The Bema Seat
The eternal perspective was firmly rooted in the teaching of the first century church. Heaven was the goal. The present life in the body was simply preparation for celestial rewards. This focus kept the church filled with the fear of the Lord and therefore His wisdom as they served the Lord with passion and perseverance.
THE EARTHLY TENT VERSUS THE ETERNAL HOUSE (2 Cor. 5: 1-9)
• Believers know that the body is a temporary “tent” while our eternal “house” is in heaven.
• We long for this heavenly dwelling place.
• We are burdened with the present “tent” of the human body.
• We know that we have been created for one purpose: immortality in His Presence.
• So we live by faith, not by sight.
• Therefore this is our goal: to please Him whether on the earth or in heaven.
OUR APPOINTMENT WITH THE JUDGE (2 Cor. 5: 10-13)
• We must all appear before His judgment seat.
• We will receive our due for the life we lived on earth.
• This motivates us to fear the Lord and to persuade men to fear and serve Him, too.
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor. 5: 14-21)
• Since Jesus died for all, we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him Who died for us and was raised again.
• If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, for your old life has been replaced by His new life.
• We now have the ministry and message of reconciliation: a thorough change in our relationship with God that makes us right with Him.
• We are to be His ambassadors who preach this message that we are to be righteous in Him.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
This Day of accountability is surely coming for each one of us! How shall we then live? Let’s live out our earthly lives in the fear and service of God as we broadcast this message of reconciliation to all who will hear and listen.
THE EARTHLY TENT VERSUS THE ETERNAL HOUSE (2 Cor. 5: 1-9)
• Believers know that the body is a temporary “tent” while our eternal “house” is in heaven.
• We long for this heavenly dwelling place.
• We are burdened with the present “tent” of the human body.
• We know that we have been created for one purpose: immortality in His Presence.
• So we live by faith, not by sight.
• Therefore this is our goal: to please Him whether on the earth or in heaven.
OUR APPOINTMENT WITH THE JUDGE (2 Cor. 5: 10-13)
• We must all appear before His judgment seat.
• We will receive our due for the life we lived on earth.
• This motivates us to fear the Lord and to persuade men to fear and serve Him, too.
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor. 5: 14-21)
• Since Jesus died for all, we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him Who died for us and was raised again.
• If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, for your old life has been replaced by His new life.
• We now have the ministry and message of reconciliation: a thorough change in our relationship with God that makes us right with Him.
• We are to be His ambassadors who preach this message that we are to be righteous in Him.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
This Day of accountability is surely coming for each one of us! How shall we then live? Let’s live out our earthly lives in the fear and service of God as we broadcast this message of reconciliation to all who will hear and listen.
