers said that the "measure of a person's spiritual life is not their ecstasies, but their obedience!"  Again I quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, rephrased Martin Luther:  "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes!"  They go hand in hand and must not be divorced--they can be distinguished, but not separated!   We must be obedient to the faith (cf. Rom. 1:50.   This means a penitent and willing spirit, submissive to His will as our yoke. We are not under the Law, (cf. Rom. 6:14) but under a higher standard, albeit easier, the law of love, which can never be satisfied! 

We must not expect God to give us kudos for our strong faith or our assurance--how strong our faith was--for the faith as of a mustard seed is adequate.  Faith, like our righteousness, is the gift of God for which we are held to account.  Our assurance of salvation and strong faith is a gift and for our benefit, not God's.  We're measured by our good works, not our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6)!  Our righteousness is God's gift to us, not our blessing or gift to God!   All our works must be tried as if by fire, to see if they are worthy--some will only be wood, hay, and stubble, while others as pure as silver and gold that is refined and found to reflect God's image--we are meant to be God's ambassadors in the world (cf. 2 Cor 5:20) and for God to see Himself in us (cf. Col. 1:27).

At Christ's bema we will be held accountable for all the resources, blessings, character, personality, gifts, talents, relationships, time, opportunities God has granted us by grace.  Everything we have is only on loan from God as we are merely stewards of His manifold blessings and provision.    Nothing we have belongs to us, for it's all His and we must make an investment in the Lord to find a return on that investment!   God's dividends are well worth it--for it is well worth the time and effort to serve the Lord, for He is a bountiful giver of rewards as our Provider (Jehovah-Jireh) to those who serve Him, and God is no man's debtor!

Paul wasn't against good works, just those done in the flesh (by the energy of the natural man, not the Holy Spirit).  Only those works foreordained by God per Ephesians 2:10 and we are led to do while filled with the Spirit and enabled to do:  "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD God"  (cf. Zech. 4:6).  If we walk after the flesh, it doesn't matter how many good deeds we do--they are not worthy (cf. Isa. 64:6). This is why the faith we have is the faith we show, and works validate faith and are evidence, not the substitute for it; also, faith without works is dead faith and cannot save (cf. James 2:17)!

We increase in the knowledge of God as we do works in the Spirit as God ordained (cf. Col. 1:10).  This is precisely why Christ said that even a cup of cold water given in His name will not remain unrewarded or lose its reward!  Many will put their confidence in their works, not in the Lord, and expect a free pass by virtue of them; however, all in all, what we should expect to hear are the words:  "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"  The Lord is our portion and our reward  (cf. Gen. 15:1)  and compensation is in heaven--don't get into a comfort zone in this life and feel too much at home.

In sum, we must be looking unto the heavenly city (cf. Phil. 3:20), to a heavenly reward not realized, and not realize our reward in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14)--we're only passing through as sojourners (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11) and pilgrims, as mere stewards of God's manifold bounties!   Soli Deo Gloria!

But I Have Called You Friends

"Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God" (1 Peter 2:16, NASB).  

NOTE:  WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVANTS AND FRIENDS, WITH AN EASY YOKE AND LIGHT BURDEN, BUT THE MORE ENSLAVED WE ARE TO CHRIST, THE FREER WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT.  

Abraham was called the friend of God, according to Scripture (cf. James 2:23), and Jesus said in the Upper Room that He did not call the disciples servants anymore, but friends (cf. John 15:15).  We are a very privileged group.  However, we are not called to be sidekicks or buddies of the Lord in the same vein as our fellow equals and peers in this world.  As believers, in reality, we are still servants of the Lord and at the Bema of Christ He will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  However, what fulfillment to finally enter into the joy of the Lord.  We are merely the stewards of God's blessings:  time, resources, money, gifts, talents, opportunities, relationships, skills, and any other blessings He bestows.  But Jesus invites us to be His friends and if we do what He commands: loving the brethren, (the yoke and cross of following His will for our lives), then we will receive a full reward (per 2 John 8) and not lose out on His divine favor.  God is partial to no one and doesn't play favorites (cf. Acts 10:34, Rom. 2:11), and some believers will be saved by the skin of their teeth and lose reward, due to be disqualified (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27), or their works being burned up in the fire that tests their purity (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10ff).

The Koine (biblical or common Greek) word doulos (bondservant) should be "slave."  But it shouldn't have the connotations it does today with cruelty.  Slaves were owned by their master, not just in their service. Christ has bought us (cf. 1 Cor. 6:20).  Jesus made it clear that we are only His friends if we obey Him (cf. John 15:14).  Obedience and faith are correlated and can be distinguished, but not separated.  We show our faith by our obedience; likewise, we obey by walking in faith (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7).  Jesus said no one can be owned by two masters, we must decide whom we will dedicate our life's service to --mammon or Christ.

Slaves are Christ's freemen, while freemen are Christ's slaves:  "He who was called while free, is Christ's slave.  You were bought with a price"  (1 Cor. 7:22-23, NASB). We can be each other's servants, but they don't own us--Christ owns us and deserves the title Kurios or Lord, as we defer in obedience, allegiance, and loyalty.  Becoming a Christian entails giving up the ownership of our lives, being willing to do His will in our calling.

Paul and other disciples referred to themselves commonly as bondservants in their epistles, and those are they who could be set free and decide to stay in slavery or service voluntarily, out of love for their master or the job itself.  The whole beauty of it is that it is a voluntary initiative like Paul not getting married when he had the right to money for preaching;  we don't have to give up our so-called rights or privileges to serve a lowly or humble role.

But in the end, after the rewards are given out at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will be worth the effort and sacrifice to have served the Lord and done only what was required, no matter how much effort we made, it was only what ought to have done and we will not even deserve a reward, but one will be given by grace anyway.  For that is what grace is:  you don't earn it, cannot pay it back, and you didn't deserve it in the first place; on the other hand, mercy is not getting what we do deserve!

When the apostles called themselves bondservants of Christ, they were taking a special calling to serve Him in exchange for the privilege of the greater reward; they didn't have to make themselves bondservants, (by definition, this is voluntary), and they enjoyed the service of the Lord's work in the kingdom of God. Paul, Peter, James, and John the Elder all referred to themselves this way and they knew what they were getting into, and followed the calling despite the downside and pitfalls.  Paul even said that while he was poor the church could be made rich.

In God's economy, greatness is correlated with how many you serve, not how many servants you have, for even Jesus came serving (cf. Mark 10:45), and much more are we called to serve, walking in His steps.  It is indeed a promotion to be called into the ministry, despite the fact that it means a life of service, not glory or riches in this world, because the reward is in the next life to be handed out according to what we have done in the flesh (cf. Rom. 2:6) in service to God by the power of the Spirit, who is our divine enabler! 

The whole concept of service is that Christians live an exchanged life of Christ living through them as His hands to serve, feet to go, voice to preach, and heart to love  (for Jesus has no hands, etc., to change the world other than ours)  for Him in missions and ministry.  As Paul said in Galatians 2:20 that he no longer lives, but Christ lives through him.  Christianity isn't so much about copying or mimicking Christ as having Him live through us and in us as He takes ownership and control of our lives.  

As far as our service goes, we are still servants and stewards who will be rewarded accordingly, but as far as our relationship goes, we are the friends of God too, for God is no respecter of persons and shows no partiality--what He's done for others He can and will do for you!  Don't forget that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren and we are now family with God as our Father, to whom we address prayer in Jesus name.  In fact, anyone who does the will of God is His brother, sister, or even mother (cf. Matt. 12:50)!

In God's economy and in the service of the Lord, the more you humble yourself, and the more sacrifices you make, the more reward in heaven--humility comes before exaltation and promotion--unlike the apostles who wanted to be first in the kingdom, but didn't know what they were getting into, and would have to drink of the same cup as the Lord to prove their worthiness to sit with Him in the kingdom of God.  Case in point:  Take the example of John the Baptist, who said in John 3:30 that Jesus must increase and he must decrease!

Therefore, the way up is down, apparently, because John was the greatest mortal ever born and he lived the life in the wilderness deprived of any luxury and gave his life as his final witness, while he lived such a life of deprivation and asceticism.  Indeed, it is a promotion to become a martyr and die for the Lord, not a disgrace, but an honor to be considered worthy of suffering for Christ's sake in kingdom work.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

If We Grow Up

Note these verses with my emphasis: 

"[U]ntil we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13, ESV).  
"'When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.   When I became a man, I gave up childish ways"  (1 Cor.  13:11, ESV).  
"[So] that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes"  (Eph. 4:14, ESV).
"Mark the perfect [mature] man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace" (Ps. 37:37, ESV).   


We are not only to grow up as people, but as Christians, and, since there is metaphorical language here, I suppose there are similarities too.  We are to grow up, but that's iffy!  A mature person has learned to fend for himself or fight his own battles in the dog-eat-dog world, so to speak, and realizes the responsibility for his time, talents, resources, gifts, choices, money, and opportunities.  He usually has his passions and emotions under restraint and otherwise also has a certain degree of self-control and virtue. Likewise: Believing in Christ is only the first step to walking worthy of our Lord; a mature person is a good example and so a mature Christian is a good witness and has a consistent testimony, even though his actions may sometimes speak louder than his words; a mature Christian has learned to go to Scripture for guidance and has a one-on-one relationship with God (i.e., not second-hand) and is like David, who "strengthened himself in the LORD his God." Note:  We do get encouraged from others (even Paul did!) and benefit from the "assembly together of ourselves," but we learn to walk with Christ and to stay in fellowship with Him, as we keep short accounts of our sins and confess them, and "practice the presence of God" as Brother Lawrence (the 17th-century Carmelite, French monk) penned it.

We are always to strive towards obedience to the Word and apply what we do learn in Scripture to ourselves (cf. Job 5:27) the more we know, the more responsibility we have to apply what we know.  Paul says in Eph. 4:15 that we are "to grow up in all aspects into Him" and this means bearing the image of Christ to the world while we partake of the divine nature (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4).  You could make many analogies between mature people and mature believers, but one thing to note:   Even Paul declared that he had arrived and had "laid hold of it yet" as he said in Phil. 3:12, where he denied being "perfect."  Note:  Perfection is indeed the goal for all of us, but the direction is the test as we are to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect [or mature] (cf. Matt. 5:48).

Now, the ironic thing is that we are striving for perfection but we will never get there!  (The words for perfect and mature are similar or the same.)   "... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God'  (Gen. 6:9, KJV).  There are so-called mature believers who fall into sin just like others because no one is exempt from temptation--even David was out of fellowship about a year after his adulterous affair.  We are mature when we know who we are in the Lord and realize how God uses us and what His will is.  We all have a calling to fulfill in Christ.  Now, I realize that being used by God is no proof of maturity, because God can use a donkey if He chooses, and God does use immature believers as well. However, only believers are vessels of honor.  But the major difference is to "fulfill your calling" and to "complete your ministry" in Christ with FAITHFULNESS.  Note these verses in caution: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and good conscience and a sincere faith"  (1 Tim. 1:5, ESV);  "... The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love"   (Gal. 5:6, NIV);  "... [A]nd if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2, NIV). 

Realize these important criteria:  First, we will be judged according to our faithfulness, not our maturity!  Nowhere do I read, "Well done, thou good and mature servant!"  We are commended for our faith and not our maturity it seems.   What we have to look forward to is Jesus saying to us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant [cf. Matt. 25:21, italics mine]!   Enter thou into the joy of the Lord!"  Nowhere do I hear Jesus commending us for our maturity; it's assumed that, if you are faithful, you probably are also mature enough to do God's will for your life. Secondly, we are rewarded according to our deeds done in the Spirit (cf. Romans 2:6).

An immature believer is usually seen as one who is:   Ignorant of the Word (cf. Matt. 22:29 where Jesus equated knowing the power of God with knowing Scripture); isn't sure of his salvation; doesn't know the basics of fellowship or even basic doctrine prayer, and witnessing; and especially one who stumbles and keeps falling into sin and needs constant repentance or confession (cf. Gal. 6:1; James 5:16) because he is largely "carnal" like the Corinthians were, and hasn't leaned lordship and how to walk in the Spirit--note that it may be easier to delineate immaturity than maturity.   Concerning lordship:  You cannot become a Christian without bowing and acknowledging the lordship of Christ (I'm referring to lordship salvation as opposed to easy-believism), but we get more than we bargained for, and it takes a while before we realize the implications, cost, and ramifications of our decision--easier said than done!

I've met plenty of immature Christians and most of them are not "spiritual" (however, anyone in the Spirit is spiritual in a biblical sense) but carnal in the sense that it's hard to get a spiritual thought out of them--they seem to limit their spiritual times and thoughts to church or irregular encounters with believers who seem to drag it out of them.  When I meet a believer I do not feel content talking about the local sports teams or the weather, or anything that I could find fellowship with from a nonbeliever, but I expect to get some spiritual fellowship. Christians aren't just "nice" and "social" they're spiritual and godly.

Another thing I have noticed:  Baby or infant believers have a real love for the Lord that they tend to lose over time (for some "have left their first love"), and mature believers maintain it and abide in Christ; one measure is that they love the Word and are faithful in it, while the immature believer neglects it and doesn't see it's a  necessity to a faithful walk in the Spirit.  Remember that the goal of our life is faithfulness, and we will be rewarded according to our measure of faithfulness in what God has assigned us and meted out to us in gifts, choices, talents, time, opportunity, and resources.  As Jesus said, "He who is faithful in little, shall be faithful in much" (cf. Matt. 25:21).


A good measure of maturity is fruit, and this means we are fruit inspectors, but of our own fruit!  We are not to go around accusing others of being immature, but to examine ourselves as to how far we still have to go. The mature believer knows what and why he believes--is settled in the faith, not tossed to and fro.  The more mature we become the more likeness to Christ we gain in our character and become more godlike the ultimate goal.   Just like most people eventually grow up, so most Christians do too; it just takes some longer than others, but God is at work in all believers and won't ever give up:  "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13, NASB); For I am confident of the very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6, NASB).  The goal is Christlikeness (cf. Gal. 4:19, ESV), "until Christ is formed in you!"

And so, as we grow up we become more Christlike and mature in Christ, but most of us eventually do grow up.  Being mature as a person doesn't guarantee to be a mature disciple of Christ either.  Some Christian can be more mature than you as a person, but not as a believer!  Maturity isn't the criterion or measure of faith, but obedience is.  "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him"  (Heb. 5:9,, ESV).   The true measure of faith and faithfulness (which can be distinguished but never separated) is, therefore, obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19; John 3:36).  Maturity, in short, is when Christ is revealed in you and you reflect His glory in doing His will (cf. Gal. 1:16).  It was said of David that he did all of God's will and was a man after God's heart, and this is the epitome of obedience, for "after he had served the purpose of God" (cf. Acts 13:36) he was taken to glory!

There's no one-size-fits-all description of maturity no more than a formula to follow for salvation or right way to worship God (except in the Spirit and in truth). Paul expresses the goal of the preacher: in Phil. 1:28, ESV, emphasis added:  "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."  NOTE:  The biblical definition of maturity is found in Hebrews 5:14:  "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good and evil." 

Finally, our reward is according to our deeds done in the Spirit, not how mature we are:  "He will render to each one according to his works"  (Romans 2:6, ESV).  A word to the wise:  "For this is the will of God, your sanctification"  (1 Thess. 4:3, ESV, emphasis mine).    Soli Deo Gloria!

The Bema Of Christ

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life"  (John 5:24, ESV, emphasis added).

Paul said, "For each of us shall give account of himself to God" in Rom. 14:12.   Before that in the context, he says, "For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of God [Christ]."  For the Father has given all judgment to the Son.  Note that there are two judgments:  One for the believer and one for the unbeliever. 1 Cor. 3:13ff describes how a believer's works are judged as to their due reward--they must remain after being tested by fire!  He has appointed a day to judge the world (this is the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in Revelation 20:11). That refers to the lost and the "books" will be opened to judge their works.  By their own words, they will be condemned--they are all hypocrites. Christians have nothing to fear of a judgment day because there is no condemnation for the believer (cf. Rom. 8:1). Our words will justify us and not condemn us!

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned"  (Matt. 12:36-37).
The so-called "day of judgment" is the one appointed by God at the last day and is called the Great White Throne Judgment.  Christians will not be present here but at the Bema.  Note that Christians will be justified by their own words (testimony and witness) and unbelievers will be condemned by their own words and testimony.

Bema is the same as tribunal or judgment seat in Greek and Christ will judge our works and test them by fire whether they are silver and gold, or wood, hay, and stubble which will burn up (NB: There is no double jeopardy).  Our sins have been forgiven past, [present, and future, and we fear no future embarrassment of reprimand, but God is able to present us blameless before His throne with great joy (cf. Jude 24).  Many Christians try to put the fear of God in their brothers by telling them they will be judged, but God has already judged our sins and they are deleted from His memory bank, never to be brought up again.  The judgment we face as believers is to how much reward we are worthy of and how much we glorified Christ with the opportunities, resources, talents, gifts, and time that God conferred on us by grace.     Soli Deo Gloria!