The Judgement Seat of Christ

     There are 2 judgements that all people will undergo. The first judgement is in 1^st John 5:11-12 and is a judgement for salvation. Daniel 12:2 refers to this judgement also.
1^st John 5:11-12 says, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

 
     The 2^nd judgement is for;
1) punishment for unbelievers…Revelation 20:11-15 says that unbelievers will be judged according to what they have done. Luke 10 seems to say that there will be different levels of punishment in hell. Verse 12 & 14 says it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for cities that reject Christ. Luke 12:46-48 says, “….He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows…”
This seems to say that there will be degrees of suffering in hell.
While punishments in hell will be beyond our imagination, it does seem ‘fair’ that someone like Hitler or Stalin be punished more severely than the average unbeliever.

2) rewards for believers…Romans 14:10-12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgement seat…So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” 2^nd Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Jesus Himself says that He will reward us in heaven for what we have done. Revelation 22:12 says, “Look I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done…”
But we won’t worry if someone has a greater reward than we do. We won’t be envious because envy won’t exist in heaven. We’ll be glad and will rejoice for them that they were that faithful while on the earth.
1^st Corinthians 3:11-15 says that God’s refining fire will test our ‘works’. Those that are done in faith will survive and we’ll be rewarded. But those that weren’t done in faith will be burned up, even though the person will still be saved. So, our rewards in heaven will depend on how faithfully we’ve served God with the gifts that He’s given us. All of this should spur us believers on to serve Jesus in this life. Read Colossians 3:23-24,  Matthew 6:20-21, 2^nd Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 10:24 & 1^st Corinthians 15:58.

For the sake of His Wonderful Name,
Dave Maynard
https://bsssb-llc.com