(Continued from previous message)

shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man's work of what sort it is." What is deemed worthless by
Jesus will be burned up in that fire. The works that survive the fire are
the deeds for which believers will be rewarded.

"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. 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. I Corinthians 3:12-15.

What works will be judged?

In general terms, the works that will be judged are:

(1) how well one obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20),
(2) was victorious over sin (Romans 6:1-4), and
(3) how well one controlled his tongue and behavior towards others.
(James 3:1-9).

More specifically, the earthly deeds of believers which will be judged at
the judgment seat of Christ will include the following actions:

Doctrines and the degree of intellectual honesty exhibited by a person
when deciding their doctrinal beliefs. (Romans 2:14-16, 14).

Conduct, behavior, and attitude toward other people. (Matthew 18;
Romans 14).

Carnal traits. (Colossians 3; Romans 1-2, 8:1-13, 14:1-23).

Every word that is spoken. (Matthew 12:32-37; Romans 14).

Behavior traits that affect others, such as slander, quarrels, idle words,
foolishness, dishonesty, broken promises, wrong dealings, and so on.
(Romans 1:29-32, 12, 1-21, 14:1-23; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21;
Colossians 3; Ephesians 4:1-32, 5:1-33).

Personal characteristics, including lost or neglected opportunities, wasted
talents, loose living, and lack of spirituality. (Romans 2:14-16;
Hebrews 2:1-4; Galatians 5:1-26, 6:1-10, Colossians 3).

Spiritual traits and proclivities such as disobedience, rejection, failure
to cooperate and yield to the Spirit, and spiritual attitude.
(1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4:1-32, 5:1-33).

What Rewards will be Received?

The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a crowning day for those Christians who
will receive rewards for their works. (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5).
Unlike the laurel and ivy crowns received from officials at the Bema seat
of the Olympics in Corinth, the child of God will receive eternal crowns
from the Lord Jesus Himself. There are five such crowns to be rewarded:

The Incorruptible Crown - "And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but
we an incorruptible." (1 Corinthians 9:25). Once again, Paul has in mind
the athlete in the Roman arena. Before the contest, each participant
practiced self-discipline, being temperate in all things. As is true of the
world today, there were doubtless many pleasures and pastimes that the
athletes might have entered into and enjoyed, but they denied themselves
these things in order to do their best, and receive the crown of the
victor. The incorruptible crown for the Christian is the victor's crown
for those who keep under the body and bring it into subjection. It is a
conquering of the old nature.

The Crown of Rejoicing. "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 Thessalonians 2:19-20). This
is the soul-winner's crown. The first thing that a Christian should pray
for and seek to cultivate is the desire, ability, and wisdom to win lost
souls to Jesus Christ. Paul was confident that when he would stand before
the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Thessalonian converts would guarantee a
crown for all those who shared in bringing them to Christ. Every time an
individual is converted, there is joy in Heaven; but at the day of the
giving of rewards, the soul-winner will be exceedingly joyful, when those
are presented to God whom he had won to Christ. What is our hope of reward
as Christ's witnesses? The answer is in those who will be in Heaven because
of our prayers, gifts, preaching, and personal work.

The Crown of Righteousness. "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 them also that love His appearing"
(2 Timothy 4:8). Here the character of the reward corresponds to the
character of the Giver. Both are said to be righteous. The doctrine of our
Lord's return is regarded very highly by God. In spite of the fact that
Jesus said He would come again, there are many people who scoff at the
thought of Christ's appearing. This and kindred truths have brought
suffering and hardship, and in some cases death, to those who insisted on
preaching and teaching them. But how wonderful to know that God has
prepared a special reward for all who look for that blessed hope, who wait
for His son from Heaven, and who love His appearing.

The Crown of Life. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath
promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12). "Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life"
(Revelation 2:10).

The Crown of Life is reserved for those who have given all their lives for
the sake of the Gospel. Not all of our Lord's witnesses have been called
to suffering and martyrdom. Not all would be willing to pay with their
lives to take the message of salvation to the lost. How thoughtful and
just our heavenly Father was when He prepared a martyr's crown for those
who suffer persecution for Christ's sake! Though some of us will not
receive the Crown of Life, we will rejoice with those who refused to count
the cost and have died proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.

The Crown of Glory. "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; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and
be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble" (1 Peter 5:2-5). There are many who have been called and
ordained by God to preach and teach His Word. These are the under shepherds
who care for the flock of God during the absence of the Chief Shepherd.

SUMMARY

A good summary of how we should think about the Judgment Seat of Christ
comes from James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for
when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath
promised to them that love him."

And also, to one day hear the words a prior servant heard, "His lord said
unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:21.

SOURCES:

http://www.bible.org

http://www.frankcaw.com/Bema-Judgment.html

http://www.gracethrufaith.com

Strong's dictionary online: http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

http://www.his-forever.com/judgment_seat_of_c...


***

  Now that the sermon is over, we'll take up the offering (just kidding
<GRIN!>. That's like the joke where the Minister Of Music was chided by
the pastor, who had just preached a sermon on tithing...the invitation
hymn was "Jesus Paid It All". <G>

Daryl

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