I listened to a respected Bible/prophecy teacher tell the audience how Christians will be judged at the Bema seat for careless words. How he arrived at that conclusion mystifies me–all of our sins/careless words/hurtful behavior were judged at the cross. I understand that Jesus will judge our “Good Works;” not our behavior. I shook my head. He is absolutely wrong.How can a man well versed in the Bible come up with this?? Have I missed something?
People who like to lay guilt trips on others often use Matt. 12:36 because it says we’ll be held accountable for every careless word we’ve spoken on the day of judgment, and who has not spoken a careless word?
But they omit Matt. 12:37 which says, “For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” In other words, those who have spoken the words that led to their salvation will not be held accountable for their careless words.
Also Jesus could not have been talking about the bema seat because no one will be condemned there. Everyone present will already have been redeemed (1 Cor. 3:15).