WEEK 1 - WEDNESDAY
Bible Reading: Rom 4
Read and pray: "If any man’s work which he built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward" (1 Cor 3:14)
REWARD AND GIFT (2)
Through salvation, God separates the saved from the unsaved; He separates those who have eternal life from those who are condemned. Likewise, God also separates His children into two groups through His reward. Just as salvation separates people from the world, in the same way, reward also makes a separation among the children of God. God separates His children into obedient and disobedient.
For people of the world, the question is to have faith or not to have faith. For Christians, the question is to be faithful or not to be faithful. For people of the world, it is a matter of being saved or not being saved. For Christians, it is a matter of having or not having the reward.
The problem today with the children of God is that they exalt salvation too much; all they see is simply salvation. They think that only when they take care of their work will they be able to be saved. As a result, they no longer have time to pursue the reward. If someone has not passed through the first gate, he cannot pass through the second.
May God be merciful to us, so that we may understand that the matter of salvation has already been settled. It can no longer be shaken, for it has already been accomplished by the Lord Jesus. It is completely fulfilled. Today, we must strive for the reward set before us. There will be a great differentiation in the kingdom: some will have glory, and others will not have glory.
Now we need to see on what basis the reward is given. The Word of God says that the reward is given because of works. Just as the Bible clearly says that salvation is by faith, in the same way the Bible clearly says that the reward is by works. The Bible reveals to us that salvation is by the faith of sinners, and the reward is by the works of Christians.
Faith is related to salvation; this is more than clear. Works are related to reward; this is also more than clear. No one should confuse the two. Romans 4:4 says: "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due". Giving a reward to someone who works is not grace, but a debt. In other words, how can someone obtain a reward? The reward comes by works, and not by grace.
Revelation 2:23 says: "I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds". This verse says that the Lord will cause all the churches to know that He is the One who searches the minds and the hearts, and He will give to each one according to his works. In other words, He will reward each one according to his works. How does He reward or repay? It is according to our work.
It is clear that this work is not our own work. We only wash our robes in the blood to make them white. When the Holy Spirit lives Christ in us, we have the works of a Christian. Some will live Christ, and others will not live Christ. All capital comes from Christ. All power also originates from Christ. But some will allow the Lord to work within them, and others will not. Therefore, this verse clearly shows us the matter of reward.
The matter of reward depends on whether a Christian is worthy or not. Today, God does not save a person because he is worthy, and in the future, God will not reward a Christian who is unworthy. The First Epistle to the Corinthians 3:14 says: "If any man’s work which he built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward". Here it says that if his work remains, that person will be rewarded. It does not say that if his faith remains, that person will be rewarded. The matter of reward depends on the work of the person.
The Bible clearly distinguishes salvation from reward. It never confuses salvation and reward, and it never confuses faith with works. Without faith, man cannot be saved. Without good works, man cannot be rewarded. One’s works must stand before the judgment throne and survive the thorough examination of the flaming eyes, before there can be the possibility of receiving a reward.
Luke 6:35 says: "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great". Reward is entirely due to one’s work. Lending money to someone without expecting to be repaid is his work, and loving his enemy is his work. You must do this to obtain the reward.
No passage in the Bible mentions that someone must love his enemies and do good in order to receive eternal life. Nor is there any verse that says that someone must lend to others in order to be saved, or that he must lend to others in order to avoid perdition.
But there is the verse that says that if you lend to others and do good to others, your reward in heaven will be great. The reward comes from works, and not from faith. Faith can save you, but faith cannot help you obtain the reward.
The Second Epistle to Timothy 4:14 says: "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds". Here an example is cited. A Christian was trying to harm Paul; he had sinned against Paul. The person mentioned here was a Christian. He was not a person of the world. In the future, Christians will be rewarded before God according to their works.
Enjoy more:
Hymn - Longings - "To Be Freed from the Self"
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