Bible Study Equal salvation but unequal rewards in heaven

[alaric]

What must we do to get the ticket to heaven?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.

The ticket to heaven is a free-gift from God to whoever believe in Jesus and his finished work on the cross. It cannot be earn but can only be receive in humility. Since we cannot earn salvation, we cannot lose it.

Are rewards in heaven given freely?

Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

Rewards can only be earn. Every Christian will be judge and reward by Jesus based on their works. Every Christian will receive different level of rewards.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Rewards can be lost. God has predestined all Christians for good works. The amount of rewards that we earned is based on how much we submit ourselves to God to do the good works that he has prepared in advance for our entire lifetime.

Conclusion:
In heaven, there are good and bad Christians who are unequally rewarded.
In hell, no matter how good or great you are. You do not receive any reward. Only different severity of punishment.

 

[Truthfrees]

What must we do to get the ticket to heaven?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.

The ticket to heaven is a free-gift from God to whoever believe in Jesus and his finished work on the cross. It cannot be earn but can only be receive in humility. Since we cannot earn salvation, we cannot lose it.

What are rewards in heaven?

Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

Rewards can only be earn. Every Christian will be judge and reward by Jesus based on their works. Every Christian will receive different level of rewards.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Rewards can be lost. God has predestined all Christians for good works. The amount of rewards that we earned is based on how much we submit ourselves to God to do the good works that he has prepared in advance for our entire lifetime.

Conclusion:
In heaven, there are good and bad Christians who are unequally rewarded.
In hell, no matter how good or great you are. You do not receive any reward. Only different severity of punishment.

great post

 

[alaric]

great post - i never thought it through but it makes sense that salvation is a gift and rewards are earned - will read through the nt with this thought

the only thing that didn't make sense to me was the conclusion - i don't see how bad people get into heaven and good people get into hell

No human is qualify to go Heaven. In God's eye, everyone is bad. No matter how good they are. If anyone is able to make it to Heaven, it is because of the Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus got punished for our sins and gave his righteousness to everyone who believe in him. It is a free gift.

Let's say if a super bad person believed in Jesus and trust that what Jesus did is able to save him. That super bad person will get to go Heaven. Of course, true repentance from the heart comes with slow transformation in deeds and actions. But let's say if this super bad person dies immediately after believing in Jesus and his finished work, he will still go to Heaven.

On the other hand, if a self righteous person who have been doing good deeds his entire life and trust only in himself and his own good works and self righteousness. This super good self righteous person will not get to go Heaven. Because he did not put his faith in Jesus.

 

[Truthfrees]

No human is qualify to go Heaven. In God's eye, everyone is bad. No matter how good they are. If anyone is able to make it to Heaven, it is because of the Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus got punished for our sins and gave his righteousness to everyone who believe in him. It is a free gift.

Let's say if a super bad person believed in Jesus and trust that what Jesus did is able to save him. That super bad person will get to go Heaven.

On the other hand, if a self righteous person who have been doing good deeds his entire life and trust only in himself and his own good works and self righteousness. This super good self righteous person will not get to go Heaven. Because he did not put his faith in Jesus.

only God is good

 

[alaric]

The world's definition of Good and Bad is based on the action committed. For example: comparing a person who told a white lie to comfort someone verse another person who committed murder. The world will say the murderer will go to hell and the white liar will go to heaven.

But what is God's definiton of Good and Bad? We have to refer to the Bible to find out.

In God's sight, there are no such thing as big or small or white or black sin. A sin is a sin. Hence, a white liar is no different from a murderer.
James 2:10 = For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

How does God deal with sinner?
Ezekiel 18:20 = The one who sins is the one who will die.

So to the world, some people who are better than others should go to Heaven. Because they are being judge based on big or small sin. And how much good deeds they have done. So when God put all sinners (those who do not believe in Jesus) who do alot of good deeds into Hell, the world sees it as God putting good people into hell.

And what about God allowing a bad person who believe in Jesus to go Heaven? Won't the world sees it as a bad person going to heaven?

In the end, the world will see good and bad people in heaven and hell. But God see it as Christian in heaven, non-christian in hell.

 

[Truthfrees]

The world's definition of Good and Bad is based on the action committed. For example: comparing a person who told a white lie to comfort someone verse another person who committed murder. The world will say the murderer will go to hell and the white liar will go to heaven.

But what is God's definiton of Good and Bad? We have to refer to the Bible to find out.

In God's sight, there are no such thing as big or small or white or black sin. A sin is a sin. Hence, a white liar is no different from a murderer.
James 2:10 = For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

How does God deal with sinner?
Ezekiel 18:20 = The one who sins is the one who will die.

So to the world, some people who are better than others should go to Heaven. Because they are being judge based on big or small sin. And how much good deeds they have done. So when God put all sinners (those who do not believe in Jesus) who do alot of good deeds into Hell, the world sees it as God putting good people into hell.

And what about God allowing a bad person who believe in Jesus to go Heaven? Won't the world sees it as a bad person going to heaven?

In the end, the world will see good and bad people in heaven and hell. But God see it as Christian in heaven, non-christian in hell.

true - i agree with this