Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Question: There are some in the Body of Christ who say that the Judgment Seat of Christ does not pertain to us in this dispensation of grace that we live in, but that it refers to ‘the Little Flock,” could you please provide verses to confirm our obtaining the hope, and glory of this “reward” at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And if possible, could you use Paul’s ‘prison epistles,’ seeing as some suggest that the things Paul wrote in his ‘pre-prison epistles are written for the Little Flock, and were not written for the Gentile Church, thank you so much for your help.

Answer: There are those who have unfortunately subscribed to the understanding that the Apostle Paul was directly writing to, and offering the prophesied Kingdom unto Israel, and that Paul’s ‘pre-prison’ epistles are written to, and for the Little Flock’s sanctification, and establishment unto holiness, up until chapter Acts 28. But this is not the case at all, throughout Paul’s 13 epistles, we are taught about the present glory that we are to bring forth unto the Lord, and we are taught also about the future glory, and the ‘reward’ associated with our heavenly vocation in Him. And as you mentioned, I will use Paul’s ‘prison epistles’ to hopefully confirm our ‘hope,’ and glory at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Some assume that the Judgment Seat of Christ is when we are either declared justified unto eternal life by our “good,” or declared unrighteous, by the evil that we have done. But this is not what will happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ at all, those who will be judged at that time will already be on ‘Redemptive ground,’ and already declared righteous in the sight of God based upon faith, and faith alone in the Redeemer Jesus Christ alone.
Col.3:22] Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
[23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
[24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
[25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Furthermore, the “reward of the inheritance” as mentioned in Colossians 3:24, is a Heavenly hope for those in Christ who “serve” Him, and not this world, and ourselves.

1Tim.6:18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
[19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Moreover, notice how the saint can ‘lay up in store for themselves a good foundation AGAINST THE TIME TO COME,’ and that is by his “good works,” and Sanctified service unto the Lord.

2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

And the Apostle Paul knows that his labor for the Lord’s sake, and the ministry’s sake is not in vain, and he has “committed” unto the Lord the promise of the future glory given unto Paul by our Lord. And notice Paul says that the Lord is “able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” Paul’s hope of this future glory was “believed,” by him, and he was “persuaded” that in “that day” of this future hope.

2Ti 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
2Ti 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
2Ti 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

And Paul’s desire that Onesiphorus would “find mercy of the Lord” was not Paul hoping that Onesiphorus become saved from the debt and penalty of sin against him, and that the Lord would spare him the wrath of God. But Paul’s desire was for Onesiphorus was that he obtain the eternal “mercies” of His goodness in that day because of his service, and by “how many things he ministered unto” him.

2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2Ti 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Ti 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The above verses refer to those who are the ‘vessels of honor,’ both “vessels” are ‘in the house,’ but our Father desires that we all be the “vessel unto honour,” and the Apostle Paul shows his service, and suffering as a “pattern” for those who also desire to “live godly.”

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Therefore, the judgment by the Lord in verses 1 through 8, refers to the saints at the “judgment seat of Christ,” and notice Paul again mentioning the service, and sufferings in the same context of the “day,” or in the “time to come,” when the “Righteous Judge” will judge in His day.

2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2Ti 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Finally, in the verse above Paul says that something could be Spiritually ‘laid to the charge’ of those saints who “forsook” him, and did not labor with him, remember, Paul just taught about the judging of the Lord in that day for the faithful in Christ from verses 1-8. The Judgment Seat of Christ, and reward for the faithful in Christ is mentioned throughout Paul’s epistles, and not only confined to his ‘pre-prison’ epistles, I hope this has been of some help in your understanding of the future glory that is our in Christ.

Rod Jones