Bible Text: John 15:7-17 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: John, The Christian Benchmark

1.  Concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ (also called the Bema Seat), Dr. Charles Ryrie writes: “The nature of the believer’s works will be examined in this judgment to distinguish worthy works from worthless ones.  These works are deeds done by the believer during his Christian life.  All will be reviewed and examined.  Some will pass the test because they were good; others will fail because they were worthless.  Both good and bad motives will be exposed; then every believer will receive his due praise from God.  What grace!  The outcome will be either reward or deprivation of reward.  Salvation is not in question…”
2.  To the one who abides in Jesus, He promises answered prayer but as Dr. Merrill C. Tenney warns:  “He was not promising to gratify every chance whim.  But as long as the believer was seeking the Lord’s will in his life, Jesus would grant every request that would help accomplish this end.”
 
3.  Another result of abiding is joy.  “The joy of the Lord is not the natural exuberance of youth.  It is not ordinary human enthusiasm.  It is not the exhilaration caused by favorable happenings and circumstances.  It is not the emotion whipped up by high-pressure hilarity.  All these may have their place, but the joy Jesus gives is different.  It outlasts youth.  It is more than human, it is Divine.  It is present, no matter what happens.  It is not worked up, it comes down.  It last, it remains.  And it is full, not partial.” (Vance Havner)