A Few Thoughts About Christian Rewards

Romans 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

B1 We earn (work for) wages. This wage is death.

B2 We do not earn salvation, despite what many Reformed claim about Classical/Reformed and Wesleyian Arminians believe. It is a free gift, not earned.

We are to live daily doing God’s will.

B1 Working at our occupation: Colossians 3:23-24 NIV Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

B2 Working at daily life in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds: Galatians 6:9-10 GW We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don't give up. (10) Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.

B3 Working at spiritual things: 2 John 1:8 GW Be careful that you don't destroy what we've worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

B4 Working for heavenly treasures: Matthew 6:19-21 GW "Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. (20) Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don't destroy and thieves don't break in and steal. (21) Your heart will be where your treasure is.

B5 We will give an account to the Lord Jesus, the Judge: 2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

B6 Blessing for enduring trials: James 1:12 GW Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Failure at living daily doing God’s will: Galatians 6:7-8 GW Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest. (8) If you plant in the soil of your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in the soil of your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life.

Believing the Gospel is the foundation. We are the ones who must build on it. 1 Corinthians 3:10-18 GW As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation for that building. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it. (11) After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. (12) People may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw. (13) The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. That fire will determine what kind of work each person has done. (14) If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If his work is burned up, he will suffer the loss. However, he will be saved, though it will be like going through a fire. (16) Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (17) If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him because God's temple is holy. You are that holy temple! (18) Don't deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise in the ways of this world, you should give up that wisdom in order to become really wise.

Crowns

B1 Crown of glory: 1 Peter 5:4 NIV And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

B2 Crown of righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8 NRSV From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

B3 Crown of life:

C1 James 1:12 GW Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

C2 Revelation 2:10 GW Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

B4 Crown of rejoicing (soul winner's crown): 1 Thessalonians 2:19 WEL For what is our hope, joy, or crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Isn't even you?

B5 Often another crown is mentioned, but to me all the crowns listed above are eternal and imperishable: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NKJV Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

B6 God gives these rewards because

C1 He is kind.

C2 He says He will.

C3 He recognizes our level of love and priority for God and His ways. Are we loyal? John 15:8-10 WEL My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and you will become disciples for me. 9 Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Continue in my love. 10 If you obey my commandments, you will continue in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commandments and continue in his love.

C4 Those who receive crowns do so because they believed God and did His ways (with the help of His grace). Hebrews 11:6 GNB No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

C5 We are in a race, so will we run to the goal or give up? Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

C6 God rewards faithfulness: Hebrews 3:14 NLT For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

C7 The start is important, but so is the ending: Luke 9:62 NIV Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Applications

C1 Are we faithful?

C2 Do we even know what to do, how to do it, and why?

C3 He is watching.

C4 He is recording.

C5 There is a judgment for rewards.

C6 Let us encourage one another to be faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.