Pastor Leslie Chua

The topic of eternal rewards is prominent in the New Testament Scripture. But somehow, it is not often taught and discussed. Many Christians have virtually no idea of it at all.

The focus is exclusively on salvation. Well, I can understand that is of preeminent importance. However, eternal rewards, when properly understood and put in perspective, are extremely important. It has significant eternal implications for believers and the Kingdom of God.

Perhaps, the concern has to do with the nature of salvation and eternal rewards. Salvation is by the grace of God whereas eternal rewards are earned. That is, by works. Salvation depends on who we believe. Those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved. On the other hand, rewards hinge on how we live and how we serve Christ. In this age and time, talking about works seems to run counter to Christianity’s salvation emphasis on grace instead of works. This may explain the general hesitancy to emphasise eternal rewards.


The Judgement Seat of Christ

Believers are saved. However, we are still required to appear before the judgement seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

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At the judgement seat of Christ, Jesus will do a complete evaluation of every believer’s life.
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The judgement seat of Christ is different from the great white throne judgement (Revelation 20:11-14), which is reserved for those who died without Christ. Because their names are not found in the book of life, they will be thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented forever.

At the judgement seat of Christ, Jesus will do a complete evaluation of every believer’s life. Nothing will be left untouched. The Lord will bring to light every hidden thing and disclose the purposes of the heart whether it is good or evil (1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We will have to give an account of ourselves (Romans 14;10-12).

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The purpose of the judgement seat of Christ is to reward the saints for their faithfulness.
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All the participants in the judgement seat of Christ are believers. So, salvation is not an issue under consideration. Every one of them is saved. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Our sins – past, present, and future – were all paid for on the cross.

The purpose of the judgement seat of Christ is to reward the saints for their faithfulness. The word for judgement seat in the original Greek language is bema. When using this word, the apostle, Paul, had in mind the elevated seat of the judge in athletic contests. At the end of the race, the winners would assemble before the bema to receive their crowns and rewards. Likewise, the judgement seat of Christ is not a judicial bench for sentencing the condemned. Rather, it is a tribunal for rewarding faithful saints. It is a reward seat.


Basis of Eternal Rewards

All believers do not receive the same eternal rewards. These rewards are awarded based on faithfulness – faithfulness in the way we live for Christ and faithfulness in our service rendered to the King.

How we live is important. Do we live according to the Word of God? Do we love God? Do we love people? Are we kind? Are we forgiving? Do we bear the fruit of the Spirit? 

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All believers do not receive the same eternal rewards. These rewards are awarded based on faithfulness – faithfulness in the way we live for Christ and faithfulness in our service rendered to the King.
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How we serve is also important. What is our motivation? How is our attitude? Are we responsible and reliable? Are we conscientious in our service?

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Our works will be tested with fire. How seriously we had taken God and how we had invested in the Kingdom of God will be tested.
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Christ the Judge will evaluate us accordingly. He will assess our every thought, motive, and action. He will not merely look at the results, but He will also pry into our hearts and uncover our hidden motives.

Often, many believers live their lives and do things as if God does not see them. They will be shocked to discover that their lives will be laid bare and God will test all their works on that day of the bema seat judgement. We will be made to give an account of our lives.

Our works will be tested with fire. How seriously we had taken God and how we had invested in the Kingdom of God will be tested. In the words of Paul, if a person had built with gold, silver, and precious metals, he will be richly rewarded. However, if he had built with wood, hay, and straws – that is, worthless things – then, his works will be burnt up. He will “suffer loss.” In other words, he will lose his rewards though he will be saved, but as one who narrowly escapes the fire (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) gives us more insight into how God gives out eternal rewards. Those who are faithful in using their God-given abilities, skills, talents, spiritual giftings, and opportunities will be commended and rewarded accordingly by God. Conversely, those who squander them will be judged to be unfaithful, and even wicked.


The Rewards

What rewards can we expect to receive from the Lord? God has promised different kinds of rewards.

Faithful believers can expect to receive God’s praise and commendation. In the Parable of the Talents, the master commended the faithful servants and invited them to enter into His joy.

In various passages in the New Testament Scripture, we read about the reward of crowns – the crowns of life, righteousness, joy, and glory (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Peter 5:4).

We can also expect to receive more than commendations and crowns. In the Parable of the Minas, the faithful servants were rewarded with authority over cities.


The Timing of the Judgement Seat of Christ

The bema seat judgement of Christ for eternal rewards will take place after the rapture and before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. While the 7-year tribulation is happening on the earth, Jesus will be evaluating His saints in heaven.

2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV) - Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

God will assess and reward His faithful saints on “that Day,” which is a clear reference to the 7-year tribulation period.

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The bema seat judgement of Christ for eternal rewards will take place after the rapture and before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Here is another piece of evidence in Revelation 19:7-8 (ESV) - Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

The church – the bride of Christ – will be given “fine linen, bright and pure” to wear for the marriage of Jesus and His church. This fine linen is the eternal reward for the righteous deeds of the saints.

This beautiful narrative of the marriage of the Lamb is placed just before Jesus’ Second Coming at the end of the 7-year tribulation.

Hence, it is clear from the Bible that the judgement seat of Christ for eternal rewards will take place sometime after the rapture of the church and before Jesus’ Second Coming.


An Important Truth

Eternal rewards are an important truth. It has to do with Jesus selecting faithful saints to rule and reign with Him in both His millennial reign and eternal Kingdom. That is why we are promised authority over cities.

Our life on earth is a test. It is a test of our faithfulness. God watches how we live and how we serve. God watches how we relate to Him. He watches our attitude, motivation, and action. He watches how we treat people. He watches how we respond to different circumstances in our lives. He watches how we use our talents, deploy our resources, and seize the opportunities to advance His Kingdom.

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Eternal rewards are an important truth. It has to do with Jesus selecting faithful saints to rule and reign with Him in both His millennial reign and eternal Kingdom.
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God will make His assessment and reward each believer accordingly. Those who are faithful to Him will be richly rewarded.

Jesus made a remarkable statement in both the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Minas. In the first parable, Jesus said, “You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much” (Matthew 25:21-23). In the second parable, He said, “Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten (five) cities” (Luke 19:17-19).

God’s eternal rewards far outweigh the challenges of our present lives. That is why Paul said, “For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Paul knew the stakes are high. How we live during our earthly sojourn has an outsize implication for our eternity. For this reason, Paul kept pressing on and pushing forward “for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

He wrote these words to the Corinthians – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

May we be like Paul in his perspective and attitude. Let us fix our eyes on eternity and be single-minded in our pursuit of Christ and His Kingdom purposes. Let us run the race that has been marked out for us and complete it faithfully.

God is waiting to give us His eternal rewards.