Bill Fiess sent me some interesting quotes about eternal rewards from various authors. The ones he sent from C. I. Scofield I found to be very helpful. See what you think.
C. I. Scofield, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, 1921, p. 91.
God’s purpose in promising to reward with heavenly and eternal honors the faithful service of His saints is to win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures, to sustain them in the fires of persecution, and to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues.
The Scofield Reference Bible, 1909 (p. 1214)
1 Corinthians 3:14. God, in the N.T. Scriptures, offers to the lost, salvation, and, for the faithful service of the saved, rewards. The passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is invariably spoken of as a free gift (e.g. John 4:10; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8, 9); while rewards are earned by works (Mt. 10:42; Lk. 19:17; 1 Cor. 9:24, 25; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8; Rev. 2:10; 22:12). A further distinction is that salvation is a present possession (Lk. 7:50; John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47), while rewards are a future attainment, to be given at the coming of the Lord (Mt. 16:27; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 22:12).
I find these 110-year-old quotes by Scofield to be outstanding. You can see why Scofield has had a very powerful impact on many generations of Dispensationalists.
Many churches today focus on this life. While we certainly need to deal with all the challenges in this life, the best way to do so is by having our primary focus on the life to come. God wants us to practice delayed gratification. We are to seek to please God now in all we say and do so that we might receive His approval and rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Free Grace Theology is not just about the free gift of everlasting life to all who simply believe in Jesus. As Scofield says, it is also about earning eternal rewards by faithful service for Christ.
Many verses in the NT do not make sense unless we grasp the distinction between free salvation and costly rewards. I am so glad that the Lord opened my eyes to understand this distinction. Once I saw that, the Bible opened up beautifully.
Not only should we share the message of everlasting life with people, but we should also share the related yet distinct message of eternal rewards. People need to hear both messages.
David Wyatt
Awesome!
Jeff Hawkins
It’s the old old story! Praise the Lord!
Leo Z
Amen! Pastor Bob. Believers should indeed be mindful of future R&R (Rewards and Reigning). Oh how we should be longing and yearning to hear Him say, “Well done faithful servant!”.
In prayer for you, Sharon and GES.
Tim Amoroso
Good blog article today.
Diane
I carried a Scofield Bible for years. Learned SO MUCH~!!! Thanks Bob for posting this. 🙂
Keeping Sharon and you in my prayers.
Barry Blundi
But the motivation for living is, “the life that I now lead, I lead by the faith of the Son of God who LOVED ME and GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” He did not give himself for us to help us gain eternal rewards, or to reign with him, but to rescue us back to himself because He so loved us, so to save us from eternal destruction from his presence. Yes the warning passeges are in reference to loss of reward, and reigning, (and should be taught to aleviate doubt of assurance), but these are only residual results that have no meaning unless our only motive is wanting to love him back for saving us. Brethren,do not dwell on rewards, and reigning. They were concerned who would be the greatest…. what was Lord Jesus’response. If we live according to “… the life that i now lead…”,the others will be a natural result. Dwell on Lord Jesus. All is in perspective then, and well.
jon tretsven
This sounds good but scripture does encourage us to seek rewards to motivate us to good behavior (Hebrews 6:10 among others). Reigning with Jesus also is a legitimate motivation (2 Timothy 2:12 also among others).
David Wyatt
Bro. Barry, I believe that you are correct that our focus must be on our beloved Savior who gave ALL for us, and that is the correct perspective and motive to gain the rewards He also graciously gives to those who love Him based on His love for us and faithfully walk with Him. I so appreciate the way Dr. Bob and others at GES have opened my eyes to this Bible truth, though I so often do a terrible job at it. Praying for you and Sharon, bro. Bob..
Alvin
Brother Barry, you have the emphasis where it belongs.
Barry Blundi
The Spirit teaches us our motivation for the “LIFE THAT I NOW LIVE is by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”. The Spirit teaches us the MOTIVE for good behaviour is the previously quoted verse, along with “See what manner of LOVE the Father has…”, “..and everyone that has this hope in Him, purifies themselves even as he is pure”. When they discussed who would be the greatest IN THE KINGDOM, what was the Masters response, “…even as the Son of MAN did not come…” The motive for behaviour first is always, He gave his life a ransome for many. Never rewards, reigning, or the acclamation well done. YES, these will result naturally, IF, the motive for behavior is the first thing, “…WHO LOVED YOU, and gave himself for you, and me. Again brethren, the warning passages and 4 soils, etc… only bring assurance, but the Spirit always teaches us the first thing, the MOTIVE for good behaviour is “not that we/you loved God, but that He loved us/you, and GAVE HIMSELF …” Little children, keep yourselves in the love of God. Love you all brethren.
Leo Z
On one hand, yes we love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19) and it is His love that compels us to live for Him and not for ourselves (2 Cor 5:14). On the other hand, He also promised and His Word teaches that He will reward the faithful believer who lives for Him and serves Him (Matt 6:20; Col 3:23-24; Gal 6:9; Eph 6:8; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Cor 3:8; 3:14; 2 Tim 4:7-8; Rev 2:17; and many more). He will also allow those who endure faithfully to the end the privilege of reigning with Him in His eternal kingdom (2 Tim 2:12; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 6:2-3; Rev 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; Matt 25: 21-23 and many more). If rewards and reigning with Him are not pivotal motivations to live faithfully for Him, then why so many passages about it in Scripture? As reminders and motivation to be faithful and to endure. That said, the fruits of one’s faithfulness will be tested by fire on His Day, as to the foundation it is built on. Works will either be rewarded or suffer loss based on the test results (1 Cor 3:11-15). Love Him and be faithful to the end beloved! Always mindful of future R&R, longing and yearning to hear Him say, “Well done faithful servant!”.
Janelle
Excellent post. I appreciate your lists of verses there, Leo.
I totally agree – I don’t get why so many people think that hoping for eternal rewards is somehow a lesser motivation and unworthy of any Christian. It seems like some Christians just want to feel more ‘spiritual’ than others by saying they aren’t motivated by eternal rewards, and look down on those who are.
Barry Blundi
Brethren, our Master left us a rememberence as the motivating factor for serving Him, THE BREAKING OF BREAD. Not His Birth, not His Ressurection, not His coming again for us, not the Mansions, not Rewards, not Reigeining with Him, as wonderful as all these are, but, as the Spirit teaches us. “…who loved me and GAVE himself for ME.” What were Elijah and Moses talking about with Lord Yeshua at the transfiguration? His impending decease that he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. That is the motive that drives us. If it is, the rest will fall into place. In Revelation the Ephesians worked very very hard in every way for the Lord, but had left their FIRST LOVE, thier MOTIVATION FOR SERVING JESUS. The motivating factor for serving Him is, Lord Jesus’ being made sin for you/me, and suffering your/my, shame and filfthlyness and lawlessness etc… and when you believed on him, gave you HImself, eternal life! Oraise our Shephard forever!
Barry Blundi
But I do not know the answer to this question. At the Harpodzo, the Spirit teaches us, “….so we will forever be with the Lord.” Since that is so, then, WHERE will some of us saints be if we did not earned enough to rule with Lord Jesus in His kingdom? If we are not ruling with Him, WHAT will we be DOING, and just as important, WHERE will we be. We are taught, we shall forever be with the Lord after the Harpodzo. I am open for your help brethren.
Barry Blundi
But you see brethren, I only pose this question, if the motive for serving is clouded, and has another that is equal, for this is where the thinking always leads too when thier is. Oh bless the Lord for promissing us blessings after where changed. Always remember what our Master says to us as He did Peter, “Follow Me”. Why should we? Because you/I were first infinately loved! Perfect love (your/my loving Shephard that gave his life for us the sheep) Jesus, has cat out every fear. Love to all my brethren here. Rejoice our names are written in His book, and His promise to catch us any moment!
Alvin
From my limited understanding, but in a way I see it. At the Lord’s supper all the disciples except for Judas will be forever with the Lord. But, if we compare their intimacy with the Lord. There was only one who was lying on His breast. They all could have been there, but John is the only one who chose to. If we compare this with the wedding feast we know that some believers are cast out into the darkness outside the banquet hall. That is they didn’t dress properly for the occasion, they chose not to. Only those believers that were willing to suffer for Him were clothed in the righteousness of the saints. But, all of them will be forever with the Lord….Bless His name~!
Alvin
I think Luke 10:38-42 gives us where the emphasis should be.
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”