..OF WORK & REWARDS!

Part of our Sunday School teachings/indoctrination is the view that eternal life is for those who 'endure till the end', meaning eternal life is a reward for righteous living. Apostle Paul presents us with two scenarios that may make us see that our Sunday School teachers may not have been right after all.

First, let's examine 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11‭-‬15 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.3.11-15.KJV


It's important not to miss out verse 11 and verse 15 (you should take a minute to read it again). 


The foundation is Christ, and this is the case for ALL who believe in Him. He, as the foundation, qualifies the believer for Heaven, as we see in John 3:15-16 and countless other references. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:15‭-‬16 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.3.15-16.KJV. 


On that foundation of eternal life (which is a gift, as in Rom. 6:23  - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.6.23.KJV, Eph. 2:8, and not something we work to earn. The believer has the opportunity to build works and Paul implies that people will build differently as will manifest in their love walk. Fire represents judgment, which the believer has passed up on (see John 5:24); However, the works will still be judged. The works that endure the fire of judgment are the works that will be rewarded. This is what Paul is referencing when he makes this important declaration: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (Grk - adokimos, meaning disqualified, rejected for a reward).”

  — 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV) 


Next, let's look comparatively at his commentary about himself to Timothy, his son in the faith in 2 Timothy 4

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  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.

2 Timothy 4:6‭-‬8 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/2ti.4.6-8.KJV


Paul, in a self-assessment of his apostolic work to Timothy, speaks of the reward he is expecting, and note that he doesn't say eternal life is that reward. He says it's a crown of righteousness, a reward for works. He rather makes reference to 'that day' - the resurrection of the dead of the saints to eternal life - like its a done deal. It's not what he's expecting per se, because he knows he already has it. Why? Because it is a current reality of salvation...the man in Christ will never die!

The man in Christ has the assurance of eternal life; however, his love walk (or lack of it) will beget rewards or consequences upon the resurrection. This is the judgment of Christ: not a judgment of condemnation, but a judgment of rewards.

Thank you for reading till the end, we hope it blessed you. If you have any questions or contributions please share with us in the comment box. We have a WhatsApp community for believers willing to grow in the knowledge of the Word, we would love to have you join our WhatsApp family, if you do not mind, join us on http://bit.ly/salvationseriesonline . Thank you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shall we rethink Romans 9 : 13?

‘ As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated’. Romans 9:13 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.9.13.KJV This verse of scriptures is one that has formed the scriptural' backing for the concept of destiny, Destiny which would mean a predetermined chart or course of life for everyone, as chosen by God This concept seems like the logical thing to believe, considering the fact that we believe God to be omniscient, knowing the end from the beginning, and we also believe Him to be omnipotent, all-powerful with no limits to what He can do. Let me point out that I am, IN NO WAY, doubting or attempting to disprove these fundamental characteristics of God. Rather, I'm trying to show us how we've interpreted this, using the lens of men, even though God, in His Word, has defined His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence for us. For instance, we now know from Scriptures, that God cannot kill. Because there is no evil or unrighteousness in Him. This negates ...
Read more

BIBLICAL PROSPERITY: GIVING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;  Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." 2 Corinthians 8:1‭-‬5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/2co.8.1-5.KJV "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.  Now therefore perform the doing of it; th...
Read more

WE CANNOT JUST BE CATCHING RHEMA UPANDAN!

 I will like to establish first, that there is no new revelation! There is nothing new in biblical theory except that which is false.  2 Peter 1:20 (KJV) : Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:21 (KJV): "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  The message of grace or new creation realities or the finished work or what have you, is not new. A truth will always be a truth and a lie will remain a lie. We do not interpret the scriptures to prove a point! I always like to say that revelation is not progressive. For an instance; You cannot be catching rhema up an down! The last verse of the scriptures below does not mean the lifting up of Jesus in WORSHIP will please God or rather win souls to God.  John 12:30 (KJV): "Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes".   John 12:31 (KJV): "Now...
Read more