Paul’s Heartfelt Plea: Galatians 6:11-18 (audio)

December 16, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 56 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Galatians 6:11-18

Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. It’s a powerful little book. We’re studying it this year at Church of the Open Door. In Chapters 5 and 6 Paul applies the messages of justification and sanctification by faith.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Paul closes his epistle with bold letters from his own hand to highlight the urgency of its message to his beloved Galatians (6:11-18). He unmasks the true motives of the legalists and reminds them of his pure motive to release new life by preaching the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Finally, preach the Cross of Christ because all that matters is the new creation!

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my exposition of Galatians 6:11-18:

Paul’s Heartfelt Plea

Sharing By Grace Through Faith: Galatians 6:6-10 (audio)

December 13, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Ed's Sermons,Radical Christianity,Spiritual Formation with 0 Comments

Series 54 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Galatians 6:6-10

Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. It’s a powerful little book. We’re studying it this year at Church of the Open Door. In Chapters 5 and 6 Paul applies the messages of justification and sanctification by faith.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by bearing the burdens of one another’s sins (1-5), bearing the financial burden of teachers of the Word (6-9), and taking every opportunity to do good, beginning with the family of God:

You who walk in the Spirit: Share your finances with those who teach you the word of God!

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my exposition of Galatians 6:6-10:

Sharing By Grace Through Faith

Paul’s Heartfelt Plea (Galatians 6:11-18)

December 14, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Discipleship,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 53 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Paul’s Heartfelt Plea

Galatians 6:11-18

“For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation.”

(Galatians 6:15).

In 49 AD a delegation of Judean religious teachers came to the predominately Gentile church at Syrian Antioch and started teaching the Christians that those who were not circumcised as followers of the Law of Moses could not be saved from their sin by simple belief in Jesus (Acts 15:1). They were part of a conspiracy to undermine the Gospel of grace sending emissaries of the lie to the daughter churches planted by the church at Antioch (Acts 15:23).

The most vulnerable to the lie were the fledgling assemblies of the Roman province of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas had planted these churches on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). Paul’s response is swift and strong. He will not tolerate this false gospel—that works are essential to salvation—to take root in the lives of these new Christians and churches. On the eve of the Jerusalem Council, Paul writes his most passionate letter, reminding the church of the real basis of our salvation.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section, 5:1-6:10, demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Paul closes his epistle with bold letters from his own hand to highlight the urgency of its message to his beloved Galatians (6:11-18). He unmasks the true motives of the legalists and reminds them of his pure motive to release new life by preaching the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Finally, preach the Cross of Christ because all that matters is the new creation!

(more…)

Sharing By Grace Through Faith (Galatians 6:6-10)

December 12, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Ed's Sermons,Spiritual Formation with 0 Comments

Series 52 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Sharing By Grace

Through Faith

Galatians 6:6-10

“Now the one who receives instruction in the word

must share all good things with the one who teaches it” (Galatians 6:6). 

In 49 AD a delegation of Judean religious teachers came to the predominately Gentile church at Syrian Antioch and started teaching the Christians that those who were not circumcised as followers of the Law of Moses could not be saved from their sin by simple belief in Jesus (Acts 15:1). They were part of a conspiracy to undermine the Gospel of grace sending emissaries of the lie to the daughter churches planted by the church at Antioch (Acts 15:23).

The most vulnerable to the lie were the fledgling assemblies of the Roman province of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas had planted these churches on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). Paul’s response is swift and strong. He will not tolerate this false gospel—that works are essential to salvation—to take root in the lives of these new Christians and churches. On the eve of the Jerusalem Council, Paul writes his most passionate letter, reminding the church of the real basis of our salvation.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by bearing the burdens of one another’s sins (1-5), bearing the financial burden of teachers of the Word (6-9), and taking every opportunity to do good, beginning with the family of God:

You who walk in the Spirit: Share your finances with those who teach you the word of God!

(more…)

Restoration Through Community: Galatians 6:1-5; Matthew 18:15-20 (audio)

December 12, 2011 in Discipleship,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 51 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Galatians 6:1-5; Matthew 18:15-20

Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. It’s a powerful little book. We’re studying it this year at Church of the Open Door. In Chapters 5 and 6 Paul applies the messages of justification and sanctification by faith.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by gently restoring those within the community of faith who have lapsed into sin:

You who walk in the Spirit: Gently and humbly restore your sinning brothers and sisters!

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my exposition of the role of community in restoration:

Restoration Through Community

Restoration Through Community (Galatians 6:1-5; Matthew 18:15-20)

November 16, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Ed's Sermons,Radical Christianity with 0 Comments

Series 50 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Restoration Through Community

Galatians 6:1-5, Selected Scripture

“Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1) 

In 49 AD a delegation of Judean religious teachers came to the predominately Gentile church at Syrian Antioch and started teaching the Christians that those who were not circumcised as followers of the Law of Moses could not be saved from their sin by simple belief in Jesus (Acts 15:1). They were part of a conspiracy to undermine the Gospel of grace sending emissaries of the lie to the daughter churches planted by the church at Antioch (Acts 15:23).

The most vulnerable to the lie were the fledgling assemblies of the Roman province of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas had planted these churches on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). Paul’s response is swift and strong. He will not tolerate this false gospel—that works are essential to salvation—to take root in the lives of these new Christians and churches. On the eve of the Jerusalem Council, Paul writes his most passionate letter, reminding the church of the real basis of our salvation.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by gently restoring those within the community of faith who have lapsed into sin:

You who walk in the Spirit: Gently and humbly restore your sinning brothers and sisters!

(more…)

Restoration by Grace Through Faith, Galatians 6:1-5 (audio)

October 25, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Church of the Open Door,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 49 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Galatians 6:1-5

Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. It’s a powerful little book. We’re studying it this year at Church of the Open Door. In Chapters 5 and 6 Paul applies the messages of justification and sanctification by faith.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by gently restoring those within the community of faith who have lapsed into sin:

You who walk in the Spirit: Gently and humbly restore your sinning brothers and sisters!

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my exposition of  Galatians 6:1-4:

Restoration by Grace Through Faith

Restoration by Grace Through Faith (Galatians 6:1-5)

October 20, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Friendship with 0 Comments

Series 48 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Restoration by Grace Through Faith

Galatians 6:1-5

“Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1) 

In 49 AD a delegation of Judean religious teachers came to the predominately Gentile church at Syrian Antioch and started teaching the Christians that those who were not circumcised as followers of the Law of Moses could not be saved from their sin by simple belief in Jesus (Acts 15:1). They were part of a conspiracy to undermine the Gospel of grace sending emissaries of the lie to the daughter churches planted by the church at Antioch (Acts 15:23).

The most vulnerable to the lie were the fledgling assemblies of the Roman province of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas had planted these churches on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). Paul’s response is swift and strong. He will not tolerate this false gospel—that works are essential to salvation—to take root in the lives of these new Christians and churches. On the eve of the Jerusalem Council, Paul writes his most passionate letter, reminding the church of the real basis of our salvation.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

Those who walk in the Spirit glorify God in their liberty. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. Truly spiritual Christians will fulfill the “law of Christ” by gently restoring those within the community of faith who have lapsed into sin:

You who walk in the Spirit: Gently and humbly restore your sinning brothers and sisters!

I. Live by the Spirit and you will gently and humbly restore sinning saints in your community of faith (6:1-5).

A. Command to those living by the Spirit (5:16-26): Restore your sinning brothers and sisters in the church (6:1a).

1. “Brothers and sisters” assumes that our fellow Christians are going to stumble in sin.

2. “If a person is discovered in some sin” speaks of being overtaken by surprise or overpowered before one can escape (paralambano). The specific context is when sin suddenly overwhelms a brother or sister. But of course the extended application could include just about any life circumstance that overwhelms our brothers or sisters in Christ in the assembly of the saints.

3. “You who are spiritual” addresses those who are living by (walking in) the Spirit (5:16-26). This isn’t necessarily a mature Christian, but one who is living under the control of the Holy Spirit and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit is always prompting us to lovingly restore and care for our sinning or hurting brothers and sisters in Christ.

4. “Restore such a person” is always the goal. The Lord’s teaching on the process in Matthew 18 has the same tone and goal in mind. The verb “restore” literally meant to mend a net or set a fractured or dislocated bone. Restoration to full fellowship with Christ and His people is always the goal. The truly spiritual person gets involved because of love for Christ and others.

B. Clarifying Instructions to those living by the Spirit as they restore: Fulfill the law of Christ by shouldering the burden of their sin gently, carefully and honestly, and humbly (6:1b-4).

1. Gently: Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is our model. He was gentle with sinners (John 8:1-11, woman caught in adultery), but never soft on sin.

2. Carefully: Never think that you’re not vulnerable to the sin you’re trying to help someone else overcome. Be especially aware of your weaknesses and temptations during the restoration process.

3. “Carry one another’s burdens.” The word “burden” means an inordinate load, too much to take. In a military unit it is a burden no one soldier could carry without falling behind.

4. “And thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Freedom from the Mosaic Law (Galatians 1-4) does not mean freedom from responsibility (Galatians 5-6). We have been set free to let the Spirit love and serve through us. Jesus said the loving others fulfills the entire law (Matthew 22:36-40), and gave His followers a new commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35). John sums up the entire message of Galatians in 1 John 3:23: “Now this is the commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ (Galatians 1-4) and love one another (Galatians 5-6), just as he gave us the commandment.”

5. Don’t restore in a conceited way, thinking you’re better than you are (6:3).

6. Don’t restore in a comparative way, by measuring your spirituality against the sinning saint’s failures rather than against the works Jesus has for you to do (6:4).

C. Warning: Don’t become codependent with the “constantly overburdened saint” who refuses to carry his or her own load (6:5). The term “load” means the rucksack or individual soldier’s pack he or she is expected to bear.

II. How Grace Works in Community: Liberated Christians who are living by the Spirit will restore their overwhelmed brothers and sisters, especially those overwhelmed by the burden of sin.

A. God’s Spirit within you is always shouting, “Live for Christ and others by restoring your overburdened brother or sister in Christ!” When you discover that a fellow-Christian is overwhelmed by sin, God’s will is always to do whatever you can to restore that person to fellowship with Christ and His people.

B. But, before you act, be sure you are “living by the Spirit.” This doesn’t mean that you’re some super Christian, but it does mean that you know that you are walking through life under the control of the Holy Spirit. You know that you’re not perfect, but that you’re growing and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.

C. But, before you act, be sure you know how to restore. Galatians 6:1-5 and Matthew 18 will guide you and others as you restore the sinning saint.

D. If you’re thinking God doesn’t want you to get involved, you may be right. Can you honestly say that you’re walking in the Spirit? Can you restore this person gently and humbly without becoming vulnerable to this sin?

E. If you’re thinking God doesn’t want you to get involved, you may be wrong. Are you excusing yourself because of fear? That’s not the loving thing to do. It’s going to be messy, but Jesus will be with you in the mess.

 

Rewards/Inheritance? Galatians Special (audio)

October 14, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Church of the Open Door,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 47 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Galatians Special

When most Christians encounter the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles on eternal rewards and an inheritance in His coming Kingdom we’re initially surprised. “Why would Jesus want to reward me for my faithfulness? Eternal life seems reward enough!”

Though it may seem incredible, an honest reading of the New Testament connects our willingness to trust Him enough to obey and suffer for Him during our life on earth with His desire to reward us with significance in His coming Kingdom.

Our eternal destination is decided by our belief. In all His teaching, Jesus identified only two places to spend eternity: heaven or hell. All who believe in Him, trusting Him as their Savior who made payment for their sin, receive eternal life and spend eternity with Him in heaven (John 3:16-17) Once we believe, our experience of eternal life is based on our faithfulness to Jesus.

While there is no good hell or bad heaven, Jesus offers eternal rewards to those believers who trust Him enough to remain faithful during our lives on earth.

It may be the greatest difference between Christians today and the early church. The original readers of the New Testament lived with a healthy respect for and desire for eternal rewards:

Jesus wants to reward you in heaven for your faithfulness to Him on earth!

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my presentation of the subject, Rewards and Inheritance:

Rewards/Inheritance

Rewards/Inheritance? (Galatians Special)

October 13, 2011 in Bible Teaching,Ed's Sermons with 0 Comments

Series 46 / 56 Galatians: Grace in Your Face

Rewards/Inheritance?

Selected Scripture

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because your reward is great in heaven.”

–Jesus Christ, Luke 6:23 

When most Christians encounter the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles on eternal rewards and an inheritance in His coming Kingdom we’re initially surprised. “Why would Jesus want to reward me for my faithfulness? Eternal life seems reward enough!”

Though it may seem incredible, an honest reading of the New Testament connects our willingness to trust Him enough to obey and suffer for Him during our life on earth with His desire to reward us with significance in His coming Kingdom.

Our eternal destination is decided by our belief. In all His teaching, Jesus identified only two places to spend eternity: heaven or hell. All who believe in Him, trusting Him as their Savior who made payment for their sin, receive eternal life and spend eternity with Him in heaven (John 3:16-17) Once we believe, our experience of eternal life is based on our faithfulness to Jesus.

While there is no good hell or bad heaven, Jesus offers eternal rewards to those believers who trust Him enough to remain faithful during our lives on earth.

It may be the greatest difference between Christians today and the early church. The original readers of the New Testament lived with a healthy respect for and desire for eternal rewards:

Jesus wants to reward you in heaven for your faithfulness to Him on earth!

I. Without explanation or apology, Jesus and the Apostles encourage Christians to seek eternal rewards and warn against losing eternal rewards.

A. The contrast between the first century believer’s awareness of the subject of an inheritance and Christians today shows that modern teachers have neglected this doctrine.

1. The New Testament writers assumed their readers understood the concept of eternal rewards and every believer’s accountability.

a. Warnings against losing our inheritance or rewards come with no clarification (1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; Col 1:21-23).

b. Reminders of our accountability at the Judgment Seat of Christ come with no explanation (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 22:12).

2. Inheritance means ownership of the coming Kingdom rather than mere residence there (Col 1:12-14).

a. The idea or possibility of a future inheritance is a central theme of the Bible. The New Testament offer to inherit the Kingdom is directly borrowed from Daniel’s term to “possess the kingdom” in Daniel 7:22. It refers to rulership over the kingdom of the Son of Man given to the saints. This pattern was established by Israel in Genesis 49:28, “And he (Jacob or Israel) blessed them, everyone with the blessing appropriate to him (literal Hebrew).” Reuben, Simeon and Levi, the unfaithful sons, were disinherited. Judah, Joseph, and Benjamin, the faithful sons, were given their inheritance.

b. Inheritance means much more than “going to heaven when we die.” To inherit the Kingdom refers not to entering heaven but to possessing the Kingdom and ruling there.

c. Every believer should desire his or her inheritance and be thankful that Christ has qualified us to share in this inheritance of the saints (Col 1:12-14).

B. Jesus and the Apostles describe the type of life God rewards:

1. God rewards those who seek Him through spiritual disciplines (Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 11:6).

2. God rewards those who submit to their employers as faithful stewards (Matthew 24:45-47; Ephesians 6:8).

3. God rewards those who deny self to serve His Son (Matthew 16:24-27).

4. God rewards those who serve the needy and hurting in His name (Mark 9:41).

5. God rewards those who suffer for Christ and His reputation (Luke 6:22-23).

6. God will reward those who sacrifice for Him (Luke 6:35).

7. God rewards those who invest their time, talent, and treasure in His Kingdom (Matthew 6:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:18-19).

C. The point is not gaining reward or receiving an inheritance for our esteem. The point is pleasing Christ. The inheritance and the rewards are merely indicators of how pleasing our lives have been to the Savior and the significance of our eternal service to the Lord (Matt 25:21, parable of the talents; 1 Cor 4:5; 1 Pet 1:7; John 12:26; Luke 19:12-27, parable of the minas).

Note: The 24 elders of Revelation 4 “casting their crowns” before the throne of Christ in v. 10 is an act of worship in heaven. But it is not an indicator of a “more sincere and humble” attitude toward the rewards Jesus wants to give us. Jesus chose to give us reward, not because we demand it but because He wants to.

II. 3 Reasons Why I Believe in Rewards:

A. Jesus and the Apostles told us to seek rewards in heaven.

B. The doctrine of rewards and our inheritance in the Kingdom explain the warning passages in the New Testament. The warnings are not against losing our salvation but are warning us to remain faithful to receive the reward and the inheritance Jesus wants to give us.

C. Rewards, like the rest of the Christian life, are secured by grace through faith:

1. God the Father prepared the works we will be rewarded for in eternity past (Ephesians 2:10).

2. God the Spirit gives us both the desire and power to accomplish these works on earth (Philippians 2:13).

3. God the Son promises to reward us at His coming (Revelation 22:12).

 


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