8.11.2012

End Times: The Judgment Seat of Christ

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says,
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says,
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

After Jesus takes His Church from the earth they will find themselves before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Here there will not be a judgment to determine who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. This judgment will be for Christ to reward His Church individually for their good works.
The phrase used in 2nd Corinthians 5:10, "receive the things done in the body" I believe means things done while on the earth, for this was when we were actually in the body. I've heard others say that this means the "body of Christ" which could mean works done within the Church. Either way it means the same thing for as a believer you are in both - your physical body and the Church body. The focus is not so much on the body however as it is on the works that you have done. For this each believer will be judged and rewarded. There will be some who will receive very little reward as well at this time of judgment.