Ultimate Rewards: The Judgment Seat of Christ. From Sunset To Sunrise Series

1. We Will Be Evaluated for Our Investments (1 Corinthians 3:9-15)
   1. The expectation of our investments (9-12) – “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones {worthy investments}, wood, hay, straw {wasted investments}…”
   2. The testing of our investments (13) – “Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”
   3. The return of our investments (14-15) – “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

God’s salvation is entirely free for those who believe. But not rewards.

Every single reward received in the final evaluation will have been earned.

1. How We Are Motivated for Our Investments (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
   1. The happy component of our motivation (9) – “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.”
   2. The heavy component of our motivation (10) – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
2. Paul exposes an unwise way to live (10) – “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
3. Paul reminds us of the actual criteria for judging (11) – “For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
4. Paul motivates us to live the life given to us by God (12) – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

In order to give a free and fulfilled accounting for our lives, we must not fixate on other people, and we must focus on pleasing God with our own lives.

IV. The Ternal Connection in Our Investments (Luke 19:12-24)

1. The world rejects Jesus (12-14) – “He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ [14] But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’”
2. The faithful believer is rewarded by Jesus (15-19) – “When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. [16] The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ [17] And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ [18] And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ [19] And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’”
3. The unfaithful believer is rebuked by Jesus (20-24) – “Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ [22] He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ [24] And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’