From: spk@aber.ac.uk (Stephen Kingston)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Our Inheritance
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:46:01 GMT
Reply-To: spk@aber.ac.uk (Stephen Kingston)
Organization: Computer Science Dept., University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Paul wrote: "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
(2 Cor.5:10)

The judgement seat (or bema seat) was found in every Roman city,
normally in a public place. In Corinth the bema was in the market
place. This was the place where law suits were taken and judgement
was meeted out, but it was also the place of reward, where athletes
received their crowns and people were honoured for distinguished
service.

Now, we see that one day we will stand before the judgement seat
of Christ, and we know that there will be a judgement, even for
Christians. (1 Pet 4:17-18)

Many people have laboured under the mis-apprehension that this
judgement is the judgement of whether or not we are saved. I would
say that such an interpretation is not scriptural. We are saved by
grace through faith, and no work we can do will ever bring us one
inch closer to the kingdom of God.

No, if we read the scriptures carefully we see that the judgement
of Christians is wholly different. We are all saved, but some of us
have proven ourselves worthy to receive a reward in heaven, whereas
others have not.

Paul is constantly talking of our inheritance, our prize, our crown.
These do not apply to salvation. When he talks of salvation he
is quite clear, and uses the term "saved." No, this prize is a
reward that God will give to those who are faithful to him.

Paul talked of scourging himself lest he be himself a castaway. Did
he think he would lose his salvation? of course not. He *knew* he
was saved in eternity, called by God and chosen for His purpose.
Paul knew that he would persevere as far as his salvation was
concerned, but what he wanted above all else was his crown, his
inheritance.

Paul wanted to hear those words "well done, thou good and faithful
servant."

It is this teaching of reward that has been so neglected in the
church for so many years which has led to the confusion over
the issues of perseverance.

People have complained because they see Christians not living out
their Christian lives, and have said "Well these backsliden
people just are not saved."

You *never* hear Paul telling the Corinthians "The trouble with
you is you just are not saved." He *knew* they were saved, but he
had to teach them about God's chastening and he had to teach
them about their inheritance in heaven.

Too many Christians are content to be "just saved". Let *us* strive
for our victors crown.

Look at what Paul said to those men who built the church on a
foundation of wood and straw, he said that their work would be
consumed, although they would be *saved*, but as through *fire*.

I don't want to be just saved. I don't want to stand before my
Lord and hear of all the countless ways I have failed him. I
want to stand before him and receive my victors crown, and that
seems a worthy ambition to me. I want to be a faithful servant
of God.

In eternity I want to be a faithful servant, and not one who was
saved but as though through the flames.

Stephen.
-- 
Gweleis i rac neb nym gweles pop annwyl. ef diwyl yneges. Gweleis i pasc.
(I saw the one above all men,  he saw me;  he, the beloved of his people,
who fulfills his mission. I saw Easter.) "Yspeil Taliesin" ---Taliesin---
spk@uk.ac.aber --- spk%uk.ac.aber@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk --- Stephen Kingston
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU