Believers appear before the bema seat of Christ to receive rewards for what they have done in the body, not to be judged for sin or to have their salvation decided.
Les Feldick teaches that the bema seat was the judges' seat at the Olympic Games where winners were rewarded, and the judgment seat of Christ is the same kind of seat for believers. The believer's salvation is already settled and sin is under the blood, so the bema seat determines only the reward for the believer's works and life.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — This verse directly states that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 — This passage describes believers' works being tested by fire and resulting in reward or loss, while the believer himself remains saved.
The New Testament directly addresses the judgment seat of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, Paul says, "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." This text shows a future appearance where believers receive according to their deeds done in the body. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 describes the testing of each believer's work: "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." Scripture thus distinguishes between the work being tested and the person being saved.
Les Feldick teaches that the bema seat comes from the Greek word for the judges' seat in the Olympic Games, where judges awarded prizes to the winners. In the same way, the judgment seat of Christ is a seat of rewards, not a judgment for sin and not the great white throne judgment. He emphasizes that salvation was settled the moment a person believed and that all sin is under the blood, having already been judged at the cross. Therefore believers will never face their sin at the bema seat. Instead, every believer will have his works tested by the fiery eyes of Christ — whether they are wood, hay, stubble or gold, silver, precious stones — and will receive reward accordingly. Les also teaches that reward is God's incentive for a believer to live a pleasing, fruitful life. God does not force obedience; He offers reward, just as parents reward their children. The rewards laid up for believers will be enjoyed for all eternity.
Les Feldick explains that the word bema is simply the Greek word translated as "judgment seat." In the Olympic Games, the bema seat was occupied by judges who determined who came in first, second, third, and so on. It was a raised podium set at the finish line. The judgment seat of Christ is the same kind of seat — not for deciding heaven or hell, but for determining reward for believers.
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that believers will never face their sin at the judgment seat of Christ. He says sin was judged at the cross and is covered by the blood. The bema seat is for the believer only, to determine reward for how the believer has behaved and what they have done with their life.
The Bible shows that each believer's work is like a building material placed on the foundation. Paul lists gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. The day will declare each man's work because it will be revealed by fire. If the work remains, the believer receives a reward; if it is burned, he suffers loss but is himself saved.
Les Feldick draws a parallel to earthly parents who wish their children to obey and do well, and who use rewards as an incentive. Likewise, God has paid the purchase price of redemption and desires His people to do His bidding, but He does not force them. Reward is the incentive He gives believers to be pleasing in His sight. Since those rewards will be enjoyed for all eternity, they should motivate a believer to live a fruitful life.
Reward as the Incentive
Les teaches that God does not force believers to do His bidding; reward is the incentive, just as parents reward their children for obedience.
The Bema as the Seat of Rewards
The bema seat was the rewards seat at the Olympic Games, so the judgment seat of Christ is not a judgment for sin but an examination of the believer's life for reward.
The Greek Word Bema
The English term 'judgment seat' is an unfortunate translation; the Greek word is bema, and 2 Corinthians 5:10 is about receiving reward for what has been done in the body.
Definition of Bema
Les defines bema as the Greek word for judgment seat, from the Olympics, and says believers will come before it for reward, not for heaven or hell.
Bema Determines Reward, Not Destiny
The bema seat is set at the finish line like a judge's podium; it determines reward, not eternal destiny, and salvation is already settled.
Sin Already Judged
Believers will never face their sin at the judgment seat of Christ because sin was judged at the cross and is under the blood; the great white throne is for the lost.
Works Tested by Fire
At the bema seat, every believer's work will be tested by the fiery eyes of Christ to see if it is wood, hay, stubble or gold, silver, precious stones.
Rewards Motivators
Works lead to reward, and those rewards will be enjoyed for eternity; this is what drives the believer to live a fruitful life.
2 Corinthians 5:9: Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
This verse shows that the believer's labor is aimed at being accepted by Christ, which Les connects to reward, not salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
This is the key verse for the bema seat: every believer appears to receive what was done in the body, good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This passage explains the testing of believers' works at the bema seat, with reward for enduring work and loss of reward, but not loss of salvation.
No. Les Feldick teaches that sin was already judged at the cross and is under the blood. Believers will never face their sin at the judgment seat of Christ; the bema seat is only for determining reward.
No. The great white throne judgment is for the lost, while the bema seat of Christ is only for believers and determines reward, not eternal destiny.
No. According to 1 Corinthians 3:15, if a believer's work is burned, he suffers loss but he himself is saved, yet so as by fire. Les Feldick emphasizes that salvation is settled and the bema seat concerns reward.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?