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I have been an Elder at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis Kansas. For 35+ years.  During that time I have been writing these thought...

Monday, October 10, 2016

"Eternal Rewards (Part 2)"


Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #56 – “Eternal Rewards (Part 2)”

               Understanding eternal rewards is so terribly important to us as believers that it deserves more attention.  Many churches and people believe if you sin you will lose your salvation, or, that you never had it to begin with.  That is not based on the Scripture.  Jesus said, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)  The promise here is that if you believe in Jesus you will have everlasting life.  That is a promise from God and He does not break His promises.   This is clear throughout the Bible so, that question should be settled for good.  Now, what does happen if we fall into sin or if we do not serve God?  We don’t lose our salvation, so, what happens? 

               God has all kinds of rewards or treasures laid up for those who love and serve Him.  We cannot know what rewards await us following the judgment seat of Christ but, we must know that whatever they are, we must work for them and endure until the end.  We can know generally what the rewards will look like; in the parable of the 10 minas one received authority over 10 cities and another over five cities.  In 2 Timothy, we read, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we die with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12a)  From this passage it is certain that we could potentially have authority to reign with Christ.  The capacity at which we could reign is dependent upon the value of our works and whether we endure to the end.  It looks like the promise is twofold, you do good works and last to the end honoring God.  Paul writes about running the race to win. (1 Cor. 9:24)

               In Revelations, chapter two and three, John writes to the seven churches passing along what Jesus has instructed him regarding the behavior of these seven churches.  He both criticizes the churches and encourages them.  Jesus tells each of them what they have done right and what they have done wrong.  At the end of the letter to each of the seven, Jesus instructs them what they must do and what they may be rewarded.  These rewards are not to the churches but to the individuals within each of the churches.  To the church of Ephesus He instructs, that they will suffer tribulation but if they are faithful until death, they will be given the crown of life.  To another church He promised if they repent of their wrongs they would receive hidden manna and a white stone.  To a third church He says, “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.  And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.” (Rev. 2:25-28)

               Blessed will be those who serve God with a loving heart and will endure, last, stand firm in the Lord to the end of their lives.  For them the rewards will be great.  All who have believed in Jesus will inherit eternal life in heaven but for those who serve and honor God to the end will have a much greater eternal experience than those who do not.

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.



Lowell Parrish

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