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JF Thrive Connection Group
The Road to Rewards
(Part 1)
A. Introduction
Recently I asked a friend the same question I asked you several weeks ago. The question was “Have you ever heard a lesson, a series, or a sermon on rewards.?” She answered the same way most of you did - “No.” Not only has she never heard a Bible lesson or a sermon on rewards, but she said that she never thought much about it either. The reason is because of her point of view, being allowed to enter heaven will be enough reward for her. I’ll ask you again later, but something is wrong about her statement. Let me repeat her statement, so listen carefully. She said, “Being allowed to enter heaven was enough reward for her.”
I have found that the response from my friend about not ever hearing a lesson or a sermon on rewards to be very common, as well as the mindset of many believers that rewards are something that they don’t think about them much because they are not something a Christian should focus or dwell on. Some don’t think about it because they have never been taught anything about it. Even though these is a very common views, it is not a biblical view, or better yet, is it the view the Lord wants us to have. My prayer is that at the end of this series that you will have a different perception of rewards, a biblical view, that you may not have had before.
There are several other misconceptions about judgment and rewards that believers and unbelievers have. The biggest misconception is that at the end of time God will gather all people who have ever lived together at one location. One view is that each person will stand in single file and appear before God individually. God will judge each person who stands before Him as to whether they go to heaven or hell. To go to heaven, one must have more good works than evil deeds. This view, of course, is unbiblical. Even many Christians think there will be only one judgement where believers will stand before God and He will usher into heaven all believers and the unbelievers will cast into hell. This view is also unbiblical. As we shall see, there are approximately seven judgements for different groups of people that will occur at different at times.
Another misconception is that all believers are equal. When it comes to how one is saved, it is true that all individuals are saved the same way - by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Being saved is because of God unmerited favor - grace. Receiving salvation is not a reward but is a free gift as a result of Jesus’ death. There are no “first class” and “second class” citizens when it comes to salvation. However, when it comes to future Messianic Kingdom and God’s forever Kingdom after that, there will be huge differences as seen at the Judgement Seat of Christ. The great preacher and theologian Donald Grey Barnhouse said this in His’ commentary on Romans (VI, p195).
“We can be sure that at the judgment seat of Christ there will be a marked difference between the Christian who has lived his life before the Lord, clearly discerning what was for the glory of God, . . . or a nominal Christian. . . . All will be in heaven, but the differences between them will be eternal. We may be sure that the consequences of our character will survive the grave and that we shall face those consequences at the judgment seat of Christ.”
Of course, these consequences will reap either positive or negative rewards or no rewards at all.
B. There Really is a Difference
I have mentioned many times in this class that there is a difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is a judicial term that refers to the fact that when we trust Christ as Savior, we are declared to be righteous by God based on Jesus’ sacrificial death... This is what some usually call salvation in which all of our past, present, and future sins are forgiven. Justification and salvation occur at the moment any human trusts in Christ as Savior. Salvation is a free gift that is given to us because of faith. We cannot buy it, earn it, or give God anything such as our heart or life for it. We can only receive eternal salvation by faith in Christ. There is not other road to heaven except for faith.
Sanctification means to be holy. To be holy means to be separated to God and to be separated from sin. Sanctification is a process that begins when we are saved. Salvation happens in a monument, like the birth of a child, whereas, sanctification lasts a lifetime, like a child growing into a mature man or woman. Sanctification is many times called “growing in Christ” ie. growing into a mature Christian. It is also called Progressive Sanctification. As believers in Jesus, our faithful and unfaithful actions, as well as our motives for doing thing, as a believer in Jesus during the sanctification stage will determine what reward some will or will not receive.
Every two years athletes from all over the world meet to compete in the Summer or the Winter Games in a hosting country. During the two-week period, athletes who place first, second, or third place in a competition will receive a gold, silver, or bronze Olympic metal. Those who competed in a competition who did not place first, second, or third will receive no metal.
As we shall see a little later in our study, all believers will stand before Christ to be judged for the deeds. Works, and motives they did while on the earth. Some will receive rewards and some will not.
C. Rewards for Believers
As I stated a few minutes ago, salvation is free, however, rewards must be earned. So, what is the basis of rewards. Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
The word faith means trust. If you cannot trust God in the situations of life and what He says in His’ Word, you will not please Him. The phrase “For he who comes to God” is a continuous action participle which can be translated “for he who continually comes to God.” He is not talking about coming to God for salvation but continually walking with God spiritually like it says did Enoch did in Hebrews 11:5.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
To please God one must first of believe that He exists and then believe that He will reward those who by faith seek to please Him. How does one please God? This is accomplished by continually walking with God by having fellowship with Him and living a life of trust and obedience while on the earth. Future rewards received at Judgement Seat of Christ will be based on this.
Let’s now look at the word reward to find out its exact meaning. The word reward means “To receive a recompense for something that is earned or a payment of wages for work accomplished.” As we discussed earlier, a reward is not a free gift. A reward is not a free gift but is earned. The context determines where the reward earned is good or bad. The good rewards for Christians will occur at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Whereas the bad rewards or punishment will occur for unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgement to those who rejected God in the Old Testament and Jesus after His sacrificial death on the cross. As there will be different rewards for believers, there will be different degrees of punishment for the amount of spiritual light given in a lifetime and the evil deeds one has done during their lifetime.
My friend, if she had thought about what she said, would not have said that being in heaven would be reward enough for her. Being able to enter heaven and the Messianic Kingdom is not a reward but a free gift. So, there really is a difference between a reward and a free gift. A free gift, like salvation, is not earned, but a reward is.
Scripture reveals that there are many rewards or compensations for Christians who serve God faithfully, even though believers who face persecution or even martyrdom. Some rewards are immediate for the Christian who walks in the will of God, while other rewards will await the Judgement Seat of Christ and the Messianic Kingdom.
Rewards are very common in everyday life as humans. Let me name a few. Keep in mind that these rewards are earned.
Rewards are given at the Olympic Games to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in different sports in the form of a gold, silver, or bronze.
Professional and college sports such as football, basketball, baseball, car racing, and hockey give trophies to the final winner of that sport particular sport. In High School students are awarded trophies and letter jackets for different sports or band participation.
Different colored ribbons are given to winners at county or state fairs in the area of animal husbandry, baked goods such as pies or cakes, and canned fruits or vegetables.
There are various types of eating contests in which people are rewarded for eating the most of some food in a certain amount of time - pies, hot dogs, wings, etc. People in different neighborhoods are rewarded for having the “yard of the month.” There are many other types of awards that are earned and awarded in our culture.
The word reward in its different forms is used 71 times in the NASB95. When it comes to Christians, we will receive or not receive rewards that are earned or not earned as a result of how faithful someone was during their lifetime. Let’s just read a few verses that deal with rewards that are given for faithful actions.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crow of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
These verses relate to the ministry of the pastor.
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
This verse relates to the Rapture and the Judgement Seat that will occur in Heaven after the Rapture of the church. He is not referring to believers and unbelievers but only to believers for only those who belong to the body of Christ will be there. He will render or recompense every believer for what he or she has earned while on the earth as a believer in Jesus.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
The context of this verse is the way one treats one’s enemy. We are to love, (agapago) be committed to, our enemies. We are to be committed to doing good to them and for them and lending without wanting anything in return. Usually, the term lend means to lend and to receive interest for what one has lent. In this case the word lend means to give to someone seeking nothing in return. The only way one can accomplish what the Lord wants believers to do in this verse is through the power of the Holy Spirit. It will not be accomplished in the flesh. It can only be accomplished supernaturally!
Did you note that if one is obedient to these exhortations from the Lord that one will be greatly rewarded. Mediocre works will reap mediocre rewards and extraordinary works for the Lord will reap extraordinary rewards and everywhere in between.
12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
The term reward can also refer to negative rewards that are earned by unbelievers.
If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
... in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Book of Clement is an extra-biblical work presents itself as the teachings of the Apostle Peter to his disciple Clement of Rome, as recorded by Clement. Some early church fathers identified Clement with Clement of Rome who is mentioned in the Book of Philippians.
2 Clement 11:4-7
My people had tumults and afflictions: but afterward they shall receive good things. 5 Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be double minded but endure patiently in hope, that we may also obtain our reward. 6 For faithful is He that promised to pay to each man the recompense of his works. 7 If therefore we shall have wrought righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom and shall receive the promises which ear hath not heard nor eye seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of man.
Application
2 Chronicles 15:7 – “as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
As we are going to see in the weeks to come during this series, that the LORD rewards believers with both temporal and eternal rewards. Azariah encouraged the men of Judah to keep up the good work, “for your work will be rewarded.” This is the inspiration of us too, Recognition and reward ae great motivations that have two dimensions. (1) The temporal dimension. Living by God’s standards may result in acclaim on the earth.. Permanent recognition and a reward will be given in the next life. Don’t be discouraged if you feel your faith in God is going unrewarded here on earth. The best rewards are not in this life but in the life to come!
So, we see from just a few verses that Old Testament and New Testament believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness for their time upon the earth.
The first judgement we are going to discuss is the Judgement Seat of Christ. It is the first judgement on God’s calendar. In the weeks to come, we are also going to briefly look at the other judgements in the Bible concerning:
· Old Testament saints
· Jewish and Gentile Saints who die during the Tribulation period
· Living Jews and Gentiles who survive the Tribulation
· Satan, fallen angles, and demons
· All men and women who rejected God in the Old Testament and Jesus after the cross.
SELAH
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