Bema Judgment from Willmington Guide to the Bible
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Transcript of Bema Judgment from Willmington Guide to the Bible
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