The judgment seal of Christ is a doctrine that we have taught several times.  We will not be dealing with the crowns or the cities over which a man may be given authority at this judgment.  Our main topic in this study will be receiving a reward.

To receive is to come into possession of (something).  A reward is a recompense.  In 1 Tim 5:18 the laborer is worthy of his reward (that’s his hire).  In Rom 4:4, a man is rewarded (paid) for his work.  A reward is also something that is given in return for good or evil done.  In Ps 54:5, David’s enemies are rewarded with evil.  In 2 Tim 4:14, Paul wanted the Lord to reward Alexander for the evil he had done to Paul.  In Lk 23:41, one thief said, “we receive the due reward of our deeds.”  See Heb 2:2

So, at the judgment seat of Christ, the reward can be something good or it can be something bad, depending whether what you have done is good or bad.  You can be rewarded:

For building with gold, silver and precious stones – 1 Cor 3:8-15.  We have seen, in recent studies, that we all have the opportunity to build the temple of God [Eph 2:19-22].  Our jobs may be very different.  Paul laid the foundation, others build thereupon.  Paul planted. Apollos watered.  Some of us sow; others reap.  When you build with gold, silver and precious stones, that is with God’s words, according to God’s wisdom, and by God’s methods, you receive a reward.  That’s something good.  When you build with wood, hay and stubble, that is with man’s words, with man’s wisdom, and with man’s methods, you will suffer loss.  That’s bad.

For keeping your body in subjection – 1 Cor 9:24.  In a race, one receiveth the prize.  So Paul told us to run that ye may obtain.  God will reward you if you keep the temple of the Holy Ghost in condition like a trained athlete keeps his body in condition.  That way you are always fit for the Holy Spirit’s work.

For what you do in your body – 2 Cor 5:10.  God will reward you with good for the good things you do in your body and he will reward you with evil for the bad things you do in your body.  He’s keeping an account of everything you do.  In Rom 14:10-12, you and I will even give account of what we ate and of what we did on certain days.  God is concerned with the effect what we allow in our lives has on the faith of others.   He wants the Spirit, rather than our flesh, ruling our body.

For your labor – 2 Cor 5:9-10.  Anything you do for the Lord is rewardable.  The way you work in the nursery, or the way you clean the building, or the way you lead singing, or the way you play the piano, or the way you sing a special, or the way you teach your Sunday school lesson.  These are all things that should be done the best that you can do them unto the Lord.  When they are, the Lord rewards you with good. When they are not, the Lord rewards you with bad.  The Lord is a just rewarder [Rev 22:12].  The Lord’s keeping account of everything.  It’s like he has a ledger with the good things in one column and the bad things in another column.  It’s like the columns net out at the end.  

For your service – Col 3:24-25.  We can receive the reward of the inheritance, or we can receive for the wrong.  These rewards apply to our service to our masters [Eph 6:5-8].  So, as an employee, you should be working as if you are working for the Lord, himself.  And you shouldn’t only be working well when your boss is around, like a men pleaser.  God sees everything, all the time.  So, you work as unto the Lord expecting that one day you will have to give account of your service.  And the Lord will reward you accordingly. 

Conclusion: There is much reward that you can receive at the judgment seat of Christ.  Some of the reward will be good and some of it will be bad.  It all depends on how you build the temple of God, how you control your body, what you do in your body, how you labor for the Lord and how you serve your earthly masters.