Per Grace Thru Faith - this is Jack Kelley’s take 2 Cor. 5:10 says we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. This can not be a reference to sin because Jesus has already been judged for all the sins of our life and all of them have been forgiven (Colossians 2:13-15). Otherwise we wouldn’t even be there. Earlier Paul had said in effect that the definitions of good and bad have to do with our “good works” and are based on our motive, not on the outcome. I believe things done in the Lord’s name with the intent of expressing our gratitude to Him will be like gold, silver, and precious gems and considered to be good. But things done in our own name with the intent of glorifying ourselves will be like wood, hay, and stubble and are bad. The good things will be rewarded and the bad things will be discarded, being of no value in the Kingdom. But even if we have nothing good to our credit we’ll still be saved (1 Cor. 3:11-15). Then Paul said we shouldn’t judge anything before hand, because it’s impossible for us to discern a person’s motive, even when it’s our own. The Lord will bring all this to light and then we’ll each receive the praise that’s legitimately due to us. (1 Cor. 4:5) So this judgment is not about salvation or discipline, it’s about rewards. Therefore we have nothing to fear. ———————- The key is … its confessed sins that God remembers no more. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Then its this promise Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. But unconfessed sin … will be exposed God says in Romans 12:19 “vengeance is mine I will repay you.” I had a few nasty encounters working in the “Christian” camp and in church. The camp work were horrific conditions that were uncalled that went on for weeks. To make a long story short the head cook wanted my future sister in law to marry her son … but instead my brother did. When she found out I was related … WOE, she took her frustrated demonic rage out on me. I was 17 yrs old at the time hearing her called me nasty names in front of the other kitchen workers. She blamed me for all the dishes that broke … I never broke any. I was blamed for anything and everything that went wrong, even messed up food orders, that wasn’t even my job. She went the extra mile with bearing false witness with her lies about me to the camp director that I was not working and goofing off to whatever. All lies and every week when I got paid I had to deal with his abuse … “you know since you broke all those dishes in the kitchen … I really shouldn’t have to pay you this week” I said I never broke any dish … its all lies. He said why would the head cook tell lies? Shes been working here for years. So he didn’t believe me. Then she had the nerve to show up at my brother’s wedding to ruin my day. I felt her arms around my shoulders and I said really loud so all in the foyer could hear … get your filthy hands off my body. I’m soooo glad Jesus keeps perfect records … see you on Judgement Day! And then I saw her shake before I turned away. Meanwhile I also had to deal with the Camp Director since he officiated the wedding. Whenever we made eye contact during the banquet dinner he kept thinking the worse with his judgmental look because he still believed her lies. I’m sure many of you can recall bad incidences too where no apologies were given and you are seeking justice. There will be crying at the BEMA seat … its not all happiness … there will be regret too and God will wipe away the tears. My old church did "The Bema" play 10 or so years ago. It was such an encouragement to me of what we are about to experience as followers of Jesus. I found a video of Pete Briscol doing the play back in 2003 at campus crusade for Christ. Its a little over an hour but its so encouraging -- I just watched it and again drove me to tears of joy for what we're destined for. I think the regrets and crying will be due to our lack of doing and time squandered verses the bad things we did. I never apologized to Marie for pulling her pigtails when we were kids and while she may be waiting for me with her arms crossed and tapping her foot I do not expect to hear about it at the Bema Seat 😁 Hmmm … well .. maybe one of your job assignments in the millennium is being her personal hair dresser 😳 whenever she needs a new hairdo B-) :mdrmdr: That would be a tough assignment. She used to throw rocks and grapefruits at me when I would tell she was pretty! 😁
