Bible teaching of works and reward

[Ghada]

There are two great arguments in Christian doctrine, that are made mute by the Bible truth, that God judges our works, and the reward of inheriting His kingdom is by our works.

The first is whether a believer can 'lose' our soul's salvation. It's a mute question, because the Bible teaches only those now doing the will of God, and loving God and our neighbors with all our heart, are now born of God and justified by Christ. Yesterday no longer matters, whether we were doing righteousness or evil before.

The second is whether a believer is saved and justified with or without works. This is also mute, because the Bible teaches that the inheritance of the everlasting kingdom of Christ, is only by reward for going good and serving Him in the end.

And so, whether we believed we were saved in the past or not. If we are doing the works of the devil, the Bible judges we are children of the devil and not of God. Whether we believe our good works justify us with Christ or not. We are only resurrected from the dead unto life with God, by our good works and service to Him.

Any man can believe he was or wasn't saved in the past. It doesn't matter today. What we are doing now is what we are judged by now. Any man can believe he is saved by his faith alone without his works. It doesn't matter in this life. Resurrection from the dead is all in God's hands, and He only rewards His servants doing good with resurrection in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Only those now doing good are born of God, and only those walking as His Son in the end, will walk with God forever.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

And so brothers and sisters in Christ, forget about yesterday, and don't worry about tomorrow, for today is the day of our salvation with the good reward of being made pure of heart and walking with Jesus in the light.

So long as we remain alive on earth, if we were walking sinfully in the dark just one moment ago, then by faith in Jesus we can repent, be forgiven and washed thoroughly clean as newborn babes of God. And we have Christ Himself to walk that way with promise the of everlasting reward to come.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

[Ghada]

Some Christians say that good works are only a result of saving faith. That is not a problem with the Bible, because it is only by faith that our works can please God.

I would rather say good works of Christ are the reward of repenting and believing Him from the heart. Because those works are rewarded with inheriting His kingdom in the resurrection of the righteous and blessed.

That is why Jesus says we ought rejoice in our reward of doing good by His faith, because our reward of inheritance in heaven is greater than on earth.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

 

[MatthewG]

Rewards go unspoken and untaught in most churches. I never heard of it before until a teacher had finally mentioned it.

Thats why it is so important to stay in the bible and fortify faith, and to encourage, and over all let people decide what they will do.

Thank you for your encouragement, Ghada.

 

[Ghada]

Rewards go unspoken and untaught in most churches. I never heard of it before until a teacher had finally mentioned it.

This is true. Most Christian ministry about rewards in heaven are about ministerial rewards, crowns, etc... They don't warn us about the only getting into the heaven in the first place by the reward for our works.

The judgment seat of Christ with ministerial rewards is only after being rewarded with resurrection of life for our good works in the end.

For them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Thats why it is so important to stay in the bible and fortify faith, and to encourage, and over all let people decide what they will do.

This is a very costly lesson for any minister to finally understand. Our calling is only to minister the word faithfully, not to try and get the hearers to believe and do it. He told the prophet Ezekiel, that his only calling is to tell the people what God says. He even tells him they will not do it afterward.


God does not have any go-getters in His ministry.

Thank you for your encouragement, Ghada.

You are certainly welcome.

 

[bro.tan]

There are two great arguments in Christian doctrine, that are made mute by the Bible truth, that God judges our works, and the reward of inheriting His kingdom is by our works.

The first is whether a believer can 'lose' our soul's salvation. It's a mute question, because the Bible teaches only those now doing the will of God, and loving God and our neighbors with all our heart, are now born of God and justified by Christ. Yesterday no longer matters, whether we were doing righteousness or evil before.

The second is whether a believer is saved and justified with or without works. This is also mute, because the Bible teaches that the inheritance of the everlasting kingdom of Christ, is only by reward for going good and serving Him in the end.

And so, whether we believed we were saved in the past or not. If we are doing the works of the devil, the Bible judges we are children of the devil and not of God. Whether we believe our good works justify us with Christ or not. We are only resurrected from the dead unto life with God, by our good works and service to Him.

Any man can believe he was or wasn't saved in the past. It doesn't matter today. What we are doing now is what we are judged by now. Any man can believe he is saved by his faith alone without his works. It doesn't matter in this life. Resurrection from the dead is all in God's hands, and He only rewards His servants doing good with resurrection in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Only those now doing good are born of God, and only those walking as His Son in the end, will walk with God forever.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

And so brothers and sisters in Christ, forget about yesterday, and don't worry about tomorrow, for today is the day of our salvation with the good reward of being made pure of heart and walking with Jesus in the light.

So long as we remain alive on earth, if we were walking sinfully in the dark just one moment ago, then by faith in Jesus we can repent, be forgiven and washed thoroughly clean as newborn babes of God. And we have Christ Himself to walk that way with promise the of everlasting reward to come.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We must realize, that it is the keeping of God’s holy laws that separates the righteous from the unrighteous and Saints from the Sinners. (Titus: 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. You must learn (by the word of God) what God expects of you and maintain his expectations to the end, if you expect to be saved. Jesus says in (Matt. 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. You are supposed to glorify your Father in heaven, and let your light shine before men. And how do you do that? By having good works. Sometimes as a Christian you don’t have to say a word, people will see your works.

 

[Ghada]

We must realize, that it is the keeping of God’s holy laws that separates the righteous from the unrighteous and Saints from the Sinners. (Titus: 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. You must learn (by the word of God) what God expects of you and maintain his expectations to the end, if you expect to be saved. Jesus says in (Matt. 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. You are supposed to glorify your Father in heaven, and let your light shine before men. And how do you do that? By having good works. Sometimes as a Christian you don’t have to say a word, people will see your works.

Beautiful simple Bible teaching. Thanks much. A breath of fresh air indeed.

Christians that try to separate their heavenly reward from their lives on earth, have filled more volumes of their own 'Bible scholarship', than the Bible itself. The amount of word play involved in rejecting faith without works is dead, is only matched by the amount of effort it takes to try and say the Word was not God.

Being saved is not a reward of works, but bein resurrected unto life certainly is the reward of being justified by works.

Our soul is the life we live, and so it is the saving of our soul and life we live, that is rewarded to dwell with God forever.

Separating salvation of our soul from our life, is separating our religion from how we live.