Why Christians Have No Fear of the Bema Seat
The judgment of God is just. If, in His eternal council, God determines to destroy His own creation, it is His prerogative (2 Pet 3:10–12). If God predestinates some to glory (Rom 9:23), and others to destruction (Rom 9:22), it is His sovereign right to do so. He is God, and there is no other (Dt 4:35).
God promised judgment against man while the creature, made in God’s image, still resided in Eden (Gen 3). Adam, the first man, did not heed the warning spoken by God. God judged Adam for His disobedience and unbelief. Man’s free will failed him, despite His perfect state. With all the advantages of God imparted to him, man chose wrong.
The posterity of Adam is born into Adam’s original sin, with a sin nature (Eph 2:3), already condemned (Jn 3:18), being a child of wrath. The practice of sin soon follows, and personality manifests a diversity of ways to sin. All have sinned (Rom 3:23), and in Adam all die (Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:22).
Man’s offense against the infinite majesty of God is inescapable. Man is aided in his rebellion by a world system fueled by sin. Sin reigns (Rom 5:21), and it is abetted by Satan, man’s adversary and slave master (Jn 8:34).
It is Satan, the devil, who lies to his slaves, assuring them they have free will to do anything they wish. He, as their lord (2 Cor 4:4), excuses them to pursue the pleasures of the sinful world without consequence.
The light of nature warns man, who has forgotten God by suppressing the truth about God (Rom 1:18). Further, God issued His Law to the Hebrews. The Law of God given through Moses, His servant, serves to illumine people with the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20).
God is holy, righteous, and just. Man is thoroughly sinful and unacceptable in God’s presence. The knowledge of this separation of holy and unholy, God and ungodly, just and unjust is the revelation of God’s judgment. Man is judged already (Jn 3:18), condemned and merely awaiting his day of sentencing, in which he will suffer eternal punishment in fiery hell (Mt 18:9; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). Who can escape this justice of God? Who can deliver us from the wrath of God to come (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7; 1 Thess 1:10)?
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was chosen to be the second Adam, a new King of a new nation of saints (holy people). He must reign…forever. These righteous ones have Jesus as their substitute sacrifice for sins (Lev 16; 1 Pet 2:24). He suffered and died on the cross to justify the ungodly, the just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). He died in their place of punishment and in their stead as guilty criminals.
The judgment of God due these people fell on the One who loved them and who gave Himself for them (Eph 5:25). Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). His people share His name, “Christ-ian.” They were chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world (Rom 8:30; Eph 1:4–5). Jesus, as the Good Shepherd laid down His life for these, His sheep (Jn 10:11, 15).
In sending the Holy Spirit to baptize His elect (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38; 10:45), placing the sign of the covenant on them, these Spirit-indwelt people have the pledge of their salvation living in their hearts (Rom 8:9, 11; 2 Cor 5:5). The gift of the Holy Spirit, the token of God’s inheritance for His adopted children (Rom 8:14) assures them they belong to Christ and to God (1 Cor 3:23). He has given them eternal life (Jn 10:28), and issued the promise that He will never leave them, nor forsake them (Heb 13:5). Moreover, God has issued this Word of absolute exoneration, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).”
When an elect, redeemed, regenerated child of God dies in the flesh, his soul goes to be with the Lord (Phil 1:23), while his body of death returns to the dust from which it came. On the day of King Jesus’ second coming (Rev 19:11), to judge the world, the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5), the soul of the Christian will be reunited with a physical body (Jn 5:29). This new body will be glorious, imperishable, immortal, a true and eternal robe of righteousness.
The great white throne is the judgment seat of Christ (bema). All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to our Lord (Mt 28:18; Jn 5:27). God has turned over to Christ, all judgment (Rom 2:16). Jesus is the just judge of all (Gen 18:25; 2 Tim 4:1). Every knee must bow to Him and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all (Is 45:23; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10).
As great and small from every age and place gathers for the judgment, we remember Romans 8:1 and the fact we will stand before Him in resurrected, glorified bodies, meaning there is no fear now or then (Jn 5:29). The faithful (Gal 5:22) have His righteousness (Rom 3:22; 5:21), and He is preparing His bride for presentation before His Father. On that day, we will be holy and blameless before Him. No fear. Just Christ!
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 19, 2022
