Our Theme Verse for 2017 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1
Rainbow Forest Mission Statement Connecting the Disconnected to Christ, Community and the Call Our Purpose To glorify God in everything we say and do Connecting Through the Word The Judgment Seat of Jacob The Judgment Seat of Christ Genesis 49 2 Corinthians 5:10 2
Genesis 49:1-2 & 28 1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 13 each one s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 3
Romans 14:10-12 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. The Judgment Seat is not a question of whether or not you are in the family. That will take place at the White Throne Judgment. It is question of position in the kingdom! And we will see in Jacob s pronouncements that present performance determines future position in the kingdom. 4
Jacob's sons gathered about his bed. We view the scene as the judgment seat of Jacob, and it prefigures the judgment seat of Christ. Lives are brought up for review and rebukes and rewards are meted out. What has been sowed must be reaped. Hidden things are exposed and judged; Open things are praised or punished. There is a place in a Kingdom at stake for each one, and each one is weighed in the light of that. Reuben (49:3-4) He lacked character, he lacked courage, he lacked conviction, he lacked everything. You went up to thy father's bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch. Here at the judgment seat Reuben s unconfessed sin was exposed and dealt with. 5
Simeon and Levi (49:5-7) Their sin was not one of weakness like the sin of Reuben; it was one of downright, deliberate wickedness. Character and career were the determining factors, the past was determining the future. Just because they were in the family did not absolve them from responsibility for their behavior. "Cursed be their anger," cried Jacob, "for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." For the sin, Jacob had a curse, for the sinners a cure. Judah (49:8-12) Looking at Judah, Jacob saw the leader (49:8) "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee." Looking at Judah, Jacob saw the lion (49:9) "Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?" Judah would be the royal tribe, as the lion was king among beasts. Looking at Judah, Jacob saw the Lord (49:10) "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." 6
At the judgment seat of Jacob nothing was forgotten, just as at the judgment seat of Christ no stand taken for Christ will go unrewarded in the Kingdom. As Jacob looked at Judah all he could see was Jesus. All Judah's faults and failings were blotted out in that glorious vision of Christ. That is what will count at the judgment seat. At the judgment seat of Jacob all were present; all had to appear. There was no difference. Zebulun (49:13) Issachar (49:14-15) Dan (49:16-18) Gad (49:19) Asher (49:20) Naphtali (49:21) Benjamin (49:27) Joseph (49:22-26) What is going to count most at he coming judgment seat. Courage, strength, and wisdom will all have their rewards, but it is Christlikeness in us that will make the very vaults of heaven ring. 7
The judgment-seat experience had been painful for some, pleasant for others, but the verdict had been perfect in each case. Not a voice was raised in protest, each individual knew he had been fairly dealt with, and that the judge had been without bias. As the men trooped out of the room to face their respective futures in the coming kingdom, they could not help but see that they had reaped just what they had sown. The Bema Seat or Judgment Seat of Christ The purpose of the bema judgment. The purpose of the bema judgment is not to determine whether a particular individual enters heaven or not, for every man s eternal destiny is already determined before he leaves this life. The purpose of the bema judgment is not to punish believers for sins committed either before or after their salvation. The Scriptures are very clear that no child of God will have to answer for his sins after this life. 8
In the past, God dealt with us as sinners (Rom. 5:6-8; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 2:1-3) In the present, God deals with us as sons (Rom. 8:14; Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Jn. 3:1, 2) In the future, God will deal with us as stewards 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Peter 4:10 Minister as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Though it is difficult to know just what goes to make up a golden work or a stubble work, we are nevertheless informed of certain general areas in which God is particularly interested. How we treat other believers How we exercise our authority over others How we employ our God-given abilities How we use our money How much we suffer for Jesus How we spend our time How we run that particular race which God has chosen for us How effectively we control the old nature. How many souls we witness to and win to Christ. How we react to temptation. How much the doctrine of the rapture means to us. How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God. 9
The results of the bema judgment seat of Christ. 1. Some will receive rewards. If any man s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward (1 Cor. 3:14). 2. Some will suffer loss. If any man s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (1 Cor. 3:15). The Bible mentions at least five possible rewards. The incorruptible crown given to those who master the old nature (1 Cor. 9:25-27). The crown of rejoicing given to soul-winners (Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; 1 Thess. 2:19, 20). The crown of life given to those who successfully endure temptation (Jas. 1:2, 3; Rev. 2:10). The crown of righteousness given to those who especially love the doctrine of the rapture (2 Tim. 4:8). The crown of glory given to faithful preachers and teachers (Acts 20:26-28; 2 Tim. 4:1, 2; 1 Pet. 5:2-4). It has been suggested that these crowns will actually be talents and abilities with which to glorify Christ. Thus, the greater the reward, the greater the ability! 10
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