The Judgment Seat of Christ

All judgment is to be executed by the Lord Jesus Christ. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John v:22). Up to the present time no judgment work has been done by Him. Nor have His people received their crowns and rewards for service and faithfulness. The meeting of the Saints in the presence of the Lord will be immediately followed by the judgment seat of Christ. “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. xiv:10). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. v:10). No unsaved person appears before this judgment for they were not raised from the dead, nor changed in the twinkling of an eye. This judgment concerns only believers. This judgment, however, does not decide their eternal salvation. That was settled when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. The words of our Lord in John v:24 make this clear. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ” (Rom. viii:1). The works and the service of His people will be dealt with by the Lord in this first judgment act in His future work. Of this we read in 1 Cor. iv:5 — “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the hidden counsels of the hearts; and then shall have every man praise of God.”

Everything will be made manifest before that judgment seat. The unconfessed sins in the believer’s life will be brought to light and all hidden things will be uncovered. Then the works of the believer will be made manifest. “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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. iii:13-15). It will be the time when God’s people will receive their rewards and crowns. Then the Apostles, the faithful martyrs, the self-sacrificing missionaries and servants of God will receive praise and reward for their labors. The judgment seat is the reward seat of Christ. In view of this the Apostle wrote to the faithful Thessalonians: “For 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. ii:19-20). And the Apostle John exhorts: “And now little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we (the apostles and teachers) may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His Coming” (1 John ii:28). All believers in Christ are saved and have eternal life; but not all receive a reward. Their works will be consumed by the fire of that judgment, for they were nothing but wood, hay and stubble. They will go rewardless, while the faithful saints, who toiled and served, who spent and were spent, following closely in His steps, will receive rewards. What these will be no Saint does know at this time.

When all is accomplished in connection with this judgment seat of Christ, He will lead His Saints into the Father’s house, that they may behold His glory (John xvii:24). He will present the church to Himself, “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. v:27). He presents His church “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).