Weekly Sermons

Wrath, Rewards, & Regrets

“Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life.”                                        -William Borden’s tombstone (1887-1913)

“No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.”        -William Borden   

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.”    -2 Cor. 5:10

 

Read Revelation 11:15-19           Wrath, Rewards, and Regrets                 Let’s Pray!

           

Anticipation Brings Praise!                                                                                V. 15-17

As we get closer to Christ’s Second Coming, Heaven is bursting with anticipation about Christ’s coming reign, and the righting of all wrongs! 

Wrath and Rewards                                                                                                         V. 18

For those who haven’t repented, turned to Christ, and had their names written in the Book of Life, there will be the Great White Throne Judgment we’ll talk about in Revelation chapter 20.

 

But there is also a judgment just for believers, sometimes referred to as the judgment at the Bema Seat, because that is the Greek word used in 2 Cor. 5:10 when it says believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.     

“Consider, to provoke you to good works, that you shall have from God, when you come to glory, a reward for everything you do for him on earth.”                        -John Bunyan            Quoted in Randy Alcorn, The Law of Rewards, 70

WHO will be at the Bema seat of Christ?

 

Believers only, those who have repented of their sins and trusted Jesus alone for salvation- everyone there will be receiving the ultimate reward, eternity with God! 

If we’re going to Heaven based on what Christ has done, and all our sins are forgiven, WHY will Christ still judge us?

 

Because everything we do on earth matters!

“I hope to grow rich in Heaven by taking care of orphans on earth!”                                                                                                  –George Whitfield

“Divine service performed here three times daily.”          -Ruth Graham

Now some object to this saying, “Danny, if you talk about rewards too much, people will lose sight of grace!”         I have three answers to that objection-

 

1.        I believe part of our time before Christ at the Bema Seat Judgment will definitely make clear to us that we’re only saved by grace-

2.        There are too many times the Bible and Jesus Himself tells us to do what we do in part for future reward to overlook this key teaching!

3.        This goes to the nature of how people are wired!

Now you can do two things with that truth:

 

You can keep living for earthly priorities and have regrets on that day!

 

Or you can re-order your life around kingdom priorities! 

What is between wrath, which we won’t experience, and rewards, which are based on what we do for Jesus?                 Regrets

Can what will be a future regret turn into a future reward?

If you don’t try to restore that relationship now, it will be a regret at the Bema seat. If you do try to restore that relationship now, it will be a reward at the Bema seat!

In all you do, take the eternal view!