Salvation and Rewards
Notes
Transcript
Romans 14:10–12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. . . . So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (ESV). Second Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
It is apparent that within the context of these scriptures, that it is clear that both passages refer to Christians, not unbelievers.
The judgment seat of Christ, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ.
From now until September 4th we will be exploring and studying the rewards that will be recieved at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Now anytime the discussion of rewards is brought up a host of questions are asked, which I hope through this series of messages can be answered.
However before we dive deep into this topic we must first lay down a strong foundation and make two very important Biblical truths very clear. Those truths involve Salvation and Rewards.
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight (Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards)
Blood-washed believers will be spotless in God’s sight,but not all will have the same service record. God is after obedience. Salvation gets us to heaven, but works determine what we do after we get there. ~C.S. Lovett
You see most important issue we need to look at is how good works for rewards and salvation by grace fit together.
As that is the purpose of today's message.
We begin with a very important question.
What is the relationship between faith and works or redemption and reward?
What is the relationship between faith and works or redemption and reward?
The Bible is very clear in expressing the differences. In fact we could say that the Bible explains it this way.
Your belief determines where you will spend eternity.
Your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
The Bible consistently states from beginning to end that sinful people are brought into right standing with a holy God by God’s grace alone through faith alone without human works. Salvation is obtained totally apart from human works, merit, or accomplishments. At least 150 times in the New Testament we are told that the sole condition for receiving eternal life is faith, belief, or trust in Jesus Christ.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
One of the best-known passages in the New Testament expresses the truth of salvation by grace through faith as simply as it can be stated: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
So we must understand first and foremost that salvation is by grace not by works. For we saved for good words not by good works.
To put it another way...
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the root—the consequence, not the cause.
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
Your belief determines where you will spend eternity.
What about does the rewards part have to do with it all of this. The behavior determines how you will spend eternity. It is this that I wish to focus on through out this series.
Rewards have to do with the works. And works are wonderful as long as you keep them in the right place with regard to salvation.
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
The biblical formula of salvation is not Faith + Works = Salvation
The biblical formula of salvation is Faith = Salvation + Works
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards
Works do not bring salvation, but they confirm and validate that your faith is real and vital. As James reminds us, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
At Dallas Theological Seminary there used to be a sign that hung outside the registrar’s office for all the students to read:
Salvation is by grace…graduation is by works.
And so the same could be said about the Christian life.
Randy Alcorn, The Law of Rewards (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003)
Randy Alcorn says, “We’ve been deceived into thinking that works is a dirty word. God condemns works done to earn salvation and works done to impress others. But our Lord enthusiastically commends works done for the right reasons.” As Scripture says, salvation is by grace, through faith, and for good works. “God has a lifetime of good works for each of us to do… He will reward us according to whether we do them or not.”
Randy Alcorn goes on to say, “At the coming judgment seat of Christ, when you stand before the Lord, your beliefs won’t be tested. Your destination for eternity won’t be tested either. What will be tested are your works.”
Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight (Chapter Two: Salvation and Rewards)
New Testament scholar Donald Guthrie fleshes out five main points: (1) God will give rewards on the basis of what a believer does in this life; (2) the rewards are partially received here, but mostly reserved in heaven; (3) the final rewards will be granted on the day of judgment; (4) the rewards are of a spiritual nature but their character is not otherwise specified; and (5) there is no suggestion that salvation itself comes under the category of reward.
The Chart on the screen gives us a simple yet visual contrast between our redemption and rewards.
So whatever else you may gain from this series of messages about our heavenly rewards, please make sure you keep the distinctions between the two lines of truth.
• Salvation is based on Christ’s work for us. Rewards are based on our works for Him.
• Salvation comes by belief, rewards by behavior.
• Faith in Christ determines where we spend eternity; works for Christ determine how we spend eternity.
We must make sure we’ve trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior apart from any works whatsoever, and that after we trust Him we follow the good works He has prepared for us to do—works that please Him and secure our eternal rewards.That’s the law of rewards. This law will never be changed.But it should change us.