Someone asked about the current idea that we are titled to
rewards in heaven for good works on earth. That is contrary to Scripture
and spiritually dangerous. It is not wrong to speak of a reward; it is
wrong to say that we are entitled to it.
Our flesh is jealous and envious; but we are not to compete
for rank in heaven (Gal. 5:14-26; Matt. 18:1-5; 23:11-12; Mark 10:35-45;
Luke 22:24-30). Our only boast is in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14). Anyone
who claims, "I am holier than thou," is an irritation to the Lord ("a smoke
in My nose," Is. 65:5).
Any notion that we can earn any good reward from God is contrary
to the Law. Even our good works are horribly stained by sin; "all our righteousness
are as filthy rags" (Is. 64:6). If we were perfectly obedient to the Lord,
we would still be "unprofitable servants," having done no more than our
duty (Luke 17:10).
We owe God everything; He owes us nothing. He gave us freely
all we have in creation. Our sins put us deeper in debt to God. The Father
freely gave His Son to be our Savior and His Spirit to be our Comforter.
Our works entitle us only to death and damnation. Salvation is entirely
God's free gift in Christ (Rom. 6:23).
If we want to save ourselves, we must keep the Law perfectly-but
we would forfeit God's grace in Christ (Gal. 5:3-4). The Law is the bad
news that we cannot save ourselves; the Gospel is the good news that we
do not have to save ourselves (Rom. 6:23). Do not apply for the job of
Savior; the position has been filled! Jesus is the only Savior-but our
sure and certain Savior.
We are not to compete for position, glory, or reward in heaven.
In Matt. 20:1-16, all receive the same pay, one demands more and is rebuked.
Christ overthrows our ideas of payment: the first shall be last; the last
shall be. first (Matt. 19:30,20:16). At the Judgment, Christ makes only
one distinction-that between the saved and the damned (Matt. 25:3146).
No Christian is more saved than another. We are to grow in
faith and love through the Word (2 Thess. 1:3). But there are no degrees
of forgiveness or salvation (Ps. 103:3; Mic. 7:19; Col. 2:13; 1 John 1:7).
There are degrees of damnation (Matt. 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47), for
that is based on human works. Salvation is based on Christ's perfect work
for us, not at all on our works.
Are there degrees of glory in heaven? Let us be careful. We should not envy, for all believers are one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). We will have our own identities, with various roles ordained by God (Matt. 19:28; John 3:27). We will not be jealous, for we will be sinless. We will all have perfect joy without distinction (Ps. 16:11).
The Bible speaks of sowing and reaping, but we must consider
the context. 2 Cor. 9:6 is about this life: God supplies our needs, no
matter how much we give away (v. 8). Gal. 6:7 is about salvation and damnation,
nothing more (v.8). Dan. 12:3 says nothing of degrees (see Matt. 13:43).
1 Cor. 15:41-42 does not compare saints; the comparison is between this
life and the resurrection.
John the Baptist said: "A man can receive nothing, except
it be given him from heaven" (John 3:27). God gives us all we have, including
love and good works and any good results (1 John 4:19; Ps. 127:1-2). God
makes us different (Matt. 25:15; 1 Cor. 4:7). We can do nothing good without
Christ (John 15:5). When Christ commends us, He graciously praises us (1
Cor. 4:5) for what He has done through us. God deserves the glory (Matt.
5:16), but He is pleased to have us reflect it.
A father is pleased with his child's crude drawing only because he is pleased with his child. Only by His good pleasure in Christ is God pleased with us. That grace abounds, for Christ will graciously mention our good works on Judgment Day-to our surprise (Matt. 25:35- 39)!
In Matt. 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27, everything is God's doing except the damnation of one servant. There is loss and reward in 1 Cor. 3:8-15: the loss is seeing one's work burned away; the reward is seeing one's work endure. But it is really God's work (vv. 5-7). Different roles in heaven are by God's gracious will (Matt. 19:28).
What will my place in heaven be? I do not deserve to be there at all. If we were to line up in some order, I should dare to take only the last and lowest place. That is too good for me (Jesus forgive me for the pride I still take in humble words). To God alone be glory!
Our reward in heaven is great (Matt. 5:11-12). We all face
the persecution (2 Tim. 3:12); we will all have the reward (Matt. 10:41-42)!
God graciously calls a reward what He gives us freely in Christ.