There is a difference between the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:15-20) and the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:10). The Great White Throne Judgment is for unbelievers only and concerns their eternal condemnation based on their deeds. It results in their final separation from God in the lake of fire. No believer will be at the Great White Throne Judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ, on the other hand, is for believers in Jesus Christ and concerns their rewards for faithfulness and service. It does not determine salvation, as all participants are already saved eternally (John 3:16; 10:28; Rom 6:23).
The Judgment Seat of Christ evaluation will take place in heaven and Jesus Himself will be the Judge. Scripture tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10; cf. Rom 14:10). Again, this is not a judgment concerning who gets into heaven. That decision is made in time by those who believe in Christ as their Savior, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and the person who believes in Christ “has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24), and “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).
The evaluation mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10 pertains to our being “recompensed” for how we lived, “whether good or bad.” The production of life for those who live as God intends will be classified as “gold, silver, and precious stones” (1 Cor 3:12a), and the production of those who live sinfully will be classified as “wood, hay, and straw” (1 Cor 3:12). The composition of material will be evaluated by fire, and “the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Cor 3:13). There will be two possible outcomes for Christians at this time. First, “If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor 3:14). That is, God will bless that Christian with rewards to be enjoyed for all eternity. Second, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss of reward” (1 Cor 3:15a). But even though this Christian did not live optimally for God’s glory and edification of others, thus wasting his life on earth, he will still be in heaven because of the work of Christ that was applied to his life, and the eternal outcome is that “he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15b).
Eternal salvation is based solely on the work of Christ and is received by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28; Gal 3:26), in Christ alone (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12). Eternal life is a free gift from God, with no strings attached, offered to all who simply believe in Christ as Savior. Scripture declares, “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). All who receive this gift will spend eternity in heaven. Once you receive God’s free gift of eternal life, you can then begin the spiritual journey of walking with Him and accruing rewards in heaven.
How to Maximize Rewards in Heaven
That some Christians will be rewarded in heaven more than others means they possessed positive volition and made many good choices to know and walk with God, seeking His will above their own. The humble and maturing Christian is devoted to studying God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walking by means of the Spirit (Gal 5:16), living by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), advancing to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1), walking in love (Eph 5:2), doing good to others (Gal 6:10), being kind and forgiving (Eph 4:32), serving others spiritually (Phil 2:3-4; 1 Pet 4:10), and living “to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Such a life will glorify God in time and eternity and He will reward His faithful servant in the eternal state.
We should realize that Christians are not perfect this side of heaven. There are no sinless Christians. There never has been and never will be. If God were to say, “Let the sinless Christians serve Me,” there would be no one qualified. All Christians will commit sin, for “there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20; cf., 1 John 1:8, 10). To be clear, it is never the will of God that His children sin (1 John 2:1). Never. But when Christians sin (and they will), it is always God’s will that they humble themselves, accept responsibility for sins (Psa 32:3-5), confess them directly to Him to be forgiven (1 John 1:9), and then resume their spiritual walk of faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38).
Sadly, it is possible for Christians to live carnally (1 Cor 3:1-3), commit every sin possible (Gal 5:19-21), and to live their entire lives as sinfully as unbelievers. These are arrogant Christians whom God will discipline for their sinfulness (Heb 12:6), which discipline can be severe (1 Cor 11:30), eventuate in the death penalty (1 John 5:16), and result in the forfeiture of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). Some Christians will live this way, and God will deal with them as His children.
Let us not be foolish, carnal Christians who live sinfully and invite God’s discipline (1 Cor 3:1-3; Heb 12:6). Rather, let us be wise and spiritual Christians who seek God’s glory (1 Cor 10:31), learn His Word daily (Psa 1:2; 1 Pet 2:2), walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7), and serve others in love for their edification and wellbeing (1 Pet 4:10). Such a life will be honored by the Lord when we stand before His judgment seat to be evaluated and rewarded for a good life. Yes. Let us be those Christians who live wisely and walk with the Lord.
In conclusion, the evaluation at the judgment seat of Christ underscores the importance of living a life that honors God, one that reflects positive volition, spiritual growth, and a commitment to His will. While all Christians are secure in their salvation through faith in Christ alone (John 3:16; 10:28; Rom 8:1), the rewards they receive will be determined by their faithfulness in walking with God (2 Cor 5:7), studying His Word (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), and serving others in love (1 Pet 4:10). As we anticipate this evaluation, let us strive to be those who live wisely (Eph 5:15-17), walking by faith and seeking to glorify God in all things (1 Cor 10:31). In doing so, we will be rewarded for our devotion and service to Christ (2 Cor 5:10). Let us, therefore, live each day in light of eternity, with our eyes fixed on the prize that awaits those who faithfully follow Christ.
Dr. Steven R. Cook
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Check first paragraph: “No unbeliever will be at the Great White Throne Judgment.” I think you mean “believer”. Thanks for the article.
Thanks for caching that. I corrected it. Wishing you a blessed day. 🙂
Dr. Cook there will be believers during the Millennium. So, they can’t be judged at the Bema seat judgement, In my mind they would have to be at the white throne judgment because the scripture doesn’t give us another judgment. How is that going to work?
Thank you for your time and insight into the Bible.
Dennis
Hello Dennis. Thanks for your comment. Believers in the Millennium will not appear at the Great White Throne. That judgment is only for the lost, and every person there is cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11–15). Scripture is absolutely clear that no believer ever faces that judgment. The solution is simple. The Bema Seat is the evaluation of the Church, the body of Christ, and it happens immediately after the resurrection and catching away (2 Cor 5:10; 1 Cor 3:12–15). But God evaluates all His saints in their own order and in His own timing. Old Testament believers and Tribulation believers are raised at the second coming (Dan 12:2; Rev 20:4), and their rewards are given then, not at our Bema. Millennial believers will be evaluated at the end of the Millennium before the eternal state begins. Scripture doesn’t name this evaluation the way it names ours, but the pattern is consistent: God never leaves a believer unrewarded, and He never judges a believer with the lost. The Great White Throne is for unbelievers only. Every believer of every age will be evaluated by the Lord and rewarded according to faithfulness, but always in the proper resurrection order and never at the judgment reserved for the unsaved.
Afternoon,
I was wondering Dr. Cook if you have ever heard about an “out resurrection”? There seems to be a growing group teaching this. They get it because Philippians 3:11 has two different Greek words for resurrection. The best I can tell, it started with a man by the name of Robert Govett from the 1800’s, which even Charles Spurgeon praised him for his writings (hard to believe). Now people like Arlen Chitwood and Joseph Dillon, James Hollandsworth and Tony Evens have been promoting it along with others. Basically, it says a person must have two salvations. Not only does a person have to be saved, but that there has to a “soulical salvation” as well. If not, and the person doesn’t lead a life that is dedicated to Christ, then they are saved, but at the Bema Seat Judgment their works will be burned up because they were an unfaithful believer and will not get to go into the Millennial Kingdom to rule with Christ. Only the faithful believer will be resurrected out and allowed rule and reign with Christ, while the unfaithful believer will be taken from the Bema Seat Judgment and sent to a room off the palace (the earth) where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. Which they call the “outer darkness “spoke of in the Book of Matthew three different times (which they believe is not Hell). Therefore, they teach the whole Church is not the Bride of Christ, (many are called, but few are chosen) so only the faithful Believer is allowed into the New Jerusalem (Millennial Exclusion). The more I look at this teaching, I believe they are promoting a whole new doctrine, theology, eschatology, and ideology that is heresy. Can you help shed some light on this subject and the people? I sometimes wonder if letting folks know about all the false doctrines and teachers that are working their way into the Church would help the Believer too discern and stay away from them.
Also, I know you say that you’re a protestant can you elaborate on that please?
Lord Bless,
Dennis
Hello Dennis, thank you for your question. To be honest, I’m not very familiar with that particular teaching. My understanding is that the “outer darkness” language in Matthew functions as a judicial warning aimed at those who reject Jesus as Savior. In every occurrence, the one cast out is an outsider to saving faith, not a believer who fails to meet a standard of discipleship. Nothing in the New Testament ever places a Christian in that realm. By contrast, the Bema Seat concerns the evaluation of works for reward or loss, while the believer himself remains secure, “he himself will be saved” (1 Cor 3:15). Applying “outer darkness” to unfaithful Christians introduces a secondary, post-resurrection punishment that is foreign to the grace of God and inconsistent with the promise of immediate acceptance, exemplified even by the dying thief welcomed into paradise. The kingdom is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). These realities belong to all who are in Christ, not merely to an obedient subset.
I hope this helps.
Steven
Thank you