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!