Christians receive rewards to be evaluated for their faithful service and labor after salvation, not to earn salvation itself.
According to Les Feldick, all believers will appear before the judgment seat (Bema seat) of Christ to receive rewards for what they have done in their lives as believers. This is separate from salvation, which is complete upon belief and covered by Christ's blood. The rewards are based on faithful service and will result in responsibilities in Christ's future kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — This verse directly states that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what they have done in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15 — This passage explains how believers' works will be tested by fire, and rewards (gold, silver, precious stones) will survive.
The Bible teaches that believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "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 a time of evaluation for believers, not a judgment for sin, as sin is already covered by Christ's blood. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 uses the metaphor of building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble. Each believer's work will be tested by fire; only what is built with enduring materials will survive to gain reward. This testing is specifically for believers and concerns reward, not salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that the judgment seat of Christ, also called the Bema seat, is not about determining eternal destiny but about rewarding believers for their faithful service. He emphasizes that salvation is a completed transaction at the moment of belief, and believers never face their sin at this judgment because their sin was judged at the cross and is under the blood. Instead, believers will be examined for what they have done with their lives as believers, and rewards will be given based on faithful service—symbolized by gold, silver, and precious stones that survive the fire. Les equates these rewards to responsibilities in the coming Kingdom, where believers will rule and reign with Christ based on their faithfulness. He also stresses that the prospect of reward should motivate believers to live fruitful, serving lives now.
Les Feldick explains that the Bema seat comes from the Olympic Games, where judges sat at the Bema seat to determine winners and their rankings—first, second, third, and so on. In the same way, the Bema seat of Christ is the place where believers will be evaluated for rewards, not for sin. It is not the Great White Throne Judgment, which is reserved for the lost.
Les Feldick clearly teaches that believers will never face their sins at the judgment seat of Christ. Their sins have already been judged at the cross and are under the blood. The judgment seat is only to determine rewards for how faithfully they have behaved as believers, not to determine eternal destiny—if a person doesn't have salvation by then, they won't be there at all.
Les teaches that rewards will not just be crowns but primarily responsibilities in the Kingdom. When believers stand before the fiery eyes of Christ, only what was built with gold, silver, and precious stones—symbolic of faithful works—will remain. On that basis, God will give rewards, which Les believes are responsibilities to be given in the Kingdom, where believers will rule and reign with Christ. The level of these responsibilities will be based on their faithfulness in this life.
Les acknowledges that some people object to the idea of working for reward, but he says the Bible teaches it and he cannot help that. He clarifies that salvation is not earned by works; it is a free gift received by faith. However, after salvation, believers are expected to work and serve, and those faithful works will result in rewards stored up for eternity. The rewards are not for salvation but for what is done after becoming a believer.
Bema Seat Explained: Believer Rewards & Glorified Bodies
reason I teach is to get folks interested in their own personal Bible study. Now, I know a lot of people read their Bible. In fact, I had a lady call just this morning. Well, she said, I've been reading my Bible for years, but I never understood what I read. And that's so typical. And so we just try to help people understand. Now by way of announcements, we have to do this every once in a while.
Bema Seat as Seat of Rewards
Les explains the Bema seat originated from the Olympic Games where judges determined winners; similarly, Christ will examine believers for rewards, not for sin.
What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?
Ephesians 4, verse 10 "...for we as believers must all appear before the great white throne, but we as believers must all appear before the bema seat of Christ, which is the seat of the judges, that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done, be it good or bad." Now that's not salvation. This is strictly for reward.
Judgment Seat of Christ for Reward
Les clarifies that the judgment seat is called Bema seat, and believers appear to receive reward, not salvation; judgment seat is an unfortunate translation.
Why God Imputes Righteousness Without Works — Romans 4
Their works are going to result in reward, and that's what's to drive the believer to live a fruitful life, is that there is a reward being laid up waiting for us. And listen, those rewards are going to be enjoyed for all eternity. What's 70 or 80 years in this life by comparison? It's nothing. See, it's nothing.
Rewards as Kingdom Responsibilities
Les explains that after fiery evaluation, only gold, silver, and precious stones remain, and rewards will be responsibilities in the Kingdom.
No Sin at Bema Seat
Les emphasizes believers will never face sin at the judgment seat because it was already judged at the cross; the Bema seat only determines reward.
Believers Prepare for Rewards
Les says believers are to labor in preparation for standing before the Bema seat, giving an account of their deeds, not their sins.
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 Les uses to establish that believers are rewarded for their deeds after salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 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 clarifies that believers' works will be tested, and only enduring works will bring reward.
No, Les Feldick teaches that believers will never face their sins at the Bema seat because their sins have already been judged at the cross and are under the blood. The Bema seat is only for rewarding faithful service.
Salvation is by faith alone, but rewards are based on the works a believer does after salvation. Les emphasizes that believers are to work and serve, and their faithful works will result in rewards at the Bema seat.
Les teaches that rewards are primarily responsibilities in Christ's Kingdom, not just crowns. The level of responsibility will be based on how faithfully each believer served in this life, symbolized by enduring materials like gold, silver, and precious stones.
Watch the Teaching: Bema Seat Explained: Believer Rewards & Glorified Bodies