Salvation Series – Glorifcation of Beleivers
Table of Contents
Glorification of Believers
Judgment for Believers
Bema Seat – Christ’s Judgment Seat – The Bible speaks explicitly of two different types of judgments that occur at the end of the age, after all people are resurrected from the dead;
The Bema Seat
Judgment for Non-Believers
1.) There is an eternal judgment performed by God the Father for all non-believers who will be judged for eternity based on their works.
All believers have already passed from death to life and will not be judged by the Father for eternal life as they have already received it (1 John 3.14)
Judgment for Believers
2.) For believers, there is the Bema judgment seat of Christ for all believers, whom He will judge and determine the kinds of rewards His people will receive in eternity.
Judgment seat of Christ
The Bema Seat – In Greek the Bema seat is literally translated “judgment seat,” or is the judgment seat of Christ. God will judge all men, but ONLY believers will be judged by Christ at His Bema seat, and they will be judged by all the things they have done, and their motives will be tested. Believers will be held accountable for all their actions, and things they have done in this life to test what is worth of rewards for God’s kingdom.
each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. – 1 Corinthians 3.13-15
For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. – 2 Corinthians 5.10
Reward of Salvation vs. Reward for Service
All whom come to God and are saved receive the reward of salvation, which is eternal life. Everyone who believes will receive the same reward, regardless of what time in their life they chose to come to God. Jesus gives us parable in Matthew 20. 1- 16, speaking about how the kingdom of God is like a land owner who hires different men at different hours to come and work in His field:
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’9“When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius.10“When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.
11“When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’13“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?14‘Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.15‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16.“So the last shall be first, and the first last.” – Matthew 20.8-16
Some may feel it is unfair that they trusted God throughout their whole life while others repent at the last second yet receive the same reward. God gives generous to all believers, giving His kingdom and eternal life to all His children regardless of when they came to repentance during their life.
Now the gift of eternal life is different than the crowns and rewards given in the judgment of Christ to believers according to their works. The Bible speaks specifically about different kinds of rewards given to different believers based on what they had done for God’s kingdom, and according to God’s will in their lives.
And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. – Luke 18.22
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: – Matthew 6.20
Crowns (Rewards) for Different Works
Crown of Life – For all believers that love the Lord
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. – James 1.12
Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. – Rev 2.10
Incorruptible Crown – For all believers that endure & run the race of faith
And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. – 1 Corinthians 9.25
Crown of Righteousness – For all believers that wait for and love the coming of Jesus
henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4.8
Crown of Glory – For the elders and shepherd’s of God’s people
And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away – 1 Peter 5.1-4
Rewards of Salvation
There are numerous rewards that come with salvation. First our sin nature will be abolished and we will be perfect. This will cause us to become perfect beings, no longer struggling against an evil nature within ourselves.
We Will be Like Christ
Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. – 1 John 3.2
We will be Glorified with Jesus
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. – Rom 8.17
Perfect Peace & Harmony
No More Suffering or Pain
He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away – Rev 21.4
He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. – Rev 21.7
Eternal Life
For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. – Galatians 6.8
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? – Luke 18.18
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. – Galatians 6.7
Eat Manna of Heaven & receive a New Name
To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it – Revelations 2.17
Eat from the Tree of Life
in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations – Revelation 22.2
Receive Kingship – Authority of Nations & the Morning Star
to him will I give authority over the nations: Rev 2:27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: Rev 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.
Become a Part of the Priesthood
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ – Revelation 20.6
Receive New Clothes
He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments – Revelation 3.5
Made a Pillar in God’s Temple
I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God – Revelation 3.12
Allowed to Sit on Jesus Throne
I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, – Revelation 3.21
Additional Rewards
According to our works and deeds for God, His will and working for His kingdom there are different rewards spoken about in the Bible. The Bible says the God will reward everyone according to what they have done, obviously displaying a variety of rewards behind its description for different believers based on what they did in their life on Earth.
But if any man builds on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. – 1 Corinthians 3.12-14, 15
(God) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: – Romans 2.6
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. – Revelation 22.12
Non-believers Will Lose Rewards
The Bible reveals to us that there will be many who claim and even convince themselves that they are believers, but in the end or over time, God will prove what is really in their hearts. The Bible shows they were never really believers for it says “they went out from among of, but where not of us.” Even though God’s gifts are without repentance (He will not take them back) man is fully capable of giving them up in their non-belief and turning (falling) away from Him, although in truth they never accepted and trusted God in their hearts.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. – 1 John 2.19
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me. – Psalms 51.9-12
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous. – Psalms 69.28
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matt 10.33
Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. – Matt 12.31-32
For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. – 1 Corinthians 3.11-15
but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. – 1 Corinthians 9.27
Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. – Gal 5.4
for already some are turned aside after Satan – 1 Timothy 5.15
Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself. – 2 Timothy 2.11-13
men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. – 2 Timothy 2.18
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: – 2 Timothy 4.7
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. – Heb 2.1
For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. – Heb 6.4-6
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? – Heb 10.26-29
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. – 2 peter 2.20-21
Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. – 2 peter 3.17
Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. – 2 john 1.8
He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. – Rev 3.5
Second Chance after Death
The Bible reveals that after a man dies, there is judgment for him immediately following. There is no second chance to believe after you have died as you have already made your choice in this life and used your free will to make the decision what path you will choose:
Your own path to hell
or
God’s path to heaven.
Your choice is an eternal decision with everlasting consequences, that is why it is so critical to trust in the Lord now and be obedient to Him, while you are alive.
Þ see is there a send chance after death
Þ see Heaven and Hell
And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; – Hebrews 9.27
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55.6-7
References
Systematic Theology – Norman L. Geisler