Running The Christian Race

Feature 2 –October 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Running The Christian Race

Every two years the ancient city of Corinth became even busier than usual. That’s when athletes and other competitors gathered in that area for the Isthmian Games. The event was so named because of the region’s location on an isthmus, or neck of land, that connects the Greek mainland with its peninsula. Contestants with physical skill as well as those with musical and speaking abilities were honored with a victor’s crown. Following the competition, as contestants waited, an official would take his place on the seat of judgment and declare a winner.

This scene played out for more than eight centuries as competitors sought achievement and honor. According to Acts 18, the apostle Paul spent eighteen months in Corinth, and historians believe his visit probably coincided with one of the years when these games were held. Using the imagery of the games, Paul later wrote to the believers in Corinth about the Christian race (1 Cor. 9:24-27). The competitors of the Isthmian games received only perishable crowns of victory – made of celery leaves, according to history – yet they competed with integrity and focus. How much more should God’s people run their spiritual race with self-disciplined determination, anticipating God’s incorruptible crown and commendation!

In addition to the actual competition, Paul borrowed the imagery of the games’ official judgment seat, called the bema in Greek, and used it as an illustration for believers. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,” he wrote (2 Cor. 5:10 NKJV). This adds depth to our understanding of the Christian race since Christ Himself is our Assessor! What can we learn about the significance of this judgment seat? There are only a few references to it in the Scriptures, yet they provide both encouragement and admonition for us.

Judgment Scenes
As we begin it will be helpful to examine two other judgments of the Scriptures. One scene involves the imagery of sheep and goats gathered for judgment (Mt. 25:31-46). The sheep receive God’s favor while the goats are sent into everlasting condemnation. This judgment scene is often used to remind us that what is done for “the least of these” may be done as unto Christ. While that is true, this judgment of sheep and goats is not one of individual people. The Lord Jesus Himself explained that this is a judgment of nations (v.32). It follows a time of great tribulation. When the Lord will return to earth in power and great glory, the nations will be gathered together (Mt. 24:21,29-30). At this judgment those nations who showed kindness to the Lord’s brethren – that is, the Jewish people who were greatly troubled during the tribulation period – will enter His kingdom on earth. Other passages show that this blessing is not the same as salvation, for at the end of the kingdom age even those nations will be deceived by the devil and mount a rebellious attack against the Lord (Rev. 20:7-10).

That rebellion will lead to God’s final act of victory against Satan, who will be cast into the lake of fire. Following that event another judgment scene unfolds. God is seen sitting on a “great white throne,” and the dead stand before Him to be judged according to their works (vv.11-15). This is not the “first resurrection” which believers experience, for the great white throne is essentially a judgment that leads to a “second death” (vv.5-6). Those facing this judgment have no standing before God based upon their deeds and their names are not found in the Book of Life. Consequently, every person who stands before the great white throne will join the devil in the lake of fire at this moment, when time ends and eternity rolls on.

These judgment scenes do not include true Christians because believers will never face God’s eternal rejection. How can we be so certain? It is because another judgment has already taken place: the judgment at Mount Calvary, when Jesus the Savior laid down His life as a sacrifice for all who come to Him by faith. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). Because Christ carried our sins and God judged them there, Romans 8:1 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” The passage adds, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (vv.33-34).

Who can condemn the one whom God Himself has declared righteous? The Lord Jesus affirmed, “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (Jn. 5:24). If God has accepted the redemptive work of Christ as sufficient, it is certain that every believer is eternally secure because of that work.

The Judgment Seat Of Christ
What then is the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ? As mentioned previously, one of the clearest statements about it comes in 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” As the context of this passage shows, the phrase “we all” refers to believers – those who know their destination is heavenly. At the judgment seat of Christ each believer’s earthly life will be reviewed. Both good and bad actions will be acknowledged. In the same context, Romans 14:12 adds, “Each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

The passage in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 is often connected with this review. Faithful service, like gold, silver and precious stones, will endure; however, worthless deeds will be destroyed, just as wood, hay and stubble do not withstand the fire. Salvation for individual Christians is not in question because the passage declares, “He himself will be saved.” Yet, the burning of those useless things will represent a loss, as every worthless action implies a practical denial of the Lord’s righteousness that should have been displayed in our lives. Worthless behavior means a wasted opportunity.

Moreover, this passage helps us to develop the scriptural doctrine of rewards for the believer (v.14). Some are troubled by this subject, believing that the promise of rewards could distract Christians from being attached to the Lord Jesus personally. Certainly it is true that the Lord Himself is our “exceedingly great reward” as Abraham learned (Gen. 15:1), and we surely do serve Him because we love Him rather than wanting to obtain something. But that does not change the fact that the Scriptures plainly present this doctrine, and therefore we should seek to understand it properly instead of minimizing it. From the moment of salvation, the one who comes to God in faith must not only believe that He exists but also that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

These God-given rewards are not bestowed in this life since the desire for present-day rewards, such as life’s finery or the praise of men, actually interferes with the rewards of heaven (consider Mt. 6:1-18). Furthermore, we should not serve the Lord simply because we want a bigger reward. In that case we are acting as if God is merely paying us for our service, which makes our work a matter of wages and not reward (Rom. 4:4). Instead, we should serve the Lord Christ because He is worthy to be honored in everything we do (Col. 3:22-24).

Avoiding those errors, however, we learn from the doctrine of rewards that God pays attention to what we do. This is indeed significant. Not only is He capable of assessing our work but, in fact, He actively and continuously does exactly that. Our intentions and motives are known to Him. God can tell whether we have done something unto the Lord or simply to gain attention from others. He knows when we have served quietly, perhaps overlooked or underappreciated, and He will give a reward openly for that which was done secretly. He knows when we have planted and watered in the lives of others instead of seeking our own satisfaction. He offers a crown of rejoicing and a crown of glory when we have helped brothers and sisters mature in their faith (1 Th. 2:19; 1 Pet. 5:4). He will provide a crown of life to those who have endured temptation and trial, and He promises a crown of righteousness to those who long to see Christ glorified (Jas. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:8).

The Christian’s Response
Therefore the judgment seat of Christ is a great motivator for the believer. Do we desire to hear that commendation of which we read in Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Do we want to glorify Christ by being fruitful Christians who receive an abundant entrance into His everlasting kingdom (2 Pet. 1:8-11)? Or do we prefer to be among those who, although saved for eternity, are only sideline spectators and castaway competitors in terms of our present testimony for Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:27)?

These are solemn admonitions. However, we should also add that the judgment seat of Christ is not a scene of sorrow or humiliation; it is one of commendation. During the athletic games the official on the judgment seat would declare a winner, not embarrass the other competitors. For Christians this judgment will reveal the motives of our hearts and then “each one’s praise will come from God” (4:5). Notice that “each one,” every believer, is included in this moment of acclaim. What a privilege to be associated with the God who delights to bless His people! This truth should attract us to serve Him even more diligently.

Finally, the judgment seat of Christ reminds us that the Lord knows exactly what He desires from each of His servants. He does not need our help as assistant judges. The letter to the Romans is quite sternly worded on this point: “Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” * (14:10). This statement is specifically presented in the context of those areas of life where we do not have specific doctrinal or moral guidelines from the Bible and therefore enjoy Christian liberty. God says that if we judge fellow believers in such areas we are actually insulting and despising them! It implies that we think so contemptuously of them that we cannot imagine how they might also be honoring the Lord.

This is a dangerous mindset and yet an easy one to develop. It is true that there is always room for spiritual growth, and sometimes we may personally be used to help others follow the Lord even more closely. But unless there is clear evidence of a rebellious spirit, we must always start with the assumption that all believers are following Him, each of us according to our understanding of His Word. Too often we denigrate, malign or slander other Christians simply because we have different views about Christian life and practice.

As a final summary of encouragement we can say that every aspect of the judgment seat of Christ reminds us of His deep and abiding interest in each one of us! It warms our hearts to realize this even as it spurs us on to run the Christian race with diligence and faithfulness.

END NOTE
* Other translations read “the judgment seat of God” in Romans 14:10.

By Stephen Campbell