Believers will be judged for their works and deeds as believers — not for their sins — to determine their reward at the bema seat.
Les Feldick teaches that no believer's sin will be presented at the judgment seat of Christ, because all sin was already judged at the cross and is under the blood. Instead, believers give an account of the things done in the body — their works and behavior as believers — and receive reward accordingly. The judgment seat is never about eternal destiny, which is reserved for the great white throne judgment of the lost.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — The verse Paul uses to say every believer must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body — the passage Les reads in explaining the bema.
1 Corinthians 3:13 — Shows that every believer's work will be made manifest and tested by fire at the judgment day.
The Bible teaches that every believer will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul writes: "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" (2 Corinthians 5:10). In the same context he says, "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9). Scripture also teaches that the believer's work will be tested: "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" (1 Corinthians 3:13). The New Testament also reveals a separate judgment for the lost — the great white throne — where "the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12).
Les Feldick is emphatic that the judgment seat of Christ is never about sin. He warns that many believers still think they will have to be dealt with for sin there, but they will not — their sin has already been judged at the cross and is under the blood. No believer's sin will be presented at the bema; it is strictly a review of the believer's works (Clips 1, 2). Les explains that the Greek word behind "judgment seat" is bema, "just as plain as day," and he calls the King James rendering unfortunate because it scares people. The bema is the seat of the judges — a seat of rewards. Reading the words of 2 Corinthians 5:10, he shows that believers must all appear before the bema to "receive the things done in his body... be it good or bad," and he insists this is not salvation being put in the balances — it is strictly for reward (Clips 2, 3, 4, 6). Les also contrasts the bema with the great white throne judgment, which is exclusively for the lost of all ages — from Cain to the end of time — while no believer will ever be there. He further teaches that every believer's works will be manifested and tested by fire, connecting the testing language to the depiction of Christ's second coming in Revelation 19 (Clips 5, 7).
No, according to Les Feldick. He warns that many believers still think they will have to be dealt with for sin at the judgment seat of Christ, but they will not. Their sin has already been judged at the cross and is under the blood. At the bema, no believer's sin will be presented — it is strictly a review of their works as believers.
Les explains that the judgment seat of Christ is never intended to determine eternal destiny — if a person has not received salvation by that time, they will not be there in the first place. It is only for the believer to determine reward. The great white throne judgment is for the lost of all ages, from Cain onward, and no believers will be present. The lost will be resurrected out of hell to appear before it in a body fit for the lake of fire.
Les teaches that every believer's work will be made manifest — placed in the spotlight — for the day of the judgment seat of Christ, where it will be revealed and tested by fire. He clarifies this is not the white-throne judgment. He then takes his listeners to Revelation 19, the depiction of Christ's second coming, to show what the Bible means when it speaks of being tested by fire.
Les points out that the Greek word is bema, "just as plain as day." He says the King James rendering "judgment seat" scares people, but the bema seat was the seat of the judges — a seat of rewards. It is the place where believers receive for what they have done, not a judgment for sin.
Total Forgiveness — Sin Debt Paid in Full
Les explains that every believer's trespasses are already forgiven because Christ tasted death for every man, and the payment is activated when a person believes the Gospel. This is why believers will never face sin at the bema.
Sin Already Judged at the Cross
Les teaches that believers will never face their sin in glory because sin was already judged at the cross and is under the blood. The judgment seat of Christ is only for reward and never determines eternal destiny.
Review of Works, Not Sin
Les teaches that no believer's sin will be presented at the bema seat; it is strictly a review of the believer's works, and believers will give an account of what they have done.
Appear Before the Bema Seat
Les reads the words of 2 Corinthians 5:10 — that believers must all appear before the bema seat to receive the things done in his body, be it good or bad — and says this is strictly for reward, not salvation.
'Judgment Seat' Is a Mistranslation — Bema Seat
Les says the Greek word bema should have been translated "seat of rewards" rather than "judgment seat," and that the great white throne is only for those who reject salvation.
Only the Lost at the Great White Throne
Les explains there will be no believers at the great white throne — Christ will judge the lost of all ages from Cain onward, and they will be resurrected to a body fit for the lake of fire.
Labouring for Reward, Not Salvation
Les teaches that believers labour to be accepted of Him — not for salvation, but for reward — because all must appear before the judgment seat (bema seat) to receive what was done in the body.
Works Tested by Fire
Les teaches that every believer's work will be made manifest and tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ, and he connects this testing language to the depiction of Christ's second coming in Revelation 19.
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.
The key New Testament passage describing the believer's appearance before the bema seat to receive for what was done in the body.
2 Corinthians 5:9: Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
Paul's labour to be accepted of Christ, which Les says is not for salvation but for reward.
1 Corinthians 3:13: 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.
The testing by fire of every believer's work at the judgment day of Christ.
Revelation 20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The great white throne judgment of the lost, which Les contrasts with the believer's bema seat.
No. Les Feldick teaches that no believer's sin will ever be presented at the bema seat. All sin was already judged at the cross and is under the blood, so believers will never give an account for sin in glory — only an account of their works as believers.
The judgment seat of Christ is only for the believer to determine reward. It is never intended to determine eternal destiny, because only believers will be there. Les compares it to the Greek bema, a seat of rewards.
The bema is the Greek word behind the King James rendering "judgment seat." Les says it is "just as plain as day" in the Greek and should be understood as the seat of the judges — a seat of rewards, not a place of punishment for sin.
The great white throne judgment is for the lost of all ages, from Cain to the end of time. There will be no believers there. Christ will judge the lost, who will be resurrected to a body fit for the eternal lake of fire.
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