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Rewards and Judgment for Believers
acts413.com ^ | Ray Kane

Posted on 08/22/2006 6:24:59 AM PDT by visually_augmented

What The Bible Teaches About Rewards For & Judgment Of Believers

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." [Genesis 15:1]

Introduction

So, just what exactly does the Bible teach about rewards for believers in heaven? There are two major schools of thought on this subject. One teaches that believers will receive some kind of physical rewards (literal crowns) in heaven based on their works done as Christians. The second school of thought teaches that the heavenly reward of believers is salvation alone, eternal life alone. Based on a comparison of scripture with scripture, the author leans towards the second opinion. However, this study does not conclusively prove the second opinion.

How are rewards described in scripture?

The Bible calls our reward an inheritance and it calls believers joint-heirs with Christ:

Col 3:23-24 - "23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Hebrews 1:1-2 - "1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

Romans 8:17 - "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

.....(Continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at acts413.org ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Theology
KEYWORDS: judgment; rewards

1 posted on 08/22/2006 6:25:00 AM PDT by visually_augmented
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To: visually_augmented
Though I disagree with this article, I found it very interesting, well thought out, well written and he makes a great argument. Thanks for posting.

I do think that it is necessary though that the author should address the reason for the hierarchies of heaven and of His Kingdom to make a full argument against rewards other than that of salvation itself.
2 posted on 08/22/2006 11:09:43 AM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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To: drstevej; OrthodoxPresbyterian; CCWoody; Wrigley; Gamecock; Jean Chauvin; jboot; AZhardliner; ...

Great Reformed Ping List:

Wondered where you guys stood on this issue...


3 posted on 08/22/2006 3:18:18 PM PDT by visually_augmented (I was blind, but now I see)
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To: visually_augmented
Wondered where you guys stood on this issue...

Within the sphere of Reformed theology, the matter of varrying degrees of reward in Heaven, Punishment in Hell, etc., is an in-house debate.

i have not read the entire article, and do not know this particular author's view on the matter.

4 posted on 08/22/2006 4:30:25 PM PDT by Calvinist_Dark_Lord (I have come here to kick @$$ and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta bubblegum! ~Roddy Piper)
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To: visually_augmented
I'm going to have to read it & digest it first :)

Being an old curmudgeon, at first reading I can tell you that I disagree with the writer's concept of "inheritance" (as the word is used and defined in the article), but it doesn't seem to affect the main topic itself.

5 posted on 08/22/2006 8:54:46 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (Colossians 2:6)
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To: visually_augmented; Between the Lines

Hmmm...very interesting article. I have always been curious as to what "rewards" would be like in heaven. Why would we need them when we have "heaven"? As I have thought about this over the years I believe this author is correct, our reward is heaven itself.

While I agree with BTL that there is a hierarchy in heaven, it will have nothing to do with having more. I think it will be about serving more.


6 posted on 08/23/2006 2:24:54 AM PDT by HarleyD ("Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" Luk 24:45)
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To: HarleyD; Between the Lines

HarleyD: "While I agree with BTL that there is a hierarchy in heaven, it will have nothing to do with having more. I think it will be about serving more."

Regarding hierarchies in heaven, there is an obvious one between God and us. But I also think we will not lose our "position" in the body. I do not imply a different level of reward or merit (I tend to agree with the author), it simply means that we will continue to have indivdual roles in heaven just as a body has different parts.

On earth we tend to give more glory to certain roles, positions, abilities even within the church but I believe in heaven each will be perfected and none will be glorified above another (except the Godhead, of course). As well, there will be no competition nor envy thus our personal satisfaction will be complete in our purposed roles.

It is still a mystery to me how God will satisfy all these things and still maintain a unique identity for each believer!


7 posted on 08/23/2006 5:59:49 AM PDT by visually_augmented (I was blind, but now I see)
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To: visually_augmented; Between the Lines
On earth we tend to give more glory to certain roles, positions, abilities even within the church but I believe in heaven each will be perfected and none will be glorified above another (except the Godhead, of course).

That is an excellent way of stating it and I stand corrected since hierarchy implies various levels of positions.

Heaven is a mystery to me as well. Why are believers judged if not for giving rewards? But why are we given rewards if our Lord Jesus works through us? Why do we cast down the rewards if God gives us the rewards even though our Lord Jesus works through us? Why would we even want a reward except to hear, "Well done"? It's all very confusing to me.

8 posted on 08/23/2006 6:40:23 AM PDT by HarleyD ("Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" Luk 24:45)
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To: visually_augmented; HarleyD

The true reward of heaven is God Himself. The roads are paved with gold because it will have no value there.

Being satisfied in Him will be reward enough.


9 posted on 08/23/2006 12:07:34 PM PDT by Jerry_M (I can only say that I am a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation. -- Gen. Robt E. Lee)
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To: visually_augmented; HarleyD
While getting into Heaven is a great reward in itself, the Bible has much to say on receiving other rewards in Heaven. These rewards are given for our service to and our suffering for Christ and the Body. Our service goes beyond the simple faith required to get to Heaven and is thus rewarded.

While these rewards are called crowns and mansions and other things in the Bible, I do not believe that they are outward possessions, but instead an inward capacity to possess. What we do here on earth builds within us our capacity to possess love, joy, and worship. The greater our service to God and to others the greater our capacity for eternal blessings.

There will be no envy of those who have greater rewards. In Heaven everyone's "cup will runneth over" meaning that God will bless us to capacity that we will be able to enjoy. But for those He has rewarded, their capacity will be greater and will hold greater love and joy before overflowing.

As for the hierarchy in Heaven; we know that there is a hierarchy among the angels and in Matthew 20 Jesus in His conversation with James and John about who would sit to His left and right, clearly indicates that there is a hierarchy amongst men in Heaven also.

We have no explanation of what this hierarchy is like but we do have have a couple of clues.

Luke 9:48 . . . For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.

Mark 9:35 . . . "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

These verses clearly indicates that it is a hierarchy of servitude.

10 posted on 08/23/2006 11:20:30 PM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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To: Between the Lines; HarleyD

BTL: "As for the hierarchy in Heaven; we know that there is a hierarchy among the angels and in Matthew 20 Jesus in His conversation with James and John about who would sit to His left and right, clearly indicates that there is a hierarchy amongst men in Heaven also."

So do you equate hierarchy with rewards? In other words, do you think position in the hierarchy is determined by the amount or quality of works on earth?

I agree there are hierarchies in heaven just as I see hierarchies in creation and in the visible church. Yet I do not see these as rewards - merely a God-ordained position given to each part of the whole.

BTL: "We have no explanation of what this hierarchy is like but we do have have a couple of clues.
Luke 9:48 . . . For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.
Mark 9:35 . . . "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

From the scripture you have quoted, it seems evident that God discourages us from seeking crowns or rewards or prominence. In effect, any hierarchy that would result from the first being last and vice versa would be best served if we had no knowledge of rewards (assuming they exist).

God created each of us with gifts, capacities, and abilities. We are each unique and play a different role in His divine plan. Any "reward" or "position" granted us by God is due to his grace, love and compassion for us - nothing within ourselves. To think that we deserve some greater reward or "capacity" implies that we have something within us that merits this increase - something we could accomplish that is outside of God's doing or Christ's sacrifice.




11 posted on 08/24/2006 7:14:17 AM PDT by visually_augmented (I was blind, but now I see)
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To: visually_augmented; Between the Lines
I agree there are hierarchies in heaven just as I see hierarchies in creation and in the visible church. Yet I do not see these as rewards - merely a God-ordained position given to each part of the whole.

This is rather an interesting topic, v-a.

There are hierarchies of angels of which the scriptures are clear. My first inclination was to say the are hierarchies of believers as well, much along the lines of what BTL stated. After I've thought about this (the whole last two days) I'm not sure I believe there are hierarchies of believers. The scriptures state that we will be "like Christ" ruling over the angels. So, while we'll never be part of the Godhead, I see believers as being on the same level ruling over God's creation.

Now, all that being said, if we recall John and James' mother asking for them to rule on Christ's right and left, doesn't this mean there is a hierarchy of rulership? Christ didn't say there isn't such a position but simply that it wasn't His to give.

12 posted on 08/24/2006 7:35:47 AM PDT by HarleyD ("Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" Luk 24:45)
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To: HarleyD

HarleyD:"The scriptures state that we will be "like Christ" ruling over the angels. So, while we'll never be part of the Godhead, I see believers as being on the same level ruling over God's creation."

Interesting point. I had recently had a discussion with my wife concerning what will remain intact when the world is finally redeemed completely. Will we still maintain our gender? Will we still maintain our familial relationships? Marital relationships?

These are interesting ideas to ponder yet I don't see a need to have the final answer. Seems that the more important issues concern the attitudes and motivations that propel us as God's children - selfishness or selflessnes? What is preserved from this life to the next probably makes little difference when we are able to be with God and worship Him eternally - the ultimate forfeiture of one's self!!


13 posted on 08/24/2006 11:07:03 AM PDT by visually_augmented (I was blind, but now I see)
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To: visually_augmented; HarleyD
VA:"So do you equate hierarchy with rewards? In other words, do you think position in the hierarchy is determined by the amount or quality of works on earth?"

Yes and no. There is a ruling hierarchy that we could never belong to and then there is a hierarchy of service of which we will all belong. I believe each of us in our glorified state will have a special place of service related to that which we render now on earth. Ultimately our position of service in heaven depends upon God's sovereign choice (the gifts and opportunities He gives us) and our response to that choice. By our faithfulness, prayers, and good works, we merit rewards. We do not put God in our debt so much as we enlarge the capacity of our souls, our capacity to receive His life and to serve and glorify Him.

VA:"Any "reward" or "position" granted us by God is due to his grace, love and compassion for us - nothing within ourselves."

I agree. But we must respond to Him that we might receive His grace and we must respond to the good works, which He prepared in advance for us to do so that we might receive His rewards for us.

If what bothers you about rewards in Heaven is that they are to motivate us, you might find this quote from John Calvin interesting.


14 posted on 08/26/2006 10:12:23 PM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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