Who then can be lost?

[Maple Leaf]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Would you elaborate on this a little, please?

“9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment 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 Corinthians 5:9-10)

As Christians, we will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward for our Christian service. Our sins are forgiven, the sentence of death has been lifted, and there is no condemnation in Christ, but there will be a day of reckoning and reward. We will receive a just reward on the basis of our works, whether good or bad.

What is the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ if every area of discipleship is a Heaven or Hell issue? On this forum I have read almost everything imaginable cited as a reason for hellfire and damnation (eg. Prayer, church attendance, soul winning, tithes and offerings, outward standards, . . .). Perfect obedience was only attained by Christ, and yet, on this forum, it seems to be the standard for admission to the everlasting kingdom.

Let’s take prayer for an example.

It would seem to be self evident that if a person never prays that they are not saved. Saved people pray, but what about the vast majority of Christians who fall short of praying the optimum number of hours per day, or who are inconsistent in their prayer lives? Will the person who fails to pray every day be lost? Will the person who falls short of the magic number of minutes per day (whatever that is) be lost? I would say, “no.” Their failure to attain perfect obedience will not cause them to lose their salvation, but will result in lost reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The same could be said of very area of Christian discipleship. Some will produce thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some one hundredfold, but all will give account for their service to the Master.

If I must live in fear of Hell over every detail of my Christian life, I will become frustrated and condemned, and join the throngs who have given up or who have no hope of Heaven because of the demands of legalistic religion. If I have confidence in my salvation in Jesus Christ, then I may serve without condemnation, but with great carefulness knowing that I must one day give account to God for how I have lived.