We’ve seen across this series that the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema) is both a place of reward and of loss. For the believer who lived faithfully, there will be crowns, honor, joy, and celebration. But for the one who squandered opportunities and lived carelessly, there will be consequences:
- Forfeit of Reward (1 Cor. 3:15)
- Experiencing Shame (1 John 2:28)
- Remorse in the Darkness Outside (Matt. 22:13; 25:30)
This reality unsettles many Christians, because it doesn’t fit neatly with the popular image of heaven as pure bliss from the very beginning. And yet, Scripture urges us to take this seriously.
The Tension: Sorrow in a Place Without Tears?
Speaking of the Eternal State after Christ’s 1000-year reign, Revelation 21:4 promises:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.”
How, then, can there be grief at the Bema? The sorrow is temporary—lasting only until discipline and restoration are complete. What about the loss of reward extending into eternity? In God’s perfect justice, each believer will be “filled to the limit of his capacity” with joy in eternity, even if those capacities differ.
Dwight Pentecost puts it this way:
“…capacities to radiate the glory [of Christ] will differ, but there will be no personal sense of lack, in that each believer will be filled to the limit of his capacity to ‘show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.’” (Things to Come, p. 226)
In other words, even if rewards differ, every believer will experience overflowing joy in eternity.
Why This Matters Now
The Bema is not about salvation—that is secure in Christ. It is about faithfulness. Our lives matter. Every choice, every act of obedience or disobedience, will be revealed before the Lord.
Paul makes it plain:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Samuel Hoyt wisely warns:
“To overdo the sorrow aspect of the judgment seat of Christ is to make heaven hell. To underdo the sorrow aspect is to make faithfulness inconsequential.” (The Judgment Seat of Christ, p. 147)
The balance is key: grace is free, but discipleship is costly.
Living in Light of the Bema
If the Bema teaches us anything, it’s this: life is not a rehearsal. Time wasted cannot be regained. But through abiding in Christ, walking by the Spirit, and investing in eternal things, we can face Him with confidence rather than shrinking in shame.
When you imagine standing before Jesus, picture His eyes of love—but also His fire of holiness. Which will weigh more heavily on that day: your joy in His approval, or your grief over missed opportunities?
Reflection Questions
- What would change in your daily walk if you truly believed your choices today echo into eternity?
- Are you living for temporary gain or for the eternal crown?
- How might you realign your heart so that, when He appears, you can “have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame”?
Sources
- Samuel L. Hoyt, The Judgment Seat of Christ: A Biblical and Theological Study (Milwaukee: Grace Gospel Press, 2011).
- J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Dunham Publishing, 1958).
- Joseph Dillow, Final Destiny: The Future Reign of the Servant Kings (Conroe, TX: Grace Theology Press, 2013).
- Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Volume VII: Doctrinal Summarizations (Dallas: Dallas Seminary Press, 1948).
Series Summary
- Part 1: Forfeiting Reward by Unfaithful Living
- Part 2: Experiencing Shame at Christ’s Coming
- Part 3: The Darkness Outside and the Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth
- Part 4: Conclusion — Grace, Accountability, and Eternal Joy
