Appear Before the Judgment Seat of Christ
The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a place of review and reward where some will be rewarded more than others, based on their lives of faithfulness and devotion.
William MacDonald emphasizes the significance of the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers will receive rewards based on their earthly actions, whether good or bad. He explains that while all believers are fit for heaven, there will be varying degrees of reward and capacity for joy in eternity, reflecting the faithfulness and devotion of their lives. MacDonald illustrates this with the example of two men who, despite being equally saved, prioritize different pursuits, leading to differing capacities for enjoying the glories of heaven. He urges believers to recognize that their daily choices and priorities shape their eternal rewards and experiences. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life dedicated to God's kingdom, which will yield greater joy and fulfillment in the afterlife.
Text
Â"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.Â" (2 Cor. 5:10)
While it is true, as we have seen on the previous page, that there are no degrees of fitness for heaven, it is also true that there will be degrees of reward in heaven. The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a place of review and reward where some will be rewarded more than others.
Also there will be differing capacities for enjoying the glories of heaven. Everyone will be happy but some will have greater capacity for happiness than others. EveryoneÂ's cup will be full but some will have bigger cups than others.
We must get away from the idea that we will all be exactly alike when we reach the glorified state. The Bible nowhere teaches such dull, faceless uniformity. Rather it teaches that crowns will be awarded for lives of faithfulness and devotedness, and that while some are being rewarded, others will suffer loss.
Here are two young men who are the same age and who are converted at the same time. One goes out and lives the next forty years by giving top priority to the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The other gives the best of his life to making money. The first talks enthusiastically about the things of the Lord, the second about activity in the market. The first has a greater capacity for enjoying the Lord now, and he will take that greater capacity to heaven. The second, though equally fit for heaven through the Person and work of Christ, is spiritually dwarfed, and he takes that reduced capacity to heaven.
Day by day we are determining the rewards that we will receive and the measure to which we will enjoy our eternal home. We determine it by our knowledge of the Bible and our obedience to it, by our prayer life, by our fellowship with GodÂ's people, by our service for the Lord, and by our faithful stewardship of all that God has given to us. As soon as we realize that we are building for eternity with every passing day, it should have a profound effect on the choices we make and the priorities we set.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Judgment Seat of Christ
- A. A place of review and reward
- B. Where some will be rewarded more than others
- II. Degrees of Reward in Heaven
- A. Not degrees of fitness for heaven
- B. But degrees of reward and capacity for happiness
- III. Crowns for Lives of Faithfulness
- A. Awarded for lives of devotion and faithfulness
- B. While others will suffer loss
- IV. Determining Our Rewards
- A. Through knowledge of the Bible and obedience
- B. Prayer life, fellowship, service, and stewardship
Key Quotes
“We must get away from the idea that we will all be exactly alike when we reach the glorified state.” — William MacDonald
“Day by day we are determining the rewards that we will receive and the measure to which we will enjoy our eternal home.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- We should prioritize our lives to give top priority to the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- We should be faithful stewards of all that God has given to us, including our time, talents, and resources.
- We should strive to live our lives in obedience to the Bible and in fellowship with God's people.