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Topic: Reward (09/27/04)
TITLE: Reward - From Rags to Riches By Derrick Drew 10/01/04 |
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Now we all know what reward is, but I think the question most people want to know is how do we get rewards? The answer to this question is not an easy one because it involves a tedious balance between the subjects of Grace and Law.
This is a balance that most Christian teachers do not like to address, because all they have been taught is Grace, and the subject of actually conforming to God's Law is an unpopular one. Many are afraid that to keep God's Law or Commandments constitutes some form of legalism, and threatens the doctrine of Grace, but nothing could be further from the truth. Grace and Law are equally balanced concepts, and one cannot get rewards with only one or the other, one must have both.
In this article I will answer the questions: Can we get rewards just through Grace? Is keeping the Commandments of God legalism, and more importantly, how did Jesus feel about the Law? In answering all these questions, you will learn how you can go from rags to riches and earn a great reward, not only in this life, but in the Kingdom of Heaven as well.
Can we get rewards just through Grace? We cannot get rewards from Grace alone, but we cannot get rewards without it. Grace is primarily given for salvation, but also opens the door to begin to work the works of righteousness. Grace is the open door; Law is the path we must walk beyond that door. Grace is like a successful job interview, keeping the Commandments or Law is like working to be the best in your profession. Our works can by no means save us, or "open that door" to the ability to please God, even as it is written in Isaiah 64:6, that all our good works apart from Grace are ‘as filthy rags’ to God.
So, is keeping Law legalism? And, how did Jesus feel about the keeping of the Law? Keeping the Law, God's Commandments is not legalism as long as your motivation is correct. As we have seen, keeping the Law cannot provide what Grace can, that being Salvation. However once saved from sin, to enter the door of Salvation, and not walk the path of Law, is like being hired for a job, and then doing nothing but goofing off at work. As James said, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18)
What did Jesus think about the Law? He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)
Jesus made it clear that though Salvation is of Grace, that there will be different rewards, and these rewards will be given to those called 'great' who kept the Law, and taught others to do so.
As those saved from sin we must seek to fulfill God's will. What is God's will you might ask? His will is spelled out in His commandments. Even as Jesus said, "If you love me, keep My Commandments." (John 14:15) And also said He, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not the things which I say to do?” (Luke 6:46)
God only wants what is best for us; He designed His Law not only for our spirituality, but also for our physical beings that we may have the best that this world has to offer. By keeping His Law, and walking in His Commandments we can not only have blessings in this world, but great rewards in the world to come. We need Grace to be saved, but once saved, if we love the Lord we will keep His Law and turn our rags of unrighteous works found in Isaiah 64:3 to true riches in Heaven.