What’s The Bema Seat Judgment?

Q

Since all Raptured Christians shall appear before the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of things done during their lifetimes here, good or bad, I was wondering if you would expound more fully on a Scriptural passage found in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verse 15 (KJV).

A

The king sat in the Bema Seat at the stadium in Corinth to present the winning athletes their crowns, judging them victorious. So it is with the judgment of raptured Christians. It’s more like an awards ceremony.

Since we aren’t saved by our works, but by our faith, this judgment is not related to salvation, but to the things we’ve done since becoming saved that have furthered the work of the Kingdom during our lives. The “race we’ve run” so to speak. Those things done solely out of gratitude for the free gift of salvation we’ve received with no thought for personal gain will earn us various crowns. Those things we’ve done for earthly credit or recognition or in an attempt to earn points with God will be disqualified.

In effect 1 Cor. 3:15 states that even if all our earthly work for the Lord is disqualified for improper motives, we’ll still be saved and welcomed into the Kingdom.