The Judgment Seat of Christ

1. Corinthians 3:12-15 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (Source:The Holy Bible, NKJV).

Every Christian will have to appear before the judgment seat after the Rapture (compare 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). This is commonly called the "judgment" because the judgment seat of Christ is not about condemnation but about rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

A Christian may leave the judgment seat without any rewards if his works were void. He is saved, but as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15).

All deeds are tested by fire.

Good and evil are judged. Useful and useless.

Christians will receive a different reward. Our achievements will indeed be judged.

There will be a certain hierarchy through the rewards. One will be placed above more than the other (Luke 19:11-19).

Mark 9:33-35 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you [a]disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

The Christian can obtain various victorious wreaths or crowns (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4).

Christians are rewarded for their loyalty (see Luke 19:11-19).

The Christian who has been the greatest servant here on earth (the least) will receive the highest position in the Kingdom of Heaven (compare Mark 9:33-35).

The Christian who has been the most self-actualization here on earth will receive the lowest position in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11
“You are worthy, [a]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they [b]exist and were created.” (Source:The Holy Bible, NKJV)

In everything, the Christian is judged by whether the motive was love (Revelation 2:4). The greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Without love, works are void and will burn.

Ultimately, a Christian is rewarded for how much he has let Christ work in his life. God works good in and through us. Those who are rewarded will recognize this and will therefore throw down their crowns in worship before the throne (Revelation 4:9-11).