The Judgment Seat of Christ in Theological Perspective Part 2: The Negative Aspects of the Christian’s Judgment -- By: Samuel L. Hoyt

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 137:546 (Apr 1980)
Article: The Judgment Seat of Christ in Theological Perspective Part 2: The Negative Aspects of the Christian’s Judgment
Author: Samuel L. Hoyt


The Judgment Seat of Christ in Theological Perspective
Part 2:
The Negative Aspects of the Christian’s Judgment

Samuel L. Hoyt

[Samuel L. Hoyt, Assistant Pastor, South Baptist Church, Lansing, Michigan.]

Bible teachers disagree about the nature of the negative aspects of the judgment seat of Christ. Previously it was shown that full atonement has been made for the believer’s sins and that the judicial penalty for sin has been removed through the all-sufficient, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.1 Any negative aspects of the evaluation, therefore, are not judicially punitive in nature. In light of this great truth these questions remain: Will a Christian who has been unfaithful and has lived carnally experience any loss, grief, or shame at the judgment seat of Christ? Will heaven be a joyous place for the unfaithful? Will the unfaithful believer be ashamed when he meets the Lord at the judgment seat? These questions need to be considered within the prescribed limits of biblical revelation.

Suffer Loss

Scripture clearly indicates that rewards can be received or lost. In 1 Corinthians 3:15 Paul wrote, “if any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss [of reward]: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” This passage does not teach the fallacious notion of loss of salvation, but rather it teaches the possibility of loss of rewards. Unfaithfulness is an issue not treated lightly in the Word of God. Sin in the believer’s life brings both a temporal and an eternal loss. Sale-Harrison writes of this dual loss.

The seriousness of a Christian’s life of failure is clearly outlined in many portions of God’s Word, for the life lived outside God’s will

suffers a dual loss. It has a serious effect on his earthly life in loss of power, joy and communion with God; but the loss revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ is even more tragic.2

The loss of rewards which could have been received at the judgment seat of Christ will be a real and noticeable loss.

The term ζημιόω is translated “suffer loss” in 1 Corinthians 3:15. A common misconception arises from this English translation which suggests to some interpreters that there will be physical suffering. This, however, is not the case. In its passive form it means “to experience forfeiture” or “to suffer loss.” This word is derived from ζημία which appears with its an...

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