REWARDS
Christians earn rewards: “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” (Matthew 10:42). Besides rewards, there are crowns believers can win (see CROWNS). It is possible to lose crowns and rewards (Revelation 3:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; Colossians 2:18; 2 John 8). But the believer will still be saved, because salvation is not a reward but a “free gift” (Romans 5:15–18). “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
It is not wrong to want rewards, as Christ wants to give them. It is false humility that says, I do not want any rewards. Be careful—Christ may take you up on your words. It is believed we will do as the 24 elders in heaven and cast our crowns at His feet, as a way of worshiping Him. That will be for those who earned them; we will not want to be empty-handed in that day.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We were born sinners (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23); none of us were born righteous. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Man’s righteousness is “filthy” compared to God’s righteousness. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). But the righteousness of God is received the moment we trust His Son Jesus Christ to save us. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:3, 5). “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6). “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [Jesus]” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Why cling to our righteousness when we can have the righteousness of God? “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:2–4).
Christians earn rewards: “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” (Matthew 10:42). Besides rewards, there are crowns believers can win (see CROWNS). It is possible to lose crowns and rewards (Revelation 3:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; Colossians 2:18; 2 John 8). But the believer will still be saved, because salvation is not a reward but a “free gift” (Romans 5:15–18). “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
It is not wrong to want rewards, as Christ wants to give them. It is false humility that says, I do not want any rewards. Be careful—Christ may take you up on your words. It is believed we will do as the 24 elders in heaven and cast our crowns at His feet, as a way of worshiping Him. That will be for those who earned them; we will not want to be empty-handed in that day.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We were born sinners (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23); none of us were born righteous. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Man’s righteousness is “filthy” compared to God’s righteousness. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). But the righteousness of God is received the moment we trust His Son Jesus Christ to save us. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:3, 5). “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6). “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [Jesus]” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Why cling to our righteousness when we can have the righteousness of God? “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:2–4).