“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

In yesterday’s verse it mentions a reward for helping as an under-shepherd — “Ye shall receive a crown of glory.” Rewards will be handed out at what the Bible calls “the judgment seat of Christ.” As we see in our verse today, we will all be there. But how can this happen, if all our sins are already washed away through the blood of Christ?

Most of you know that there are two kinds of judging in this world. There is the judging that goes on in a courtroom, where someone is accused of having committed a crime. The judge listens to the evidence, and if the person accused is convicted of the crime, the judge will decide on a punishment; perhaps a fine, or even some time in jail. This is the kind of judging that those who are not saved will have to experience, when they stand before God. (The term “judgment seat of Christ” can also refer to this judgment of the unsaved. That is why 2 Corinthians 5:11 says, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”) At that awful time, all unbelievers will be sent into hell for their sins.

But there is another kind of judging in this world, such as we see at a fall fair, or at a piano recital. In that setting, the judge does not send anyone to jail, or impose a fine. Rather, the judge decides on the best farm produce, the best farm animals, or the best piano player. Then rewards are handed out to those who are the best. This is the kind of judging that will take place for believers at the judgment seat of Christ.

It will happen after the Lord comes for us, when we are up there in heaven. The Lord will review our lives and will reward what has been done for Him. What has not been for Him will be burned up. More than this, we will realize for the first time how big the load of sin was that the Lord Jesus bore for us. We know we have committed many sins, but surely all of us have forgotten many of them too. But at the judgment seat of Christ, we will see how many sins we have committed, and have been forgiven. All this will only make us want to praise the Lord Jesus even more for all He has done for us.