What happens to a believer's work at the bema seat?
At the bema seat, every believer's work is tested by fire to reveal its quality. Work that abides—gold, silver, precious stone—earns a reward. Work that burns—wood, hay, stubble—brings loss of reward, not loss of salvation; the believer is saved yet as by fire.
Les explains that at the bema seat the Lord Jesus, with fiery eyes, makes every man's work manifest. The day declares it, and fire tries each person's work to show what sort it is. If a believer's work abides, he receives a reward. If it is wood, hay, and stubble, it burns and he suffers loss—not of salvation, but of reward. He is still saved, yet so as by fire, having made it but with nothing to show for it. Les warns this will be true of far too many believers.
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
More Questions
How will a believer's work be tested at the judgment?
Every believer's work will be tested by fire to reveal what sort it is.
What determines whether a believer's good works survive the fire?
Whether a believer's work survives the testing is primarily based on motive, that is, why we do the things we categorize as good works — whether to please the flesh, to please someone else, or strictly for God's honor and glory.
What does it mean that every believer's work will be made manifest?
Every believer's work shall be made manifest, which means it will be put in the spotlight.