Many
believers argue and say that Jesus would only judge them by giving out
the rewards and that the judgement could be just good rewards or bad
rewards based on how much or how little they can receive from Him. The
Bible text which they would always use is from:
Rom 14:10 KJV But
why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat (bayma seat) of Christ.
2Co
5:9-10 KJV Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we
may be accepted of him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat
(bayma seat) of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in
his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
They
insist that, according to the Greek customs and translation, the above
Bible verses is about the bayma seat of Christ which would never judge
the believers with punishment; but only better rewards or smaller
rewards (like the bayma seat of the Greek emperors who would always
reward the runners of the Olympics with a crown of olive leaves.
I
will tell them, Since I am not a Greek scholar, I will not argue if the
interpretation of the Greek 'bayma seat' is such a seat according to
the custom and beliefs of the Greeks. But I can say that the judgement
of Christ to the believers is not limited only to this bayma seats.
There are still many Bible verses about God's judgement where the bayma
seat was not mentioned:
Mat 7:21-23 KJV Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 25:41-46 KJV Then shall
he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye
clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. .. (46)
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal.
Rev 3:16-19 KJV So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,
and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that
thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
There were many judgements and warnings by the Apostles
too. None of the Apostles encouraged us to find refuge in the bayma seat
of Christ. Instead, they always gave serious warnings about His
judgement. They warned, "If we sin willfully ..", "If we .. ", "lest we
..", "Beware ..", "Take heed ..", "Be diligent ..", .. etc. If we still
think that we can expect the bayma seat of Christ to save us even if we
do not take heed, obey, and keep His commandments, we show by our fruits
that we have rebelled with a lawless mind against His words and
fulfilled the prophecy in Mat 7:15-21. We may argue vehemently (like
them) that we are the believers, but when we refuse to listen to His
words, warnings, or commandments, we are no longer the believers. Hence,
claiming that we are the believers or thinking that we are the
believers is the weakest assurance we can give ourselves and others; but
Jesus said Keeping His commandments or doing His words is the only true
assurance from Him.
Mat 7:26 KJV And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish
man, which built his house upon the sand:
He would still say so today irregardless of whether you agree or not.
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