Bema judgement of bad works

Question

Bible commentators generally believe that Christians will be rewarded for good works at the Bema judgement. I am unclear of the purpose of judging my evil/bad/worthless works after I am already saved and in Heaven. Is the purpose of that judgement to make the immortal me ashamed, guilty, or is it to make me fully aware of the extent of grace? Guilt and shame do not seem to belong in Heaven.

Answer 1

From a Protestant point of view, there are two judgments. One is the great white throne (thronos) for unbelievers. Two is the bema (bema) judgment for believers, which is the question of the OP.

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 Cor 5:10 (emphasis mine)

What's the point? It's in the verse before. To be well-pleasing, acceptable.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Well-pleasing because our works as Christians will be judged. Not our salvation, but what we did after being born-again.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10

Believers are His. We are His works to do good works that are there for us to do. Do them and be rewarded. Don't do them and the bad works are burnt, but the believer still saved.

Will we feel bad, guilty, shame if we fail at doing the good works? Based on what Paul said, we will feel grateful.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:1

Answer 2

Rev. 20:11-15

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

I think it should be noted that, ordinarily, all works are judged according to the worker. But, if they are found in the "Lamb's Book of Life," they are judged or reckoned according to the works of Christ because they are in Christ. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1)."