Bema – Grace Evangelical Society

Why Do So Few Believe in the Judgment Seat of Christ?

May 9, 2023 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Bema, Dispensationalism, Judgment Seat of Christ

Jack emailed me a great question: “Why does it seem like only dispensationalists believe in the Judgment Seat of Christ?” For those who are not theology nerds, a dispensationalist believes that at various times–or dispensations–in the world’s history, God has changed His commandments. For example, today God allows us to eat pork or shrimp. We

The Unlikely Hero

February 24, 2023 by Kathryn Wright in Blog - Bema, Hebrews 11, last will be first, rewards

As an Army brat, I’ve heard many war stories, especially those regarding Medal of Honor winners. The Medal of Honor is the highest award that our country issues to its military, and it is only given to those soldiers who have exhibited profound acts of bravery and sacrifice. To put it into perspective, most Medal

Being a Judge Is Not an Easy Job (Acts 18:12-17)

August 9, 2022 by Kenneth Yates in Blog - Bema, Corinth, Gallio, synagogue

I attended a church in Texas once where one of the deacons was a county judge. He would sometimes talk about cases that appeared before him. Oftentimes guilt or innocence was cut and dried. Other times, it was difficult to determine. In most cases, there was always a question about the fine he should give

When Will Non Church-Age Believers Be Judged?

July 6, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Bema, Eschatological judgments, Great White Throne Judgment, Sheep and Goats Judgment

Elwyn asks, Church age believers are to be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ [the Bema] after the Rapture of the church at some point during the Tribulation, if I understand this issue correctly.  My question is this.  When in your opinion will believers of the Tribulation period and the Millennium be judged by

Can Believers Get Away with Murder?

May 3, 2021 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 John 2:28, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Accountability, Bema

Very few people in Evangelicalism believe in the doctrine of eternal rewards. Most think that the Judgment Seat of Christ is another name for the Great White Throne judgment. In their view, everyone will appear before Christ and have his works evaluated. Those whose works are good enough to prove that they were faithful followers

How Can Perfect People Feel Regret?

April 1, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Bema, Judgment Seat of Christ, misthology, rewards, Tony Evans

The very concept of gaining eternal rewards in Jesus’ future kingdom is foreign to many Christians, but it’s certainly not foreign to the Bible, which repeatedly teaches about the importance of rewards. “[L]ay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” Jesus urged (Matt 6:20). And Hebrews says God “is a rewarder of those who diligently seek

George Muller’s Holy Confidence

September 22, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Bema, Confidence, George Muller, Judgment Seat of Christ, rewards

If you are a grace believer—unlike many people in Christendom—you are not worried about being judged for your eternal salvation because Jesus settled that issue the moment you believed in Him for eternal salvation: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life,

The Last Words in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

November 12, 2019 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 2 Corinthians 5:10, Bema, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Judgment of Bad Deeds, Judgment of Deeds Done in Secret, The Judgment Seat of Christ

Ecclesiastes is a difficult book. The reason is probably because Solomon was seeking pleasure and wisdom from a humanistic perspective. But by the time he gets to the end of the book, Solomon has clearly shown that from a humanistic perspective, life has no meaning or purpose. It is all vain. Solomon concludes in this

Works at the Bema

March 1, 2019 by Kenneth Yates in Blog - Bema, Judgment Seat of Christ, Tom Rodgers

On Feb 26, Bob posted a blog (see here) about the fact that Tom Rodgers of Grace Church in Wichita Falls, TX, taught on the Judgment Seat of Christ just a few days before he died. Bob spoke of the many years that Tom, along with Reggie Coe, had pastored the church, and that Tom

The Ten Commandments in Ephesians?

November 15, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Bema, Decalogue, Law of Christ, Ten Commandments

I was reading through Ephesians last night, and in chapters 4-6, I began to notice that Paul restated several of the Ten Commandments. Sometimes the restatement was explicit, such as when Paul explicitly quotes the command to honor your parents (Eph 6:1-3). Other times, the restatement was implicit. Paul did not quote the Decalogue but