What is the purpose of the Judgement Seat of Christ?

The Bible talks about the Judgment Seat of Christ--also referred to as the bema--in three places: Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10--4:5; and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Only church-age saints will appear at that judgment, as shown in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ."

The purpose of the bema is an exhaustive evaluation of our lives. First Corinthians 4:5 says the Lord will come and "bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God."

That passage reveals Paul's emphasis on the judgment seat of Christ. Notice that Paul says each man's praise will come to him from God. God gives rewards to the victors; He does not whip the losers. We know that He won't condemn us for our sins at that point, because Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."

Thus, the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ is to examine a Christian's total life. We will be recompensed for the deeds we have done, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). The term used there refers to a summing up and estimation of the total pattern of a believer's life. This overall focus should keep us from worrying over every stupid thing we've ever done, or thoughtless sin we have committed. It's a time of reward, not punishment.

There’s also the issue of the deluded:

Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There will be “many” at judgment who have deluded themselves into believing they’re saved, but they’re not. They failed to “do the will of the Father.” In context, the passage appears to be speaking of false prophets, i.e., people who claim God didn’t say something He said, or that He said something He didn’t say. People who call God a liar, in other words. That’s something many, many people who call themselves “Christian” do nowadays. Those who claim there’s nothing wrong with abortion or homosexuality come immediately to mind.

Anyway, these deluded folks must be judged and disabused of the notion they’re saved. They’ll believe they’re elect right up to the point God casts them into hell and the lake of fire.

Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Even Judas could be saved after the betrayal, just as Peter was saved after the denial. The Father did not tell Jesus everything.

Truly? Do you view Jesus Christ according to the following statement?: "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"(Col 2:9)

Not only the John 13 passage on Jesus Christ knowing the condition of Judas' heart and intentions but here as well:

John 6: NKJV

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them,“Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.(NKJV)

The question is not whether Judas could be saved after his betrayal, but that Jesus Christ knew Judas would betray Him and not come to Him in the end.

Thus we have a "called out one" in Peter stating "“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The stark comparsion being that Peter in his moment of weakness denying the Lord was preserved and Judas was not. We have ample evidence of Peter and other disciples confessing Jesus as Messiah and even Thomas exclaiming "My Lord and My God", but for Judas we have nothing of this.

We even see in the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ here the following:

John 17:NKJV

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.(NKJV)

So there is that about Judas.

I don’t think they happen at the same time but am not sure.

These were the kind of questions that led me to study eschatology. I am sure the judgement of the saved is not at the same time as the judgement of the unsaved. I believe the Berma seat judgement is after the rapture prior to the marriage. My view is the Berma Seat judgement is of believers in our translated bodies.

The Great White Throne Judgment is at the end of the age, as in Revelation. By then the marriage of the Lamb has already occurred.

I agree with you.

It seems to me that when we try to reason something out the answer becomes clear. In this case the judgements of believers and the unsaved must be 2 separate events. How can the marriage have already occurred when we have yet to be refined for our Savior.

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