1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (NKJV) he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labour.For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
All of us have different gifts given to us by the Lord and we are to faithfully serve Him with them. We make up different parts of the body of Christ. Therefore, everyone needs to contribute their gifts and talents, or else the body will be deprived of them. When every joint supplies, it causes growth to the body of Christ because every part has a function.
The Apostle Paul says that some are called to plant and others are called to water, but each of us will receive our own reward for the work of our labour for the Lord. Therefore, the important questions that we need to ask ourselves are: “Are we using the gifts that He has given us to serve?” and “Do we have the right attitude when we serve?” because we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV)For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
We should note, however, that the Greek word for the judgement seat of Christ in the above Scripture is “bema”, which refers to the judgement seat used in the ancient Greek games. In those days, an umpire would sit upon an elevated seat, and after the games, all the contestants of the different events would be gathered before the elevated seat, and rewards would be given to the victors. Therefore, this judgement seat was not to determine whether someone was guilty or innocent, or good or bad, but it was a seat for giving out rewards, for saying “well done” and “congratulations”.
1 Peter 1:17 (NKJV) If you call on the Father who without impartiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.
Our salvation is purely based on the atonement and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with us because we are saved by grace through faith, and we have the imputed righteousness on us. Therefore, the Day of Judgement is for Christians, and it will not be to judge whether we are saved or not but to reward us based on the responsibilities that we have carried out for the Lord, according to our faithfulness and willingness in serving Him with the gifts, talents, and financial or material blessings that He has given us to serve and love Him.
Sermon Series: ServeFest (September 2023)
在审判宝座前期待奖赏
哥林多前书3:8-9 栽种的和浇灌的，都是一样，但将来各人要按照自己的功夫得自己的赏赐。因为我们是与神同工的；你们是神所耕种的田地，所建造的房屋。
我们每个人都蒙受主赐予的不同恩赐，我们要信实地以这些恩赐服侍祂。我们组成基督的肢体的不同部分。因此，每个人都需要贡献自己的恩赐和才能，否则基督的身体就会失去他们这部分。当每个环节都恪尽职守，就会使基督的肢体得以成长，因为每个部分都有其功能。
使徒保罗说有人蒙召栽种，有人蒙召浇灌，但我们每个人都将因为为主付出的劳苦而得到各自的奖赏。因此，我们需要问自己的重要问题是：“我们是否在使用祂给予我们的恩赐来服侍？”和“我们在服侍时是否有正确的态度？” 因为我们都必须站立在基督的审判宝座前。
哥林多后书5:10 因为我们众人必要在基督台前显露出来，叫各人按着本身所行的，或善或恶受报
但是，值得注意的是，上述经文中“基督台前”这个希腊词是“bema”，它指的是古希腊比赛中使用的审判宝座。在那些日子里，裁判员会坐在一个高高的座椅上，在比赛结束后，所有不同项目的参赛者都会聚集在高高的座椅前，得奖者会获得奖赏。因此，这个审判宝座不是用来确定某人有没有罪，或是善或恶，而是一个颁发奖赏的座位，用来说“干得好”和“恭喜”。
彼得前书1:17你们既称那不偏待人、按各人行为审判人的主为父， 就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子
救恩完全是基于耶稣基督的救赎工作和赎罪，与我们无关。因为我们是靠着恩典，藉着信心得救的，我们拥有归与我们的义。因此，审判的日子于基督徒来说不是为了判断我们是否得救，而是根据我们在主里承担的责任，按照我们是否以祂所赐给我们每一个人的恩赐、才干、财务或物质的祝福信实甘愿地事奉祂，爱祂。
讲章系列: ServeFest（2023年9月）
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