I. Introduction Texts

Romans 14:10 – 12

2 Corinthians 5:10

Hebrews 9:27

1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15

It is a Biblical fact that Born Again Christians are headed for the Judgment Seat of Christ and that we all shall appear there no exceptions! The purpose of this judgment is as follows:

1. To give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14:12) Examples include giving an account of our time and our talents etc.

2. To receive the things done in our body according to what we have done whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) Examples: (Good)A. Soul winning – Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 28:19. Were you a soul winner/witness for the Lord? If not it may cost you! B.Bible study – John 5:39; 2 Timothy 2:15. Did you study your Bible daily and let God speak to you out of His Holy Word? If not it may cost you. C. Bible believing church attendance – Hebrews 10:25. Do you attend a real soul winning, Bible believing church and support the work of God and the man of God there? If not it just may cost you something with the Lord. D. Prayer time – 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8. Do you pray often? Do you seek the will of God before making decisions and allow God to work? If not it will cost you! (Bad) a. Immoral living – 1 Corinthians 5:135; 1 Corinthians 3:16 – 17; 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 20. Do you disregard what the Bible says about living right? If you do it will cost you! B. Murmuring – 1 Corinthians 10:10. Do you complain about everything and everyone? If so do be sure your sin will find you out! C. Slothfulness – Romans 12:11. Are you lazy in the things of God? Do you labor for the Lord or do you spend more time in front of the television being entertained than you do being fruitful for the Lord? If you do sin lieth at the door and God will deal with you personally. There are many many other examples besides these that could be given but these are a good starting point.

3. To receive rewards based on our work we did for the Lord here on the Earth. (1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15)

note: in 1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15 it should be of special interest to the serious Bible believer that the passage says the man’s work shall be tried by fire of what sort it is. To see what this fire is Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 tell us that our God is a consuming fire. In Exodus 3:2 the Angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush. Mark 12:26 tells us that it was God himself who appeared proving that the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament is an appearance of God and we know that Jesus reveals God showing He is the one who appeared (John 1:18; Luke 10:22; Matthew 11:27; Galatians 4:14) and in Isaiah 66:15 – 16 we are told that the Lord will come with fire and with the sword. This sword is described in Ephesians 6:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 4:12 and Revelation 19:15 as being the Word of God. In Jeremiah 23:29 God’s Word is a fire. In Daniel 10:6 and Revelation 1:14 we see that Christ Himself has eyes as a flame of fire. Comparing Scripture with Scripture we can see that Jesus Christ who is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) and the Word of God incarnate (John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13) and who has eyes as a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14) that He will judge us at the Judgment Seat of Christ with His Word which is as a fire (Jeremiah 23:29) and the fire of His presence because He is a consuming fire! (Hebrews 12:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:7 – 8; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 19:12; Malachi 3:2 – 3). This fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:13) showing that our motives will be judged not just the works themselves.

 II. Getting The Foundation Right

You must be built on the correct foundation and that foundation is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20 – 22). You must start with Jesus Christ and have a correct view of salvation (Acts 4:10 – 12)

III. Gold

Revelation 3:18

Gold throughout the Bible is representative of Deity and specifically the Deity of Christ Himself. One only has to study the Tabernacle and Temple specifically  and the Old Testament generally to see this truth borne out. Almost everything in these two places was either covered in gold or were made out of pure gold. All these items point the reader straight to Christ (Hebrews 8 – 10). With that being said when we worship Christ as God we are laying up treasure in Heaven specifically here gold representing this great truth. (Matthew 6:19 – 21; Song of Solomon 5:10 – 16)

IV. Silver

Psalm 66:10

Silver in the Scriptures represents the price of Redemption (Matthew 26:15; Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 27:6, 9 – 10; Genesis 37:28).

When we tell people how to be saved and give them the plan of redemption we are laying up silver to our account in Heaven.

V. Precious Stones

Precious stones are those souls we have personally won to Jesus Christ (Malachi 3:17 – 18; 1 Peter 2:5; Zechariah 9:16)

VI. Crowns

Revelation 3:11

at the Judgment Seat of Christ crowns will be passed out as well. There are five crowns given by name in the Scriptures. They are as follows:

1. The Crown of Righteousness

2 Timothy 4:1 – 8

This crown is given to those who love Jesus appearing. Are you looking forward to Christ returning and taking you home? Some Christians are going to be red-faced when He appears. Other Christians don’t want Christ to come back until they finish enjoying the pleasures of sin for season. They are going to lose their crown!

2. The Crown of Life

James 1:12; Revelation 2:10

Notice what is not being said here. He did not say eternal life will be given. You got that when you got saved. (John 3:36) When a Christian resists temptation the Lord promises to give us a crown of life; the same crown promised to martyrs.

3. The Incorruptible Crown

1 Corinthians 9:25 – 27; Hebrews 12:1 – 2; 2 Timothy 4:7

This is a crown given to those who start the race and run to win and finish with honors! They are focused on their course and run with all their might with God as their strength!

4. The Crown of Glory

1 Peter 5:1 – 4; Acts 20:28; John 21:16

This crown is given to the faithful shepherd who feeds the flock the Word of God. Women are not exempt from receiving this crown because they are to be faithful in teaching the young women as well (Titus 2: 3 – 5)

5. Crown of Rejoicing

1 Thessalonians 2:19 – 20; Luke 15:7

This crown is given to soul winners who are out in the field working for the Lord bringing in a harvest of souls. (Psalms 126:5 – 6; Matthew 9:37 – 38; John 4:35 – 38; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 14:25)