A403 : by Steve Lewis 
The Scriptures say that ultimately all men will give an account to God, but your question refers specifically to believers who have put their faith and trust in Christ for salvation. The apostle Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). He was speaking to believers whose salvation was not in question.
The words judgment seat translate a single Greek word (bēma), which was a raised platform where a judge would sit to hear a legal case. It was also used to describe the platform where the officials would preside over the Olympic games. There the winners of the athletic events would receive their rewards. This seems to be the picture that the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote 2 Cor 5:10. To be recompensed is the Greek word komizō which means “to take into kindly keeping; to provide for.” Believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ where their service will be reviewed, so it is more like an awards ceremony than a judicial proceeding.
In the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he wrote,
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Cor 3:10-15)
In that passage Paul was specifically discussing the Christian workers who had ministered to the Corinthians, but the same principle applies to all believers. All of us should be good stewards of the gifts and resources that God has given to us. Some of our works will be deemed worthless and unworthy of reward, but anything that merits a reward will be rewarded. This judgment is a completely separate issue from the believers’ salvation. Notice Paul said that even if a believer’s works are unworthy, he will have missed the opportunity for reward “but he himself will be saved.” Believers should be motivated by the opportunity for reward, rather than by the fear of potential loss of salvation.
If you have doubts about your salvation, then now is the time to commit your life to Christ – trusting Him alone for redemption and the forgiveness of your sins. If you have questions about whether your salvation can be lost, please refer to the excellent course on salvation (Soteriology) by Andy Woods, as well as previous questions & answers in the topic of “Eternal Securitya” on SpiritAndTruth.org
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