For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
— 2 Corinthians 5:10

Many believers live in fear, waiting for the end of the world. After all, it is written that at the end there will be a judgment and everyone will receive according to his works. As a friend of mine, a believer, once said: “I’m not ready to meet Jesus.” He probably thought that at the judgment he certainly would not receive a reward. Such confusion comes from not knowing what Jesus has already done for us on the cross. If our standing before God depends on our works, we will live in fear, constantly “dusting ourselves off”, busy cleaning ourselves up. But if we know that the blood of Jesus has cleansed us once and for all, and that we are whiter than snow regardless of our works, then what is there to fear?

But what about “the judgment seat of Christ”? It is written: “We must all appear before it.” Oh, how frightening. The judgment seat here is not at all the judgment of God with wrath that many imagine. In fact, the judgment of God that so many fear has already taken place on the cross. That is why Jesus said that whoever believes in Him shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. [Jhn.5:24] When did this passing happen for us? When Jesus was judged, sentenced to death and then, having risen, passed into life.

Then what is this judgment seat where we will all receive according to our works? The Greek word for “judgment” is krisis, which means a sentence, condemnation. Jesus already bore this sentence 2000 years ago. 2 Corinthians 5:10 uses a different word: bema. That is what the Greeks called the place at the Olympic Games where the prizes were given out, not a place of sentencing. That is why it says here that each one will receive according to what he has done. So what is this good deed for which we will receive a reward? Interestingly, the words “good” and “bad” [in the original, worthless] are in the singular. The only good deed that pleases God is to believe in the Son whom He sent. [Jhn.6:29] The bad, worthless deed is not believing in the Son. So those who believe in Jesus have already done the good deed by accepting Him as their Saviour, and a generous reward awaits them in heaven. [2 Tim.4:8]

P.S. For those who are still waiting for “the end of the world”: the end of the world has already happened, when the sky went dark and Jesus cried out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?“