In part 1, we saw that the Bible teaches that everyone is judged during this life according to his works. Whether believer or unbeliever, we are all accountable for our actions. We reap what we sow in this life. 

But what about the life to come? Will the eternal experiences of believers and unbelievers vary depending on their good and bad works done in this life? In part 2, we will consider whether the eternal experience of believers will depend on how their works are evaluated by the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema).  

Whether we think it is fair or not, the Lord and His apostles taught that the eternal experience of believers will depend on how faithful we were in this life. Let’s consider four NT texts.  

2 Corinthians 5:9-10. Paul said, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat [Bema] of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Some have tried to evade what Paul wrote by translating  good or bad as good or worthless. But both the Majority Text and the Critical Text (CT) translate the Greek as good or bad. The CT reads phaulos, which some suggest means worthless here. But every other time in the NT that phaulos is opposite agathos, the phrase refers to good or bad. Furthermore, the MT reading is the best attested reading. 

The phrase “that each one may receive” refers to eternal rewards. What we receive will depend on what we did in this life. Compare 1 Cor 9:24-27 (an imperishable crown), 2 Tim 2:12 (“If we endure, we shall also reign with Him”), and 2 Tim 4:6-8 (the crown of righteousness). 

Matthew 16:27. The Lord Jesus told His disciples, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matt 16:27). He was speaking of when He returns. The translation “reward” (NKJV) is misleading. The Greek word can refer to something either positive or negative. A better translation is “He will recompense.”

Revelation 22:12. The Lord Jesus said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Some commentators point out that Rev 22:12 parallels Matt 16:27. That is certainly true.  

1 Peter 4:13. Peter said, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” The phrase “to the extent” refers to proportionality, though some, like Elliott, reject this interpretation,  

…the sense of katho is not “in the measure which” (Selwyn 1947, 221) or “in so far as” (Grudem 1988, 178) but “inasmuch as” or “since.” Rejoicing, similarly, is not contingent on the degree of suffering but is based on the actuality of this commonality of suffering. (1 Peter, p. 774)  

I agree with Selwyn and Grudem on this point. The leading Greek NT dictionary, BDAG, does as well, defining kathō in 1 Pet 4:13 as “marker of degree, in so far as, to the degree” (p. 493). Our rejoicing at the Bema will depend on the degree to which we have suffered for Christ in this life.  

There are many pastors and theologians who suggest that it would be unfair of God to reward some believers more than others. Perhaps they have been influenced by the popularity of DEI policies. However, the Bible is clear that the eternal experience of believers will vary greatly, depending on how faithful they were in this life.  

About twenty years ago I spoke about the Bema at a Bible church. I shared that how believers live now will determine the fullness of our lives forever. Afterwards a woman came up and thanked me profusely. She saw the truth in the Scriptures. She lamented that she did not learn this truth until age sixty. But she said she was determined to make the most of this knowledge for the rest of her life by ceasing to lay up treasure on earth and by focusing instead on laying up treasure in heaven.

Keep grace in focus and you will long for the Lord to say to you, “Well done, good servant” (Luke 19:17).