Will our justification in Christ prevent us from terror and dishonour at the Judgement Seat of Christ?

Statement on Social Media:

To suggest that believers will face dishonor or shame at Christ's judgment seat, one would have to misinterpret many of Paul's declarations about justification and our status as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. The wood, hay, and stubble that will be consumed represent the fleshly works, which all true believers will gladly discard. 

The judgment seat of Christ is a time solely for rejoicing and celebration, akin to a birthday party for every believer. There, we will shed all unwanted things and receive the rewards and crowns that Christ has merited for us as co-heirs and children of God. It is a ceremony of celebration, devoid of any shame or dishonor.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Eph 1:3)

“and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Eph 2:6)

“giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Col 1:12)

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:4)

My Response:

The above statement is something that we all want to hear and accept about the judgement seat of Christ, but how accurate is this statement when compared to what the Bible says? Will it be one big celebration only, or will there be a time of terror when one stands before the living Lord and God to be judged for one's labour for the Lord? I'm not trying to bring doom and despondency to this topic, but rather than accept what we want to believe, I'd rather find out what the Word of God says on the topic.

I agree that it will be a day of rejoicing. As you said, to get rid of this carnal, sinful body, deserves huge praise and celebration. In addition, we will see our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Just to be in the heavenlies, our eternal home, is a joy and an unspeakable hope for us all. In this regard, I am in agreement and in exultation to our Lord.

However, we cannot overlook the moment when we stand before the Lord in that time of reward. There will be no fear of punishment or hell, but it is a time of judgement regarding your labour for the Lord, and the verdict of that judgement will determine your reward. Remember, the judgement seat and rewards have nothing to do with our justification. It has all to do with our faithfulness to our life and growth in the Lord after we are saved. It is all to do with our faithfulness to His doctrine as I'll explain later in this reply. When the Lord will judge your labour, it will be a time of terror, a time of anxiety or apprehension for what the Lord will say. Will it be praise or will it be displeasure. That terror, as a simple example, might be similar to waiting for a test result, feeling anticipation mixed with anxiety and apprehension about the result.

Paul writes the following:

2Co 5:9-11  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  (10)  For we must all appear before the judgment 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.  (11)  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Why will we go through this judgement? What is its purpose? Well, we will be stewards of the Lord's heavenly house, 1Cor.4:1-2. We will bear responsibility to manage His rule and authority in the heavenlies. We will execute His will and judgements, 1Cor.6:1-5. This responsibility carries faithfulness and a specific knowledge of the Lord's will, His mind, His desires, His righteousness, and His judgements, as Solomon writes,

Pro 2:1-9  My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;  (2)  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;  (3)  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;  (4)  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;  (5)  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.  (6)  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.  (7)  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.  (8)  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.  (9)  Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

There are many positions in the government of heaven. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, Col.1:16. There will be MANY seats to fill, but they are not all the same. There is specific measures of Christ's glory that will be rewarded us based on our mystery doctrine and how much it has renewed us and shaped our wisdom and character and our commitment to Christ, even to the point of suffering for His name. Paul writes about it in Corinthians,

1Co 15:40-41  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  (41)  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

Rom_8:17  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 together.

So, our full redemption on that day of our Lord Jesus will certainly be a time of great rejoicing and celebration, but the judgement seat will be a time of terror and revelation of our faithfulness and choices according to what we have been revealed of God and of His doctrine. We must understand that our initial justification through the grace gospel is only the FIRST step on our walk with God. This first step guarantees our salvation through faith in the cross work of Christ, but this is where our journey only BEGINS. From here, God expects us to come to a knowledge of His will, 1Tim.2:4, and grow up from babes in Christ towards sons of God, Rom.8:14, knowing the doctrine of God, His will, righteousness, judgements, and mind. It is this that prepares us for the ages to come.

All of us at this event will partake in the Lord's glory and inheritance, some will receive reward according to the measure of glory given them, and fill the positions of varying honour, but some will suffer loss of reward and be those vessels of dishonour in the house of the Lord, Rom.9:21; 2Tim.2:20.

Lastly, concerning the verses that were quoted in the original statement, we have to look at the proper context of these verses. It's easy to take verses that sound good and use them to justify a point, but if they are quoted out of context in which they were written, then it proves nothing. To use a famous quote, "A verse out of context is a pretext."

The two scripture verses in Ephesians are in reference to the predetermined inheritance of the Body of Christ. These verses have nothing to do with the judgement seat of Christ. They are concerning the spiritual blessings and inheritance determined, not to individual believers, but to the whole Body of Christ. To the Body of Christ is all spiritual blessings given and we are all as the Body of Christ seated in the heavenly places which is our home and inheritance. But within the great inheritance of Christ, are thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, and these are measured out to each member as the Lord determines. There is reward and loss. There are positions of honour and dishonour, according to the outcome of the Lord's judgement and the reward, or loss, assigned.

The first reference in Colossians is a thanksgiving and prayer of Paul to the Colossians who have proven to be full of faith in Christ Jesus, with love for all the saints. Through their salvation they have been made fit to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. We will all partake in this inheritance, but not in equal measure. We will partake according to the measure we are given based on our reward.

The second reference of Colossians is not related to the judgement seat at all. Yes, we will be glorified with Him at His appearance, but this refers to us all as the Body of Christ. As with the Ephesians verses, this is about the glorification of the Body of Christ as a whole, however, each member in that Body has differing glory according to function and purpose, 1Cor.15.