The Purpose of Bema Judgment

Willmington’s Guide to the Bible

1. Negative Considerations

a. The purpose of bema judgment is not to determine

whether a particular individual

enters heaven or not,

for every man’s eternal destiny is already determined before

he leaves life.

1. Negative Considerations

b. The purpose of bema judgment is not

punish believers for sins committed

either before or after their salvation.

The Scriptures are very clear that for every man’s child of God for every man’s d will have to for every man’s

answer for his sins after this life

“Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from

the pit of corruption: for

thou hath cast all my sins behind

my back.” Isaiah 38:17

“ I have blotted out… thy

transgressions and … thy sins” (Isaiah 44:22)

“ …the blood of Jesus Christ his

Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

2. Positive considerations.

What then is the purpose of bema judgment? In 1

Corinthians 4:2 Paul says that all

Christians should conduct themselves as faithful stewards

of God

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a

man be found faithful.”

The Apostle Peter later writes in similar way:

“Minister… as good stewards of

the manifold grace of God”

In the New Testament world,

a steward was the manager of a large

household or estate. He was appointed by the owner and was

entrusted to keep the estate running

smoothly.

He had the power to hire and fire and

to spend and save, being

answerable to the owner alone.

His only concern was that periodic

meeting with his master, at which

time he was required to account for

condition of the estate up to that

point.

With this background in mind, it may be said

that someday at the bema judgment all stewards will stand

before their Lord and Master

and be required to give an account of the

way they have used their privileges and responsibilities from the moment of their

conversion.

In conclusion, it can be seen that:

a. In the past, God dealt with us as sinners (Romans 5:6-8) 1

Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 2:1-3)

In conclusion, it can be seen that:

b. In the present, God deals with us as sons

(Romans 8:14; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1

john 3:1, 2

In conclusion, it can be seen that:

c. In the future, God will deal with us at bema

as stewards.

D. The materials to be tested at the bema

judgment. In 1 Corinthians 3:11 the Apostle Paul explains the glorious fact that

at the moment of salvation

A repenting sinner is firmly placed on the

foundation of the death, burial and

resurrection of Christ himself.

His continuing instruction after his salvation is to rise up and build upon

this foundation. Paul says,

“ But let every man take heed how he

buildeth thereupon… 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 Corintihians 3:10b, 12,

13

Negative Considerations.

It should be notedimmediately that this

passage does not teach false doctrine

as purgatory,

for it is the believer’s works not the believer

himself that will be subjected

to the fires.

Positive Considerations.

From these verses it is apparent that God

classifies that works of believers into

one of the following six areas:

gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,

stubble; Thou indestructible and worthy objects which will survive and thrives in the

fires.

These are gold, silver and precious

stones.Those destructible and

worthless objects will be to totally consumed in the

fires. These are the wood, hay and

stubble.

Though it is difficult to know just what goes to make up a “golden work” or a “stubble work”, we are nevertheless informed of certain general areas in which God is interested.

1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER BELIEVERS.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and

labour of love, which have showed toward his name, in that ye have

ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Hebrews 6:10

1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER BELIEVERS.

“He that recieveth a prophet in the name of a prophet

shall receive a a prophet’s reward; and he that recieveth a righteous

man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER BELIEVERS.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold

water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say

unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:41-42

2. HOW WE EXERCISE OUR AUTHORITY OVER

OTHERS.“Obey them that have rule

over you, and submit yourselves:

for they watch over your souls,

as they must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief.” Hebrews

13:17

2. HOW WE EXERCISE OUR AUTHORITY OVER

OTHERS.“Let not many of you become teachers, my

brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.”

Jas 3:1

3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee…” 2

Timothy 1:6

3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.

“Now there are varieties of gifts , but the same

Spirit… But one and the same Spirit works all things, distributing to

each one individually just as He wills.”

1 Corinthians 12:4,11

3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as

good stewards of the manifold of grace of

God.”1 Peter 4:10

3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.

To these verses can be added the overall teaching of Jesus’

parables of the ten pounds

(Luke 19:11-26) and the eight talents (Matthew

25:14-29)

4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY“Charge them that are rich

in this world that they be not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth

us richly all things to enjoy;

4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEYthat they do good. That they

be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing

to communicate; laying up in store for themselves

a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on

eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEYBut this I say, He which

soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and

he which soweth bountifully shall reap also

bountifully.

4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEYEvery man according as he

purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly , or of

necessity:for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

(2Corinthians 9:6-7)

4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY“Upon the first day of the

week let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered

him…” (1 Corinthians 16:2)

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and

persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil

against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great

is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew

5:11,12)

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try

you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice,

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s

sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed,

ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter

4:12,13)

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that has left house, or brethren, or

sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or

children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s,

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, brethren,

and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in

the world to come in eternal life.” Mark

10:29,30

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

“For our light affliction, which is but for a

moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”2 Corinthians 4:17

5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER FOR JESUS

“For I reckon that the suffering of this present

time are not worthy to be compared with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME“…redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME“And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons judgeth

according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in

fear.” (1 Peter 1:17)

6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME“So teach us to number our

days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

(Psalm 90:12)

7. HOW WE RUN THAT PARTICULAR RACE WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR

US“Know ye not that they

which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the

price? So run, that ye may obtain”

(1 Corinthians 9:24)

7. HOW WE RUN THAT PARTICULAR RACE WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR

US“Brethren, I count not myself

to have apprehended; but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind, and

7. HOW WE RUN THAT PARTICULAR RACE WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR

USreaching forth unto those

things which are before, I press toward the mark for

the prize of the high calling of God in Christ

Jesus.” Phil3:13,14

7. HOW WE RUN THAT PARTICULAR RACE WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR

USLet us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience the race that

has been set before us.” Hebrew 12:1

8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE CONTROL THE OLD

NATURE“And every that striveth for

the mastery is separate in all things now they do it to obtain a corruptible

crown but we an incorruptible

8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE CONTROL THE OLD

NATUREI therefore so run, not as

uncertaintly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air but I keep under

my body and bring it into subjection, let that by any

8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE CONTROL THE OLD

NATUREmeans that when I have

preached to others I myself would be a cast away – (1 Corinthians

9:25-27)

9. HOW MANY SOULS WE WITNESS TO AND WIN TO

CHRISTFor what is our hope, or joy,

or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the

presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His

coming? For ye are our glory and joy – 1 Thess.

2:19-20

9. HOW MANY SOULS WE WITNESS TO AND WIN TO

CHRIST“And they that be wise shall

shine as the brightness of the firmament and they

that turn many to righteousness as the

stars forever.” Daniel 12:3

10. HOW WE REACT TO TEMPTATION

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse

temptations, knowing this, that the trying of

your faith worketh patience.” James 1:2,3

10. HOW WE REACT TO TEMPTATION

“Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye maybe tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death and I will give

thee a crown of life.” Rev 2:10

11. HOW MUCH THE DOCTRINE OF THE

RAPTURE MEANS TO US“Henceforth, there is laid up for

me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that

day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love

his appearing.”

– 2 Timothy 4:8-12

12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE TO THE WORD OF GOD

AND THE FLOCK OF GOD“Feed the flock of God which

is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of

a ready mind; .” –2 Timothy 4:8-12

12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE TO THE WORD OF GOD

AND THE FLOCK OF GODneither as being lords over

God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock and

when Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall

receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. – 1

Peter 5:2-4

12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE TO THE WORD OF GOD

AND THE FLOCK OF GODI charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall

judge the quick and the dead at His appearing

and His kingdom, Preach the word…”

2 Timothy 4:1-2