Will work For Rewards

I was at my first KAIROS Teaming this morning and a subject came up that troubles me in the fact that so many confuse salvation and discipleship. You can be saved and on your way to heaven and not be a disciple. This is the condition of everyone who is initially saved. As a young believer we can not handle the meat of the word nor usually have a desire to become a disciple until we grow some spiritually through milk (reading the Word, serving in some capacity in the church, etc).

You can also be a disciple and not be saved. This seems like it couldn't be so, but Judas was a disciple of Christ but was never saved. The Bible talks about Jesus knowing that Judas never believed.

Biblical scholar M.R. Dehaan in his book "Hebrews" made a great statement that hit this right on the head. He said, "There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation, and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel. To be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ. Discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can not be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness." DEHAAN, M. R. Hebrews. Zondervan Publishing House, 1959. (p. 117)

Salvation is the Bible is ALWAYS presented as a FREE gift, but Discipleship costs.

Let's look at a few of the verses that reference both Salvation and Discipleship and notice the contrast.

Salvation Is a Free Gift.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to thee, Give Me to drink; thou would have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)

Every one that thirst, come to the waters, and he that has no money; come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isa. 55:1)

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev. 22:17)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8, 9)

But in contrast with the freeness of salvation, note that, REWARDS ARE EARNED BY WORKS

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matt. 10:42).

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. (2 Tim. 4:7, 8)

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev. 22:12)

Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1 Cor 9:24, 25)

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Cor. 3:11-15)

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10)

[Not "life" - the Smyrna saints had this - but a "crown of life." Crowns are symbols of rewards - of distinctions earned. It may be remarked that four crowns are mentioned: that of joy, or rejoicing, the reward of ministry (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19); of righteousness, the reward of faithfulness in testimony (2 Tim. 4:8); of life, the reward of faithfulness under trial (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10); and of glory, the reward of faithfulness under suffering. (1 Peter 5:4; Heb. 2:9.)]

When I think of crowns, I think of the old hymn "Old Rugged Cross". The lyrics say, "I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross, and exchange it one day for a crown."

The "Old Rugged Cross" speaks of salvation as we are saved by trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone.

We will only be able to exchange it for a crown if we have lived the christian life and been a disciple for Christ.

A second thing to notice is that salvation is always spoken of as a present possession whereas rewards are future attainments. Let's look at some of the many verses that reference this fact.

Salvation Is a Present Possession
He that believes on the Son has everlasting life. (John 3:36)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me has everlasting life. (John 6:47)

Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. (2 Tim. 1:9)

And He said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)

And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (1 John 5:11)

But, Rewards Are a Future Attainment

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father, with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works. (Matt. 16:27)

For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14).

And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev. 22:12)

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. (1 Peter 5:4)

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. (2 Tim. 4:8).

After a long time the Lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. Matt. 25:19.

God's purpose in promising to reward with heavenly and eternal honors the faithful service of His saints is to
1) win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures
2) to sustain them in the fires of persecution
3) to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues.