Rewards in heaven. I hope to have some, but the idea of rewards in heaven is difficult to fit into my theology. My mother used to say, “As long as I make it, I don’t care if I am riding a tricycle.”
Christ taught that there will be rewards in heaven. Each person will receive a certain “bonus” according to his deeds. Listen to this:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21 19)
What do we do with this? Had I been with Jesus as he preached this, I would have asked him some questions:
1. “How do we get these rewards?”
2. “I thought redemption—everlasting life—was the reward. Are you saying we are going to have rewards on top of this reward? A ‘heavenly bonus’?”
3. “Does everyone receive the same rewards?”
Finally, assuming I know the answer to these first three (which I think I do), I would ask one final question:
4. “Which is the cause of these rewards: our works or your grace?”
If it is of grace then it is not of works; otherwise, grace is no longer grace (Rom. 11:6). Therefore, the answer to the first question would have to be “good deeds.”
The context to the statement in Matt. 6 is not seeking the rewards of men by pridefully praying or putting on a long face while fasting in public to be seen as holy. Do all things in secret “and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (v. 18). This implies that there will be rewards in addition to eternal life. That takes care of question two.
The answer to question three is easy. That everyone does not get the same amount of rewards is evident. Not only does the passage above necessarily imply this, Luke 19 and the parable of the minas teaches us as much also. As well, Paul instructs the Corinthians that there will be a time of reckoning for our rewards. At this time, some believers’ works will be tested and found wanting. Though their salvation is secure, some believers’ rewards will be lost (i.e., they will not get much of a bonus).
“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
This would include those people who fast and pray for the praise of men. Their heavenly reward will be burned up, though their eternal life is secure in God.
How do I fit this into my theology?
It is the fourth question (”Which is the decisive cause of these rewards: our works or your grace?”) that causes me some confusion. Since my salvation is by grace alone without any reference to works (Rom. 11:6), then are we saying that the added bonus we receive after the resurrection is by works?
This is very difficult, but I do believe our effort produces these rewards. I also believe that, in some mysterious way, it is really God’s grace that is the ultimate cause. While works are necessary for these rewards, in the end we will see that it was the grace of God alone that fueled our works. Therefore, God is the one who ultimately receives the glory. This is why when we are in the presence of Christ, we will cast our crowns at his feet, in recognition that he was responsible for all our rewards (Rev. 4:10). Put it this way:
Salvation=God’s grace alone without the aid of human effort. (Monergistic)
Rewards=God’s grace alone with human effort. (Synergistic)
However, this presents significant problems, especially for us Protestants. Isn’t this just the same thing Catholics do with the relationship of grace and works with regard to salvation? And we don’t like that. We cry foul. They say that justification is by faith plus works, but that these works are ultimately the result of God’s grace. Why can’t they say the same thing about salvation that we are saying about rewards — that both are of grace alone? Do you see the problem?
In other words, if you are going to go this direction with rewards and define “grace alone” in a synergistic way, why would we have problems with Catholic theology that does the same thing with the issue of justification? “Grace alone” cannot mean two different things, can it?
I am not sure I have an answer right now. But it is an intriguing question. Nevertheless, I believe that justification is by grace alone without any regards to human effort. If human effort did play a part, grace is not grace. However, I believe that a theology of rewards must recognize that human effort plays a decisive role in the rewards we receive. To use my mother’s language, some of us will be riding tricycles in heaven while others will be in Ferraris; the determining factor will be our efforts to serve Christ here on the earth. Or to use Christ’s language, “‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities. The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.'” (Luke 19:17-19). Service produces “cities” (i.e., authority, responsibilities, rewards).
What does this mean? It means that we have an opportunity beyond anything we could ever imagine. When Christ said to store up your treasures in heaven . . . he was serious! Christians should not cop-out on this issue, saying, “As long as I have my salvation, I am happy. I don’t care about rewards.” This is to deny Christ’s right to use rewards to push us toward good deeds. And that is what he is doing, isn’t it? Using rewards as a motivation for our service? If you say you don’t care about rewards, are you not claiming to be “above” Christ’s motivation?
Often, I am very uncomfortable thinking as I do. It can seem self-serving. In a way, what we are saying about rewards is very similar to what Catholics say about salvation. It is God’s grace that gives us the opportunity, but my effort is ultimately determinative. But if God has commanded us and motived us in such a way, don’t you think we need to be more comfortable with this?
What say you? What is your theology of rewards?
116 replies to "Are Rewards in Heaven Based on Our Effort or God's Grace?"
Salvation is becoming part of God’s kingdom. That comes through faith in God through Christ, believing God and having it accounted for righteousness (to borrow a First Testament phrase).
Rewards are simply for doing a good job with what you’re given, your 10 minas or 5 minas return on investment. Given the agonistic culture, I would say productive work is rewarded with honour in the kingdom.
Likewise, if you have salvation but do little with the gifts you have, then you receive a place of little honour in God’s kingdom.
Likewise, those who reject Christ receive degrees of punishment. Some receive many stripes, others fewer.
I’m with your Mom, I’ll take the tricycle if I can get it.
Like yourself Michael – I am still wrestling with this one. I take it a bit further and say to myself – well if I don’t get many rewards in heaven – will there be any regret? What kind of heaven would that be, where I live with even a tinge of regret? Take the thief on the cross -he made it, and as far as we know he didn’t even come in on a tricycle!. I think however it is solved somewhat by the analogy of marriage, i.e., the more in love you are with someone, the more you will serve them! (hope my wife doesn’t see this!!!!)
The parable in Luke that you cite, is complemented by the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. It is of my opinion that neither of these parables are talking about “rewards” in heaven. Rather, Jesus is trying to teach us about the consequences of being lazy and how laziness in His ministry for His kingdom is not tolerated. Remember that Jesus told us “to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to who much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48). God judges us according to what we have and NOT according to what we don’t have. In other words, God expects us to make the best out of what we have been give by Him. As long as we do our best with what we have, be it one mina resulting in five or 10, God will judge our zeal and subsequent effort rather than the results. We are not to be lazy and just sit on the one mina or talent given to us. When we are lazy and do not try to increase the kingdom of God, we are showing apathy towards Jesus, His ministry, and fellow man. Jesus expects us to work as hard as we can to increase and expand His kingdom until he returns. That is why Jesus is pleased with the servants that bring back returns in both of these parables. The servants who did not even try to bring back returns were the ones being condemned.
Michael, your acknowledgement of the tension of this consideration is a fair one – and one that I think Scripture drives us to (not just our reason). Paul writes:1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
God’s grace – Paul’s labor. (As you point out – the same synergistic cooperation is not tolerated by Paul, or the rest of Scripture, regarding our justification).
So we work, and so we strive – and all afforded by the power of Christ that works mightily in us.
Now another question: “Why should we work, why should we pursue the rewards that are promised?” Here, perhaps, we come closer to the determination – – not so much “what” we do (our effort), but “why” we do what we do (our intention). And to that intention (our will, our motivation), we must all submit any hope to His grace at work in us. In the end, rewards might not be based so much on what we do – but on how much we surrendered our intentions and motivations to the pure pursuit of the glory of God!
Here are some thoughts I put together on this topic that are a bit too long for a blog comment. http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/24/faith-works-and-rewards/
Michael, one problem with your paradigm is where you’ve located heaven.
The idea of heaven being an afterlife destination is only one view of the scriptures. There is also a strong theme in the scriptures of “heaven” being a state we are supposed to actively create here on earth – whether by Christ’s grace, or obedience, or love, or what have you.
If that is the case, then these rewards you speak of are to be realized not just in some post-death destination, but in life now.
This draws my thoughts to Romans 8 where Paul makes a distinction between Justification (the word of Christ on the cross whereby we are forgiven) and Sanctification (the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the forgiven – whereby they are purified and made saints).
The take home message of that chapter for me was the Christ did not merely come to forgive the world (as your mother and her tricycle are assuming). He also came to redeem and exalt the world – make it truly holy.
Evangelicals often sell the Atonement severely short by reducing only to the forgiveness stage of the equation. If you don’t understand that the Atonement isn’t just a tool of being forgiven, but a tool for becoming better, then you don’t really understand the Atonement.
Maybe there are rewards in Heaven based upon ‘what you do’. But I doubt it. I think all of that is rabbinic hyperbole.
But even if there were, the minute you think about those rewards in doing whatever it is that you have done (either before, during, or after), then you have shot your motives to hell. And it would have been better for you to not have done that ‘good work’ to begin with. Excepting that it may have benefitted your neighbor.
In light of John 6:44; “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
I suggest that this is one of the many “human responsibility” vs “God’s sovereignty” tensions. Even though we “come”, we are also “drawn”. We are saved because we come. But we come because we are drawn. The drawing precedes and manifests itself through our coming (our faith). In the same way, we are rewarded because we work. But we work because God works though us.
I will therefore have to say;
Rewards = God’s Grace alone “through” human effort (monergistic)
Finally, I will have to reconcile the tension of seeking rewards and having “self-seeking motives” by meditating on Romans 2:6-11
“God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good SEEK GLORY, HONOR and IMMORTALITY, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE. But for those who are SELF-SEEKING and who REJECT THE TRUTH and FOLLOW EVIL, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”
Bottom line: To seek reward THROUGH rejecting the truth, present self-seeking and doing evil is bad. But to seek reward THROUGH obedience, present self-sacrifice and perseverance is good. You can call it the paradox of Christian Hedonism. 🙂
In light of John 6:44; “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
I suggest that this is one of the many “human responsibility” vs “God’s sovereignty” tensions. Even though we “come”, we are also “drawn”. We are saved because we come. But we come because we are drawn. The drawing precedes and manifests itself through our coming (our faith). In the same way, we are rewarded because we work. But we work because God works though us.
I will therefore have to say;
Rewards = God’s Grace alone “through” human effort (monergistic)
Finally, I will have to reconcile the tension of seeking rewards and having “self-seeking motives” by meditating on Romans 2:6-11
“God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good SEEK GLORY, HONOR and IMMORTALITY, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE. But for those who are SELF-SEEKING and who REJECT THE TRUTH and FOLLOW EVIL, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”
Bottom line: To seek reward THROUGH rejecting the truth, present self-seeking and doing evil is bad. But to seek reward THROUGH obedience, present self-sacrifice and perseverance is good. You can call it the paradox of Christian Hedonism. 🙂
I see the intellectual pickle you are in! You need a reason to allow human effort in regard to rewards, yet disallow it in regard to pure salvation. Theologically, why do you disallow it? Because it is impossible for human will to cooperate with God? That can’t be correct, because you admit human will does cooperate with God where rewards are concerned. I think the reason Protestants disallow it is because they believe ANY EFFORT OF MAN DIMINISHES GOD’S GLORY. I think this is the root of the reasoning behind that HINGE PIN of “faith alone”, which carries Protestantism, but it’s a mistaken assumption. When I was a Protestant, I was so vigorously defending God’s glory, that I didn’t really listen to what he said.
God doesn’t need us to protect his glory. He’s not like an insecure father who is afraid his son will outdo him or steal his thunder. Besides, it’s not as if our effort accomplishing something means God is less glorious. His glory is infinite, as are his power and wisdom. He’s not afraid to “share”, and he will never be even a PINCH LESS glorious or powerful. He loves, which means giving of his very self. So, we don’t need to concern ourselves that if we contribute any effort to our salvation, God would be less glorious or less sovereign.
Back to the question then, why human effort for reward but not salvation?
@Irene: Here is a nice quote from the great Protestant Creed, The Westminster Confession:
“Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love” (11/2). (Westminster Assembly, Westminster Confession of Faith, 58.)
@Fr Robert;
I understand the notion of being saved by faith alone, but not the faith that is alone.
But, I don’t know what is meant by “other saving graces”.
@Irene: In Reformed Theology anyway, justification and sanctification are somehow connected, though Justification is first and again somehow “alone”, i.e. the forensic sense…the formal argumentation before the Throne of God (the law court in/before God’s Righteousness)! You might want to check out the theology of Geerhardus Vos here, see his book: The Pauline Eschatology. ALL the saving graces come from the Grace, power and purpose of God!
But doesn’t Christ say without much debate that there is treasure/reward in heaven? And doesn’t Christ’s exhortation to store up treasure in heaven not on earth mean that it is a possibility NOT to have rewards if we don’t work (“store up for yourself”)?
@Irene: Note, the “alone” (not with law) is seen biblically in Rom.3: 19-31! And noting our Father Abraham..4: 1-6, etc. (verse 9…”Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness” (Gen. 15: 6).
Any treasure or reward in heaven, is also part of our Justification-Sanctification.. 1 Cor. 6: 11 / Rom. 6: 22…
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, your derive (lit. have) your benefit (fruit), resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”
Will we ever be able to leave this stuff up to God alone?
I doubt it.
So, two questions:
Are these rewards a reward for effort through grace?
Can we boast about these rewards?
If the answer to the first is yes and the second is no, why do we cry foul when Catholics do the same?
Now, my answer is pretty simple. The Bible teaches justification by faith alone through grace alone. And it teaches rewards by grace infused works that come at the initiation of human effort.
Unless, we want to say that God unconditionally predestines us to salvation and unconditionally predestines the works we do and treasure we get. I am open to this as well.
So what about the answer to your last question just above—
“Why do we cry foul when Catholics do the same?”
One could certainly no longer accuse them of holding an impossibility as truth.
Michael,
Rewards are only possible within the category of “converted” people. Salvation is in the category of moving from being unconverted to being converted. The latter is a move from spiritual death to life, a move from a state of helplessness to a state of capability in Christ. However, the works which earn the rewards are within the context of being “in Christ” or “in faith”. That is why Rom. 14:23 tells us that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” This means that, even those works that “earn” us rewards are specifically those works that only flow from faith. A faith that is a product of grace. We are not rewarded for any “good” works outside of faith.
Gal 5:6. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
In the end, it all boils down to grace alone through faith alone.
To answer your dilemma. We CAN boast about our rewards, but not as products of our “efforts” but as products of our faith which works itself out in our efforts. A faith which is from Christ. So, we are really boasting about our rewards because of WHOM they are coming from, not because of our efforts in earning them.
Cornell, that was way too confusing for me. But . . . That does not mean it was wrong!
Haha, sorry. Could be because I am up at 2 am (in Nairobi).
Perhaps all I am trying to say is that what Catholics do about soteriology and what protestants do about rewards sound/appear the same, but they belong to different categories. So we (protestants) are still justified in crying foul because of difference in categories, even though the language used is the same.
By the way, I think I fully agree with your conclusion: “God unconditionally predestines us to salvation and unconditionally predestines the works we do and treasure we get.”
Let me get some sleep now. Need to be up early to go vote for a new president tomorrow (okay, later today). pray for Kenya.
I agree with Cornell, and too Michael’s double “unconditional”, in both our “predestination” and the “treasure” of the believers work’s… some or all from “the good soil”… “thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold”. (Mk. 4: 8 ; 20). But it is all of grace & God’s glory!
Btw, the Roman Catholic position however does not have or give the “assurance” of salvation, and “works” there are conditioned within the believer.
Btw, I think of both “the regeneration” of the believer and the creation, Titus 3: 5 and Matt. 19: 28. Again, All of Grace!
Because so much of Christ’s teaching about heaven is based on metaphor, I’m really uncomfortable taking these statements about rewards in heaven and making them into the terms of an eternal retirement plan. Clearly, greed about earthly rewards is wrong. If we take that same greed impulse and transfer it to bigger treasures in heaven, that seems like a *worse* kind of greed!
I understand z, but is it a metaphore to say store up treasure in heaven? Pretty straight forward, right.
Cornell, much better!
[…] Are Rewards in Heaven Based on Our Effort or God’s Grace? […]
“What say you? What is your theology of rewards?”
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. Heb 11:6
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who
for the joy set before Him endured the cross Heb 12:2
The only reward we get is Salvation. And it is only by God’s grace through faith, and not of our works.
Any other rewards in Heaven based on our good works is legalistic and is the antithesis of the Christian faith.
Jesus came down from his Heavenly throne to die for us and give Himself for us. He did not come down from Heaven because He was promised a bigger or greater throne. Jesus came down just because He loves us. As a follower of Jesus, we are to have to same motives. We follow Jesus because we love Him. We follow Him because we are thankful for being saved by His unselfishness. We are to do the same. We love God unconditionally and we love our neighbors unconditionally. There is no other way. If you love God and neighbor with an eye towards certain riches and rewards in Heaven, you are doing for a selfish reason.
Jin said: ” If you love God and neighbor with an eye towards certain riches and rewards in Heaven, you are doing for a selfish reason.”
Who says that the rewards of heaven are riches?? Of course it is beyond what we can now imagine, but I think they will be more along the lines of greater capacity for giving and receiving love. In this life, we sacrifice and stretch our faith, hope, and love, then in the next life it is all worth it. Our efforts are rewarded. (But these efforts weren’t on our own behalf, rather made in the name of love of God and neighbor.). In this way, then, our efforts are not selfish.
Something like that, anyway. Not prettier mansions and better views.
I believe the bible tells us much of the joy set before the Lord is us wih Him.
Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24
For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thess 2:19-20
Matthew 10:42. I believe God is eager to see us grow in faith and good works (which He prepared beforehand . . .) and is preparing our rewards commensurate with our abilities and actual progress. But God looks at the heart, not at the often impressive worldly results (I Samuel 16).
And what lesson do we glean from the parable of the talents? I still shudder to think (erroneously) that we are on some kind of probation and can lose everything for fouling up. But God looks at our intentions as well as our outward deeds.
Salvation is a free gift from God as a result of His grace. We obtain it through our faith in this promise.
Sanctification is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus through our efforts with the help of the Holy Spirit and the power of Jesus. This is done as a result of salvation and NOT for obtaining salvation.
There is effort on our part in sanctification as God works WITH us to mold us and shape us into the soul He wants all His creatures to be. This effort is also as a result of our faith – the faith of obedience. This effort is also a test of our faith and obedience.
Because ALL have sinned and ALL are without worthiness, the only way is through Jesus. Because EVERYTHING is from and through Jesus, there are no differences in rewards in Heaven. Everything comes from JESUS!! And Jesus does not favor one person over another. Any verse that seems to suggest rewards in Heaven is a result of our human heart erroneously interpreting according to our fleshly nature.
@Jin:
You just said,
“Any verse that seems to suggest rewards in Heaven is a result of our human heart erroneously interpreting according to our fleshly nature.”
Notice how you are interpreting verses to fit a theology?
(Rather than letting the verses determine the theology)
Irene,
It is not to fit a theology. It is to fit the Biblical theme of giving up oneself for God and others out of love.
What does it mean to “take up your cross, and follow me”? It means going to your death and being reborn. This means that all your earthly motives and your selfish motives are to be no more. That means that when you do good works, it is out of pure love for God and neighbor. It is not out of ANY selfish motives OR for any heavenly rewards – whatever they may be.
Giving up “everything” for God and neighbor is not part of any particular theology. It is the foundation of Christian character. There should be no differences of opinion on this point.
Remember also that we are servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been all bought with a price. Because we are servants, God can use us in any shape or form for His purpose. We are merely His instruments in fulfilling His will. Therefore, there is no greater or lesser reward for those that God chooses to use more or less than others. There is boasting of rewards because it is God who chooses which servant He will use and how many times He will use that servant.
Ooops…I meant to say that there is NO boasting of rewards.
If we are predetermined by God then it’s hard to understand a concern about works-righteousness in either salvation or heavenly reward. Being mostly Armenian in my theology and Catholic in my faith, I am therefore concerned about the issue. We all agree that salvation comes solely by grace, but I’m not sure the discussion beyond that is not mere semantics and we only think there is definitive difference between this classic Protestant-Catholic issue. This is a nuanced teaching of Scripture so we shouldn’t be one dimensional when we make statements that we are saved by faith alone. St. Paul says we are saved by faith, not by works of the law and St. James says we are not saved by faith alone. The first (Rm. 1:5) and last (Rm 16:26) mention of “Faith” in Romans manifests in the same phrase: “…obedience that comes from faith”. Might not St. Paul be trying to suggest something by this? That is that whether one focuses on the first half of Romans which de-emphasizes the role of human effort or the second half which pushes in a different direction, the attainment of salvation expressed in Romans must be understood within the boundaries of that expression.
God never saves us against our will, even if we are predetermined to have a will to accept God’s salvation. If you want to argue that the choice to accept salvation is not a “work”, you can’t say it’s nothing at all. But putting trust in God is for many people a much difficult thing for many far harder
MY ABOVE STATEMENT POSTED B4 I FINISHED…. HERE WHAT I INTENDED:
If we are predetermined by God then it’s hard to understand concern about works-righteousness in either salvation or heavenly reward. Being mostly Armenian in my theology and Catholic in my faith, I am therefore concerned about the issue. We all agree that salvation comes solely by grace, but I’m not sure the discussion beyond that is not mere semantics and we only think there is definitive difference. This is a nuanced teaching of Scripture so we shouldn’t be one dimensional when we make statements that we are saved by faith alone as if it were as straight forward as the phrase suggests. Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats makes no mention of faith but only examples of good deeds. St. Paul says we are saved by faith, not by works of the law and St. James says we are not saved by faith alone. The first (Rm. 1:5) and last (Rm 16:26) mention of “Faith” in Romans manifests in the same phrase: “…obedience that comes from faith”. Might not St. Paul be trying to suggest something by this? That is that whether one focuses on the first half of Romans which de-emphasizes the role of human effort or the second half which pushes in a different direction, the attainment of salvation expressed in Romans must be understood within the boundaries of that expression.
God never saves us against our will, even if we are predetermined to have a will to accept God’s salvation. If you want to argue that the choice to accept salvation is not a “work”, you can’t say it’s nothing at all. Putting trust in God is for many people is a much harder thing that say, alms giving.
Our will power, which I believe is free, was made that way so we can freely love God with it. It may be infinitely incapable of either salvation or sanctification. But God has chosen to involve the participation of our will in both. Should not the rest of the debatable be seen as acceptable variations rather than Church-dividing disagreement?
Daniel,
It is my belief that although salvation is a free gift and is only obtained by faith alone, it is also a gift that can be lost. It is always our free choice to accept this free gift and yet again, it is always our free choice to “give it back” or lose it – lose our salvation. This is where our “good works” come in. Remember, Jesus tells us to come as we are. Jesus will accept our choice to follow Him at any point in our sinful lives. However, it is up to us as to what we do with it. As the parable of the talents and mina tells us, the talents and minas were given to the servants for free in the beginning. It was up to the servants whether to increase it according to their abilities or not. The only one losing the mina was the one who did not appreciate it and did not try to increase it. Such is our salvation. It is given to us free of charge and as a gift of God’s grace and we are to accept it through our faith. However, as James points out “faith without works is dead”. Once we accept the promise of salvation then we better act like it. Again, the Bible says “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.
God intends our salvation (justification, sanctification, and glorification) to be ongoing and permanent. Sure, it is a gift of grace, but our participation is expected, even ordained. But to say that works are necessary to “maintain” our justification is like saying salvation has an expiration date and needs to be renewed from time to time. This is not the case as supported by scriptures. When saved, we are raised to a new position in Christ which cannot be nullified by our neglect or disobedience.
But yes, there is that pesky concept in James 2:24 – “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (NKJV). Even the word for justified (Strong’s 1344) is about the same in James and in Romans.
It sounds confusing except for one thing: Abraham was not required to offer Isaac over and over again, and likewise Jesus does not offer Himself on the cross over and over again.
Abraham was not required to offer Isaac over and over again because it was a test of his faith, and not a sacrifice for sin. However, Abraham was required to offer lamb sacrifices for his sin and atonement over and over again. Similarly, the nation of Israel and all it’s citizens were required to offer daily sacrifices; once in the morning and evening in addition to their personal offerings and sacrifices. Also Israel was required to observe the Day of Atonement once a year to cleanse the sanctuary of sin and to cleanse themselves of yearly sins. Likewise, we as Christians in the NT are to repent of our sins and remember Jesus’ death as atonement for our sins. Besides the symbolism, there is no difference between the OT Israelites and the NT Christians. They looked forwards to the coming Messiah for salvation in faith and we look backwards in faith at Jesus’ death for our salvation.
If we do not repent of our sins, then we will not be atoned. Just like the servant who did not increase his mina, we will lose the grace given to us.
Hi C and Jin,
I always look to Romans 2:6-7 “For he will render to every man according to his works; to those by patience in well-doing seeking glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” We should be always seeking, always picking up our cross, there is no expiration date, no scorecard or marks given nor a cut off mark. We Pick up our Cross Daily and give it our all; just like the runner in the race that Paul describes. Jesus’ Red Letter words are that we should “labor for the food the endures to eternal life. The Parable of the Talents and The Final Judgment in Matthew 24 14-40 tells us that we will be are given something (GRACE) and that we are expected to do the Will of the Father (Eph 2:8-10). When we don’t do those specific things, and Jesus gives us a hint what they are, ie. The Poor you will always have with you, and To Love Our Neighbor, etc., we don’t get to heaven as Jesus told us very painly in language that is unambiguous: “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who do the will of my Father.
Will I always attain to picking up the cross every time I see my brother in need? If I don’t, how does God’s love abide in me? We give it our all. And when we have failed as we all will do from time to time, we must pick ourselves up, recognize it and try again……….
Remember, we have the spirit within us. So we should never cease to give God Praise and Glory, which is to pray always, making yourself that living prayer.
In Christ,
Ron
Paul puts it so carefully with circumspection (decision & determination) in Eph. 2: 8 -10. Truly it is a biblical mystery! But faith itself is always a “gift” of God, but yet “we are his workmanship (Poiema, the Greek word here means a thing made, a thing produced, as with effort, object, and design, see too Rom. 1: 20)… “we” are HIS effort, object and design, “created in Christ Jesus, His masterpiece…having been created ‘In Christ Jesus’ for good works, which previously prepared [by] God that in them “we” should walk.” (lit. translation)
Often biblical theology is the tension of God’s word & will itself! God’s work Himself, but the lives – spirit & soul in those God Himself calls In Christ, for Himself. God is always “the worker”, and we are the “clay”, (Rom. 9: 21). “Of the same lump to make one.. this vessel for honorable use and that vessel for dishonorable use? To demonstrate this His wrath and to make known his power.. has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction.” (lit. verse 22)
When I think about rewards in heaven for good works, I’m concerned about the legitimacy of my motives and how God sees them. The too human part of me causes me to doubt my own motives even when the good work I do is “private” and not “public” (I’m not doing the work for recognition by other humans) and is one that I genuinely want to do out of kindness and / or obedience. Also, I hate the thought that I’m doing a “good work” in anticipation of a heavenly reward…seems crass and suggests that were it not for the “reward” I would not have done the work at all. All that being said, I believe in walking the walk and not just talking the talk. Faith without works that honor Christ is dead.
Btw, in the “glory” we will cast our crowns before the throne, singing, “Worthy art thou, our Lord God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4: 10-11, RSV)
As has been said, “justification, sanctification and glorification” are the LORD’s to give and attain, in the life & glory of His Body…Elect & chosen people! (1 Peter 1: 1-2)
Sometimes we don’t know all the details (theological), but we have the blessed “outline” and revelation of the Word of God itself!
I know that this is off topic but, can anyone post a good link to a website that explains the biblical reasonings behind this recent fervor for Zionism? Or any good website that biblically explains why the nation of Israel must be established to usher in Jesus’ second coming?
Thank you.
The Jerusalem Post is a good one!
http://www.jpost.com/
Thanks!