What is Bema?

1. The Purpose
of Bema Judgment
Willmington’s Guide to the
Bible

2. 1. Negative
Considerations
a. The purpose of bema
judgment is not to
determine whether a
particular individual
enters heaven or not,

3. for every man’s eternal
destiny is already
determined before he
leaves life.

4. 1. Negative
Considerations
b. The purpose of bema
judgment is not punish
believers for sins
committed either before
or after their salvation.

5. The Scriptures are very
clear that for every
man’s child of God
for every man’s d
will have to for
every man’s
answer for his sins
after this life

6. “Thou hast in love
to my soul
delivered it from the
pit of corruption: for
thou hath cast all
my sins behind my
back.” Isaiah 38:17

7. “ I have blotted out…
thy transgressions
and … thy sins”
(Isaiah 44:22)

8. “ …the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son
cleanseth us from
all sin.”
(1 John 1:7)

9. 2. Positive considerations.
What then is the purpose of
bema judgment? In 1
Corinthians 4:2 Paul
says that all Christians
should conduct
themselves as faithful
stewards of God

10. “Moreover it is required in
stewards, that a man be
found faithful.”

11. The Apostle Peter later
writes in similar way:
“Minister…
as good stewards of the
manifold grace of
God”

12. In the New Testament world,
a steward was the manager
of a large household or
estate. He was appointed
by the owner and was
entrusted to keep the
estate running smoothly.

13. He had the power to
hire and fire and to
spend and
save, being
answerable to the
owner alone.

14. His only concern was that
periodic meeting with
his master, at which
time he was required to
account for condition of
the estate up to that
point.

15. With this background
in mind, it may be said that
someday at the bema
judgment all stewards
will stand before their
Lord and Master

16. and be required to give an
account of the way they
have used their
privileges and
responsibilities from the
moment of their
conversion.

17. In conclusion,
it can be seen that:
a. In the past, God dealt
with us as sinners
(Romans 5:6-8) 1
Corinthians 6:9-11;
Ephesians 2:1-3)

18. In conclusion,
it can be seen that:
b. In the present, God
deals with us as sons
(Romans 8:14;
Hebrews 12:5-11; 1
john 3:1, 2

19. In conclusion,
it can be seen that:
c. In the future, God will
deal with us at bema as
stewards.

20. D. The materials to be
tested at the bema
judgment. In 1
Corinthians 3:11 the
Apostle Paul explains
the glorious fact that at
the moment of salvation

21. A repenting sinner is firmly
placed on the
foundation of the death,
burial and resurrection
of Christ himself.

22. His continuing instruction
after his salvation is to
rise up and build upon
this foundation. Paul
says,

23. “ But let every man take
heed how he buildeth
thereupon… Now if any
man build upon this
foundation gold, silver,
precious stones, wood,

24. 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.” (1
Corintihians 3:10b, 12, 13

25. Negative Considerations.
It should be noted
immediately that this
passage does not
teach false doctrine as
purgatory,

26. for it is the
believer’s works
not the believer himself
that will be subjected
to the fires.

27. Positive Considerations.
From these verses it is
apparent that God
classifies that works of
believers into one of
the following six areas:

28. gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay,
stubble;
Thou indestructible
and worthy objects
which will survive and
thrives in the fires.

29. These are gold, silver and
precious stones.
Those destructible and
worthless objects will
be to totally consumed
in the fires. These are
the wood, hay and
stubble.

30. Though it is difficult to
know just what goes to
make up a “golden work”
or a “stubble work”, we
are nevertheless
informed of certain
general areas in which
God is interested.

31. 1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER
BELIEVERS.
“For God is not unrighteous to
forget your work and labour
of love, which have showed
toward his name, in that ye
have ministered to the
saints, and do minister.”
Hebrews 6:10

32. 1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER
BELIEVERS.
“He that recieveth a prophet in
the name of a prophet shall
receive a a prophet’s reward;
and he that recieveth a
righteous man shall receive a
righteous man’s reward.

33. 1. HOW WE TREAT OTHER
BELIEVERS.
And whosoever shall give to
drink unto one of these little
ones a cup of cold water only
in the name of a disciple,
verily I say unto you, he shall
in no wise lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:41-42

34. 2. HOW WE EXERCISE OUR
AUTHORITY OVER
OTHERS.
“Obey them that have rule
over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch over your souls,
as they must give an account,
that they may do it with joy,

35. 2. HOW WE EXERCISE OUR
AUTHORITY OVER
OTHERS.
“Let not many of you become
teachers, my brethren,
knowing that as such we
shall incur a stricter
judgment.”
Jas 3:1

36. 3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR
GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.
“Wherefore I put thee in
remembrance that thou stir
up the gift of God which is in
thee…” 2 Timothy 1:6

37. 3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR
GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.
“Now there are varieties of gifts ,
but the same Spirit… But one
and the same Spirit works all
things, distributing to each
one individually just as He
wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:4,11

38. 3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR
GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.
“As each one has received a
special gift, employ it in
serving one another, as good
stewards of the manifold of
grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:10

39. 3. HOW WE EMPLOY OUR
GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.
To these verses can be added
the overall teaching of Jesus’
parables of the ten pounds
(Luke 19:11-26) and the eight
talents (Matthew 25:14-29)

40. 4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY
“Charge them that are rich in this
world that they be not
highminded; nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the
living God, who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy;

41. 4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY
that they do good. That they be
rich in good works, ready to
distribute, willing to
communicate; laying up in
store for themselves a good
foundation against the time
to come, that they may lay
hold on eternal life. (1

42. 4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY
But this I say, He which soweth
sparingly shall reap also
sparingly, and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.

43. 4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY
Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let
him give, not grudgingly , or
of necessity:for God loveth a
cheerful giver.”
(2Corinthians 9:6-7)

44. 4. HOW WE USE OUR MONEY
“Upon the first day of the week
let everyone of you lay by
him in store, as God hath
prospered him…” (1
Corinthians 16:2)

45. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
“Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for
my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad, for great is
your reward in heaven.”

46. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
“Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though
some strange thing
happened unto you; but
rejoice,

47. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
inasmuch as ye are partakers of
Christ’s sufferings, that, when
his glory shall be revealed, ye
may be glad also with
exceeding joy.” (1 Peter
4:12,13)

48. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
And Jesus answered and said,
Verily I say unto you, there is
no man that has left house,
or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my
sake and the gospel’s,

49. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
but he shall receive an
hundredfold now in this time,
houses, brethren, and sisters,
and mothers, and children,
and lands, with persecutions;
and in the world to come in
eternal life.” Mark 10:29,30

50. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
“For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, worketh for
us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory.”
2 Corinthians 4:17

51. 5. HOW MUCH WE SUFFER
FOR JESUS
“For I reckon that the suffering of
this present time are not
worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be
revealed in us.” (Romans
8:18)

52. 6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME
“…redeeming the time, because
the days are evil.” (Ephesians
5:16)

53. 6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME
“And if ye call on the Father, who
without respect of persons
judgeth according to every
man’s work, pass the time of
your sojourning here in fear.”
(1 Peter 1:17)

54. 6. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME
“So teach us to number our
days, that we may apply our
hearts unto wisdom.”
(Psalm 90:12)

55. 7. HOW WE RUN THAT
PARTICULAR RACE WHICH
GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR
US
“Know ye not that they which run
in a race run all, but one
receiveth the price? So run,
that ye may obtain”
(1 Corinthians 9:24)

56. 7. HOW WE RUN THAT
PARTICULAR RACE WHICH
GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR
US
“Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended; but this
one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are
behind, and

57. 7. HOW WE RUN THAT
PARTICULAR RACE WHICH
GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR
US
reaching forth unto those things
which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.” Phil3:13,14

58. 7. HOW WE RUN THAT
PARTICULAR RACE WHICH
GOD HAS CHOSEN FOR
US
Let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race
that has been set before us.”

59. 8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE
CONTROL THE OLD
NATURE
“And every that striveth for the
mastery is separate in all
things now they do it to
obtain a corruptible crown but
we an incorruptible

60. 8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE
CONTROL THE OLD
NATURE
I therefore so run, not as
uncertaintly; so fight I, not as
one that beateth the air but I
keep under my body and
bring it into subjection, let
that by any

61. 8. HOW EFFECTIVELY WE
CONTROL THE OLD
NATURE
means that when I have
preached to others I myself
would be a cast away – (1
Corinthians 9:25-27)

62. 9. HOW MANY SOULS WE
WITNESS TO AND WIN TO
CHRIST
For what is our hope, or joy, or
crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ at His
coming? For ye are our glory
and joy – 1 Thess. 2:19-20

63. 9. HOW MANY SOULS WE
WITNESS TO AND WIN TO
CHRIST
“And they that be wise shall
shine as the brightness of the
firmament and they that turn
many to righteousness as the
stars forever.” Daniel 12:3

64. 10. HOW WE REACT TO
TEMPTATION
“My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into diverse
temptations, knowing this,
that the trying of your faith
worketh patience.” James
1:2,3

65. 10. HOW WE REACT TO
TEMPTATION
“Behold, the devil shall cast
some of you into prison, that
ye maybe tried and ye shall
have tribulation ten days; be
thou faithful unto death and I
will give thee a crown of life.”
Rev 2:10

66. 11. HOW MUCH THE
DOCTRINE OF THE
RAPTURE MEANS TO US
“Henceforth, there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness which the
Lord, the righteous judge shall give
me at that day; and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his
appearing.”
– 2 Timothy 4:8-12

67. 12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE
TO THE WORD OF GOD
AND THE FLOCK OF GOD
“Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the
oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind; .” –

68. 12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE
TO THE WORD OF GOD
AND THE FLOCK OF GOD
neither as being lords over God’s
heritage, but being examples
to the flock and when Chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye
shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away. – 1

69. 12. HOW FAITHFUL WE ARE
TO THE WORD OF GOD
AND THE FLOCK OF GOD
I charge thee therefore before
God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at His
appearing and His kingdom,
Preach the word…”