Question: “On what are our rewards in Heaven based?” 4/29/9
I agree with you here 100%. You could not be more correct! All that we do for the Lord springs from the intents of our hearts. We do EVERYTHING for Jesus, because of our love and gratitude for what He has done for us. Jesus has promised us that we receive rewards in Heaven for the efforts we make toward the promotion, continuation and building up of the Kingdom of God after we have received His initial forgiveness of sins and salvation through His Name.
You are correct that many churches subvert the gospel of grace. Often they do this because of their perceived need of money and assistance to maintain their organizational goals. To keep believers in their "fold" they tend to imply that if you do not support their particular purpose "to maintain the work of the Lord" (meaning their particular church organization) then you are in danger of losing your salvation, and most certainly you are in danger of your rewards in Heaven if you leave “God’s program”.
While it is true that churches must depend on their members to maintain their organizational goals, it is wrong to leave the impression that this particular church has an exclusive right to Heaven’s gates. When such is stressed this dumps a horrible "fear" mechanism onto sincere people who truly love the Lord and who are trying to please Him. Too often they may end up serving the organization rather than primarily obeying the leadings of the Lord. THIS, then, necessarily turns into preaching a gospel of salvation by WORKS. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not by “works” but is totally free by grace through faith. We are made righteous through the righteousness of Jesus Christ by His unmerited favor and grace.
People also make a mistake by believing that after receiving salvation free by grace through faith they then can live as they please since “all sins automatically are forgiven through His grace.” This is a lie of the devil. We are forgiven our sins after salvation as the Holy Spirit brings to our attention that we have sinned or failed to perform the Father’s will. We then are to confess our sins with the full intention of not repeating those sins with the Lord’s help. Grace is not a license to sin at will. It gives us the right to go to the Lord to repent of slips we have made. This was demonstrated by Jesus Christ after the Lord’s supper the night before He was crucified. He washed His diciples’ feet. Peter objected to having Jesus wash his feet:
“Jhn 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Jhn 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.
Jhn 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Jhn 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
Jhn 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Jhn 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
Jhn 13:14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Jhn 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Jhn 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Jhn 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” KJV
This washing of the disciples’ feet is analagous to confessing our sins to the Lord and asking Him to forgive us our sins when we realize that we have failed to maintain the standards of love and purity that the Lord desires of us.
This concept of confessing and receiving forgiveness from the Lord on a continual basis after our initial salvation experience is addressed in I John 1:8-10:
IJo 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. "Shepherds of the flock" do not like to see their sheep escaping to greener pastures where they can worship without the constant threat of being excommunicated if they don't work hard enough for "the cause" and don't focus enough on the organization. These grievous practices abound, largely because of the pastors' or organizational leaders' lack of confidence that God will provide their needs. They forget that this is JESUS' church, not their own personal domains. They may view the sheep as simply a flock to be sheared, as a source for the good of their personal religious domains.
These leaders may fail to see that if their message is about the love, mercy and worship of God, along with the joy we experience when we truly are worshipping HIM then the sheep WILL COME to their church The sheep will stay where they are abundantly fed unless they have become so frightened of "losing their salvation" by not working for that particular institution that they are afraid to search for greener pastures. Unfortunately this is much more common that we'd like to believe.
Therefore, the sheep may be pastured in grazed-over fields while needing to receive spiritual sustenance. Because of this perceived need to keep the sheep captive by infusing fear of losing their salvation, slow spiritual starvation is the result. It happens repeatedly and probably will continue to occur until the time that we are rescued from this vale of tears at Jesus' return.
>Don't take my word for it....just read the Book of Galatians over >and over...it is a beautiful portrayal of the message of grace. ...don't fall into the trap of legalism, works >or self-reformation. The message of the Gospel is the Gospel of Grace, not the >Gospel of trying to measure up.
We are not suggesting "a gospel of works" or "a gospel of trying to measure up." We are saved through the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ and in His promises. Through “works”that have been built upon the foundation of salvation by grace, we receive rewards. (‘works’ for rewards is a. totally different concept from ‘salvation’).
Ephesians 2:8,9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” KJV
There is no other way to be saved. Nevertheless, when we see that we have not fulfilled the will of God in our personal lives after we have received the free salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ, we need to address those issues. We are now and always have been, saved by grace, not works. Addressing spiritual issues will allow us to draw closer to the Lord. This also will result in increased rewards because as we get closer to Him we become more like Him. As we become more like Him we therefore become more effective witnesses about Jesus and about His salvation through His love and grace. We better are able to describe to others the Lord's glory and love because we have a close relationship with Him and can see Him more accurately as He is.
I got the feeling that you were saying that we should not be concerned about our behavior or our rewards as not mattering in the long haul. The writers in the New Testament emphasize our need to be concerned about our future rewards. These are a natural consequence of our relationship with the Lord. There is a job to be done that only we, as witnesses to the Lord's love, mercy and grace, can do. If we refuse to be concerned about “works” or spreading this message of salvation, many more lost souls will be the consequence. God wants us to be as concerned for the good of others as He is.
It is true that God does see the future as history while NOT INTERFERING in our decisions to work in His fields. Nevertheless we still need to do the best we can to be a witness about His love. For one thing, we don't see as God does. We don't know what God will do and what people will do, from our human perspective. Nevertheless, God knows precisely what our human intent is. He knows our hearts through and through. He knows if we have a burning desire to please and He also knows if we’d rather not have to think about Him except on special occasions, such as Easter, Christmas and when we’re deeply in trouble or on our deathbeds.
Human intents and desires to serve God ultimately are what bring us rewards. You said it clearly when you indicated that the measure of our love for the Lord is our motivater and driver in these harvest fields of the Lord. SOMEONE needs to do the task of harvesting. As Jesus said,
Luke 10:2, "Pray the Lord of the harvest that He will send workers to labor in His fields.”
If we are not serious about these tasks many souls will be lost, and we will understand when we face Him on "That Day", the Bema Seat Judgment of Christ. We will regret that we hve not done more for the Lord rather than "taking our ease in Zion".
As you point out, our salvation depends solely on Christ's love, grace and goodness. BUT REWARDS ARE IMPORTANT, and it is not wrong of us to work harder in the hope of achieving rewards. Paul repeatedly encouraged us to keep these rewards in mind at the same time that he assertively affirms that our initial and permanently attained salvation depends on Jesus and on His love and goodness alone, not by any good that we might have done by ourselves.
The good that we have done will result in rewards.
I Corinthians 3:9-15, “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 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.” KJV
Your comments or question
5/1/9Question:: “Where do lax, unfaithful Christians wait during the millennial reign of Christ to be resurrected at the White Throne Judgment of God to be judged for entry into Heaven? The Bible says thatat this judgment God looks in the “Lamb’s Book of Life to see if theirnames are written in it. We know that they cannot be in the Lake offire while awaiting their judgment.”
If true, then they also would not have received their glorified bodies yet since that doesn't occur until we are ready to begin our future tasks under the Lord's direct guidance. Unlike those who receive the reward of ruling and reigning with Christ in the millennial Kingdom, or the thousand years of peace, these would not be in a position of leadership during that period. Continuing with this supposition, they would not be leaders because they have not been good followers. Examples of such Christians would be those who had accepted Christ “as their Savior” sometime in the past but never had done anything in the way of serving Him throughout the remainder of their lives. These Christians are among those of which the Bible states in several different books, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32, “Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” They are “saved” but have not earned rewards for service.
This position is postulated by Bill Wingo of Tulsa OK in his book "Rapture Shock. In his book Wingo considers concerning Jesus' parable of the wedding guests that the master had ordered his servants to gather wedding guests when those invited did not respond to the invitation to his son’s wedding.
Matthew. 22:10, "So these servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they could, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the King came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This individual will await in “outer darkness” until the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. After the end of the “milennial reign” he will be resurrected and brought before the White Throne judgment of God before being noted as a Christian, saved by grace but without extra rewards for dedicated service to God.
Psalm 139:8 states about the Lord, "If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold you are there." Hell is not the lake of fire of the book of Revelation. The Lake of Fire comes later, after the White Throne Judgment of God, for those who have not taken advantage of the Lord’s salvation by grace offered to all who call on His Name during their lifetimes on earth.
There would therefore be justification for knowing that even in "outer darkness", where the lax Christians are awaiting their resurrection, they are in the presence of the Lord. Once unsaved souls are cast into the Lake of Fire after the White Throne Judgment of God they then will never again be in the presence of the Lord. The scriptures quoted above are in the Bible because the Lord wants us to know something about this topic.
Mr. Wingo points out that in Revelation chapter 21 there are two groups of people who are not allowed to enter the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. The first group is mentioned in verse 8:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters , and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”
How many “Christians” do we know who regularly practice these sins? It gives us pause to consider where we are in the scheme of the Lord’s plan for the New Jerusalem and ruling with Jesus Christ.
A second passage concerning those who will not be allowed entry into the New Jerusalem occurs in Rev. 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Mr. Wingo holds that this second group are those who were nominal Christians but without any works of righteousness (adherence to the commands of Jesus Christ) that would allow their right to rule and reign with Christ throughout the 1000 years of peace.
The point is made that although our righteousness is received through faith by the grace of Jesus Christ to forgive and to save us from our sins, nevertheless, this salvation by grace does not include a license to continue living a sinful life. We do not have to question what is sin and what it is not sin. The whole world is firmly convinced about what constitutes sin, even in those societies that have not heard of the gospel of truth and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
As Paul states in Romans 1:17-21, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith,’ for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest, in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as a God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
To be accepted by the Lord as participants in the reign of righteousness as co-rulers with Christ there clearly is a “litmus test” of worthiness, described by Jesus about the church at Sardis, Revelation 3:1-4, “... I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
”Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy.”
All of the members of the seven churches described in Revelation chapters 3 and 4 were known as “Christians”. They had believed in Christ as their Savior. Nevertheless, most of the seven churches were criticized by Jesus and warned to consider their works or lifestyles. Jesus warned that if they were not found worthy they would fail to be accepted as co-rulers with Him. This means that they would not be accepted in the first part of the phased rapture of the church before the tribulation is to begin. They are in danger of being “left behind”.
There are several phases in the rapture of the church; the first just before the tribulation period begins, the second when the two witnesses are killed by the Antichrist and resurrected from the dead after three and a half days, and the third group to be raptured or caught up to heaven will be those whose robes were “washed” in the blood of the Lamb during the tribulation period.
Revelation 7:13-17, “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, ’What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?’
“And I said unto him, ‘Sir, thou knowest’. And he said to me, ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
The bottom line is that we Christians need to focus on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ask God for a burden for lost souls and to remember to pray for many more souls to be saved through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, Matthew 9:38: “Pray the Lord of the harvest that He would send laborers into the harvest fields.”
We need to take the time to study God’s word, to worship, praise and to have fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis. We also need to ask the Lord to guide us in our service for His cause, to the salvation of souls to His Kingdom.
As Paul said, Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and firey indignation, which shall devour our adversaries.”
Question: “What will Heaven be like?” 5/12/9
Paul tells us in I Corinthians chapter 2:7-19: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained beore the world unto our glory:
1Cr 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Cr 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Cr 2:10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Cr 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Cr 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cr 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cr 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” KJVBut we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
There are some references in the Bible that give us an idea of the glorious future we have through Jesus Christ and His love and care for us. There are a few references in the Old Testament, such as Isaiah 65th chapter that discuss the nature of the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ on earth:
Isa 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.
Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” KJV
When the author discusses the creation of a “new Heaven and a new earth” we must recall that this means a restoration and renovation of earth as it was during the time that Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden. The Bible is very clear that Earth remains forever. Ephesians 3:21 states, “”Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
The most extensive discussion about Heaven, in which descriptions are included are found in The Revelation, chapters 21 and 22:
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
John follows this with further descriptions of Heaven”
Rev 22:1 “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard [them]. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.”
We can tell by these scriptures that the wonders of Heaven are beyond our comprehension with our human, finite knowledge and ability to understand. Nevertheless, as Paul pointed out in I Corinthians 13:12, ” For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
We have every reason to hope and to believe that it will not be much longer before the affairs of this world will wind down to their natural end which is destruction and chaos. After the destruction and chaos has finished, the Lord will be pleased to rejuvenate the Earth for the thousand years of peace reign of Jesus Christ on earth.
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