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Glory · Jesus Christ
Salvation is a free gift, but faithful service is still rewarded. At the judgment seat of Christ, believers are not examined for whether they are saved but for what they have built on the foundation: their works are tested by fire, and those that remain receive reward. Rewards are not wages for earning God's favor; they are God's happy celebration of grace-empowered faithfulness, and the crowns we receive are cast before His throne.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-will-believers-be-rewarded-for-if-salvation-is-by-grace-alone · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
As you read: Each builder's work tested by fire: reward for what remains, loss and yet salvation for what burns.
10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;
13each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
14If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
15If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
As you read: We must all be revealed before Christ's judgment seat, to receive what is due for what we did in the body.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
7for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Matthew 25:14-30
As you read: The master rewards the faithful servants: 'I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.'
14“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
18But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’
21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’
23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Ephesians 2:8-10
As you read: Grace saves us without works, then appoints us to walk in the good works God prepared.
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not of works, that no one would boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Paul is emphatic about the gift: 'for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.' Yet the same Paul writes of reward: 'if any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.' The two are not in tension, because reward is not payment for earning salvation; it is God honoring the faithful use of the grace He gave. We are saved by grace, and we are rewarded for stewarding grace.
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”Ephesians 2:8-9
“If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.”1 Corinthians 3:14
“Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’””Luke 17:10
Paul says plainly, 'we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.' He means the same for believers: 'The fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is. ... If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.' The foundation, Christ, never moves; it is the quality of our building that the fire reveals.
“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”2 Corinthians 5:10
“each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.”1 Corinthians 3:13-15
“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.”1 Corinthians 3:11
In Jesus' parable, the servants are not judged for how much they started with but for how faithfully they used it: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Paul tells slaves, 'from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.' God measures faithfulness, not raw output, and He never forgets the cup of cold water given in His name.
““His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”Matthew 25:21
“Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.””Matthew 10:42
“And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”Colossians 3:23-24
““His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”Matthew 25:23
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.”1 Corinthians 4:5
The Bible speaks of crowns: 'the crown of righteousness' for those who love His appearing, 'the crown of glory' for faithful shepherds, 'the crown of life' for those who endure. Yet in Revelation the elders who hold crowns 'fall down before him who sits on the throne... and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God.' Even our rewards are a gift of grace, and in glory they redound to the worthiness of the Lamb, who won them for us.
“From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.”2 Timothy 4:8
“When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.”1 Peter 5:4
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.”James 1:12
“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!””Revelation 4:10-11
The doctrine of rewards is not a debt-meter that makes us anxious; it is a comfort that makes us diligent. 'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.' Jesus points the same way: 'lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume.' Because grace saves and grace rewards, we can work not to be saved but from being saved, storing treasure that will not rust.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”1 Corinthians 15:58
““Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;”Matthew 6:19-20
“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”Colossians 3:24
“Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.”2 Corinthians 5:9