“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}

What happens after you die?

Depends on whether your life belongs to the LORD Jesus through  repentance towards God and faith in Him, or not.

For those who belong to the LORD Jesus, we read from Scriptures several comforting truths to encourage, motivate and resonate in Praise to Him, for a future hope that is meant to motivate us in our choices on earth and also to Celebrate Him who makes this possible and one day will turn it into reality for us! Paul, writing to the Corinthian believers shares somethings to consider about what happens when a follower of Christ dies.

  1. You Go to be With Him– 2 Cor 5;8
  2. You Get A New Body– 1 Cor 15:56-58. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 answers those who think there is no resurrection and those who think that the resurrection will consist of the same bodies that we go to the grave with! But we are “Raised” with New Eternally fitted bodies! They are superior for they are made for a new realm, Heaven! A.- Raised an Imperishable body (incorruptible);B.- Raised in Glory; C.- Raised in Power; D.- Raised a Spiritual body.
  3. You Appear Before The Judgement Seat Of Christ!-{2 Cor 5;10}. And it is this aspect that we want to consider.
  4. Each Christian Appears
  5. Christ is the Judge
  6. It’s not a judgment of Destination– Heaven or Hell- but of Evaluation, for the deeds done in the body!

“Appear;”

All followers of Christ will appear before Christ the Judge, not for condemnation since He Himself bore our condemnation for our sin on the cross in our place. “We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ.”

The word “appear,” {Phaneroo } means,“to make manifest, to make clear, to make visible, or to reveal.” Philip E. Hughes writes, “To be made manifest means not just to appear, but to be laid bare, stripped of every outward façade of respectability, and openly revealed in the full and true reality of one’s character,” Every thing will be revealed, exposed of a person’s work, ministry, deeds, motivation will be made known to them. Their sin has already been dealt with completely at the cross, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. ” – {2 Cor 5:21}. So it is not speaking of sin, but of the believers works, motivations.

“The Judgement Seat;”

This differs from the “great White Throne” which is for non believers. The “Judgment seat” is for believers, not to decide your eternal Destination but for Evaluation! All believers will appear before the LORD Jesus, none excluded, all evaluated, deeds, motives, all laid bare before Him in whom nothing is or can be hidden from.”Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”-{Hebrews 4:13}; “…He knows the secrets of the heart,”-{Psalm 44:21}.

“Judgment seat translates bema, which, in its simplest definition, describes a place reached by steps, or a platform. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses it that way in Nehemiah 8:4. In Greek culture bema referred to the elevated platform on which victorious athletes received their crowns, much like the medal stand in the modern Olympic games. In the New Testament it was used of the judgment seats of Pilate (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13), Herod (Acts 12:21), and Festus (Acts 25:6, 10, 17). There was also a bema at Corinth, where unbelieving Jews unsuccessfully accused Paul before the Roman proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:12, 16, 17). A person was brought before a bema to have his or her deeds examined, in a judicial sense for indictment or exoneration, or for the purpose of recognizing and rewarding some achievement. Writing to the Romans of this same event, Paul described it as “the judgment seat [bema] of God” (Rom. 14:10). God the Father is the ultimate Judge, but He has “given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Paul Barnett notes,  A parallel passage—“we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Rom. 14:10)—implies an identity of function of Christ and God; God judges and Christ judges. The NT often refers to Christ as God’s appointed judge, appropriate to his role as Son of Man, as in Dan. 7:13, 14, 26–27 (e.g., John 5:22, 27; 9:39; Matt. 25:31–32; Acts 10:42; 17:31; cf. Rev. 20:11–15). ”

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.“-{Romans 14:10}.

“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,“-{John 5:22}. “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.“-{Acts 10:42}. “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.“-{Rev 22:12}.

“Recompense…Receive.”

The Word means “Recompensed translates a form of the verb komizo, which means, “to receive back what is due”—whether punishment for a criminal, or reward for one to be honored. When believers stand before the Lord Jesus Christ they will be recompensed for the deeds they have done in the body (cf. Rev. 22:12). It is not speaking about judgement for sin, for He has taken care of all of our sin, past, present, future, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”-{2 Corinthians 5:21}; “ When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”-{Colossians 2;13-14}. Our sin is completely, eternally “cancelled,” the word means to “erase” completely, through the perfect work of the LORD Jesus on our behalf! Forgiven is full, complete, eternal! So, it is not speaking about been punished for sin, for the LORD Jesus bore our sin on the cross, but he is speaking of “rewards.”

  • “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”-{Colossians 3:23-24}.
  • “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”-{1 Corinthians 15:58}
  • “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver,precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”-{1 Corinthains 3:12-15}
  • “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” -{Matthew 10:41-42}
  • “And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”-{Luke 14:12-14}.
  • “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.“-{2 Timothy 4:7-8}
  • “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.“-{1 Peter 5:4}
  • “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”-{Revelation 22:12}.

“Good;”

The word, “Agathos,” means, “excellent, upright, pleasant, honorable.”

“Bad;”

The word, “Phaulos,” means, “worthless, useless, of no account,”

Some commentators do not believe he is referring to the contrast between morally good and evil  here. There are two Greek words that he could have used apparently for morally bad, namely “kakos,” or “poneros,”  but uses “phaulos,” for “bad,” which speaks of “worthless,” “useless, “of no account!”

Richard  Trench writes that phaulos “contemplates evil under another aspect, not so much that either of active or passive malignity, but that rather of its good-for-nothingness, the impossibility of any true gain coming forth from it”

1 Corinthians 3 gives us is a picture of two different ways to build your life and the difference when it is exposed, revealed, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, of how you and I had chosen to respond to opportunities to be faithful, loyal and express love to Him that we had been afforded in our circumstances! “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”-{1 Cor 3:11-15}. Note the phrases,“each man’s work will become evident…the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work…if any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward!” Here is a good representation of “good” and “worthless!” All of our work, motives will be revealed as good or worthless!

The “good,” or “bad,” is not speaking about comparing between what is morally good or evil, but is speaking about those things that are morally neutral, such as taking out the garbage, going for a walk, playing recreational or professional sports, seeking a promotion at work, looking to extend your education, making your bed, changing a  baby’s diaper, everyday life things, “mundane” things some, others enjoyment, but the difference is the MOTIVATION for doing it, if you keep this verse in mind it will help.

THE MOTIVATION;

Consider the Scope God gives us, by the use of the words, “whether, whatever,” how gracious, He does not confine it to only those who pastor, or preach, or who have high visibility, where they are out front, seen, who will be rewarded, as those who are part of the “exclusive” few, because only those things that they do count and are worthy, everything else is “worthless!” Yet, yet, we often think like that, don’t we? We have believed the lie that some things are “spiritual” work,  “real work for God,” and the rest is not, it’s for the “laity,” for the “lay” person as opposed to the “clergy!” We have created a two tier system that is not Biblical, We, all have been born again by His Spirit, those who belong to Him, that is a result of His Grace! We all have received from  Him spiritual gifts, to edify, equip, build up other believers and to exercise them for the GLORY of GOD!-{Read 1 Cor 4:10-11}. So, whatever we have we have from Him, we are not “superior,” or “inferior.” We are children of the KING and  WHAT we do and WHY we do it and for WHOM we do it, COUNTS for ETERNITY! So, be encouraged, take hope, you are SERVING the LORD, you CAN SERVE the LORD, from what looks like, and may feel like the most “Mundane” thing, or pleasurable thing. There are not two-tier Christians, that regards are for those “exclusive” ones, but He says the “rewards” are ALL INCLUSIVE for His own, for you and me and every follower of the LORD Jesus, who will stand before Him. For it is possible  at times, to preach, pastor, evangelize, be a deacon, or elder and not do it for Him, but do it to be appreciated, admired, respected by others as the motive. If so, then you  have received your reward, but will not receive it from the LORD at the Judgment seat. It is about the reason why we do what we do and for whom we do what we do!

Consider these three verses below, and take one if  not all and over the next few months, write them out and put in a place where you see daily, such as on a bathroom mirror, so you know you will brush your teeth regularly and daily, and can see the verse and read, re-read and you can think on word by word, phrase by phrase and throughout the day you can remember maybe a few words at first but as time goes on the Holy Spirit will  help you recall and meditate upon it and begin to apply to “whatever you do,”.. you can do it “all,”…”for the GLORY OF GOD!” Let’s look at the three verse below to show this point…

  • “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God..”-{1 Corinthians 10:31}. Note the motivation, “the glory of God!” Doing it for His fame, His Exaltation, His pleasure. And what things does that include? Again note, “ALL.” “Do it all…” and he speaks about even the most mundane things, we do such as “eating and drinking,” even these things are opportunities to Glorify God, by our attitude, motivation in why we do what we do or don’t do, the bottom line is “whatever you do,” that includes cleaning the dishes, changing a diaper, singing a song, playing sports, going for a walk, a drive, eating a hamburger, drinking water, those things which are not morally evil, but neutral… these things… are “ALL” inclusive, so the things we think have no spiritual value, of no significance,… are to the LORD! Be encouraged, you can serve the Lord, express love to Him, turn what at times may be “mundane” things into Christ exalting, God honoring, deeds of love and motivated to “Glorify God!” So , that should give us a new incentive, new motivation in the way we view life, and every opportunity, is an opportunity to Glorify GOD!

 

  • “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”-{Colossians 3:23-24}. Note, what your attitude is to work counts! So often we look at what a person works at and attribute value based on how important, prestigious, glamorous, or how low WE rate the work, is the wrong view. God wants to get to the heart of the matter, the MOTIVATION, the reason behind the way we work at whatever we work at counts from His perspective. Live before Him not before what others think. Yes, it is important we give a good testimony in our work and this will come forth from our heart of why we are doing it, and we are to do it for the LORD! So, even in your work which is not a moral issue, it is morally NEUTRAL, and you can do that for HIM and what your attitude, motivation to it has ETERNAL Consequences for you!

 

  • “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”-{Colossians 3:17}. How wonderful and encouraging is this verse, “Whatever you do in word or deed,” this is all inclusive for you, from recreation, to the cleaning of your room, making your bed, making a meal, washing dishes, going to work, driving the kids to a ball game, standing on the sideline at a kids game, college game, or pro game, playing recreational sports, going for a walk, seeking more education to help your prospects, handling an illness, I have  friend who used to say “suffer well,” it  includes all things in our lives,… all of these and much more, “all” inclusive, “Do all”… and here is the point, “…do it all in the Name of The LORD Jesus…” there is the MOTIVATION… doing whatever you do for Him! And be THANKFUL to God through the LORD Jesus!

The fact Paul was on his way to Heaven as were these believers was not an excuse to discard how they lived here in the body but a motivation to do so for the LORD’S sake and the glorious future of being “with Him” and getting a new glorified body, and also that each of us must appear before the Judgment seat of Christ and our works will be evaluated by the LORD Jesus whether they are worthy or worthless!

“But God…” remember He loves you, He is for you and has gifted His Spirit to teach, encourage, empower you, motivate you, impart wisdom to  you, to know how and what to do as you live daily, moment by moment making choices that have eternal consequences for you!

Don’t waste your life, the motivation to keep before us,”whatever you do…do all for the Glory of God!”-{ 1 Cor 10:31}