Great Doctrines of the Bible
Special English Version

Lesson 31
SALVATION AND REWARDS

INTRODUCTION
Some time ago a very sincere Christian went home to be with the Lord. He was very humble and everyone highly respected him. When they buried him, a friend said, “Well, if he does not make it to heaven, there is no hope for me.”

This statement shows that many people believe that heaven is only for good people. Is heaven a reward for those people who live a good life? Is God’s great salvation free? Does He give it to every person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ? If heaven is part of the free gift of God’s grace, what are the rewards for the believer? How can a believer receive these rewards?

The purpose of this lesson is to answer these questions. We want to clearly state the differences between salvation and rewards. In this lesson we will not talk about the benefits or rewards we receive from living a godly life here on earth. We simply wish to show that salvation and heaven are gifts of God’s amazing grace. Any believer can win future rewards.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS LESSON

• Salvation from sin is either something a person can win by living right, or it is a free gift of God’s grace. In Romans 4:4, the apostle Paul said that when a person works, his pay is not a gift. He earns the pay he gets.
• If a person could keep certain laws and be holy enough, God would OWE YOU salvation! It would be God’s debt to you.
• Ephesians 2:9 clearly states that salvation is not of works, because people would boast. The apostle taught that after we become Christians we work to receive a crown that will not rot (1 Corinthians 9:25). The Bible teaches that the believer will receive rewards some time in the future.
• It is necessary for every sincere Bible student to know the difference between faith and works, law and grace and salvation and rewards. God offers salvation to every person as a gift of grace. God does not consider whether or not a person is good enough. Millions of Christians live in fear because they feel that they do not live a life that is holy enough to earn salvation and heaven. It is our hope that this lesson will help you to understand this matter. We want you to rest in the salvation God gives to you. Christ finished this work of salvation completely on the cross. God gives this salvation to you by His grace and not by any works.

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THE LESSON

I. WHAT IS SALVATION?

1. Salvation is a word that includes all of the Gospel of Christ. This word includes all the doctrines about our deliverance from sin. Salvation includes redemption (the teaching that Christ bought us out of the slave market of sin). It includes justification (the teaching that God declares us righteous and removes the guilt of our sin). It includes sanctification (the teaching that sets us apart from sin and for God) and the teaching about forgiveness. It includes propitiation (the doctrine that Christ became the sacrifice for our sin). It also includes imputation (the teaching that God put our sin on Christ and that He put the righteousness of Christ on the believer). It includes reconciliation (the teaching that Christ brought man back to God). Last of all it includes adoption (the doctrine that God makes us his children).
2. The Greek word for salvation is “soteria.” This word means “deliverance” or “safekeeping.” The adjective is soterios. It means “saving” or “bringing salvation.”
3. The Bible uses the word “salvation” in many different ways.
   1. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show Christ as the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9) and the Savior of sinners (Luke 2:30; 19:10).
   2. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show how God delivers a person from dangers and from enemies. Moses told the people to stand still and see the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord (Exodus 14:13).
   3. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to describe the gospel. In Ephesians 1:13, Paul writes about “the gospel of your salvation.” Paul means that the gospel is the “good news” that God has completely delivered you from the power of sin. God has also delivered you from the punishment of sin.
   4. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show us that the only way God can save us is “in Christ.” “Neither is there salvation in any other…” (Acts 4:12).
   5. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to tell us that God brings salvation down to us by His grace. “For the grace of God that brings salvation...” (Titus 2:11).
   6. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show that the preaching or hearing of the gospel brings salvation. “...the gospel...is the power of God unto salvation…” (Romans 1:16).
   7. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to tell us about the faith that Christians must show to the world (Psalms 96:2; Philippians 2:12).
   8. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show us how God delivers us from difficulties in this life (Philippians 1:19). Paul writes from prison, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation....”
   9. The Bible uses the word “salvation” to show us how God delivered believers from the punishment and power of sin. It also tells us that God will deliver every believer from the presence of sin in the future, after death. God delivers every person who repents and turns to Christ in faith (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:10; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Hebrews 9:28).
      • As you study the Bible you will find that it uses the word “salvation” in other places in different ways. I feel that the verses chosen here cover the most important verses.

II. HOW DOES GOD MAKE SALVATION POSSIBLE?

1. First of all you must always keep in mind that God planned our salvation from eternity past. He planned it long before He formed the world.
   1. God chose us before He made the world (Ephesians 1:4).
   2. God knew about the people He chose before He made the world. And God decided that those people would be like His Son (Romans 8:29).
   3. Christ bought you with His own valuable blood. God chose Him before He made the world (1 Peter 1:19-20).
   4. God sent his Son at the right time (Galatians 4:4).
   5. From the beginning God chose to save you. God saved you because you believed in the truth and God the Holy Spirit saved you and separated you from the world (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
2. In the second place, remember that salvation is all of God and all of grace. This means it is a gift from God that you cannot earn. You cannot buy it with money. You cannot receive it by living a good life.
   1. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11).
   2. He did not save us by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy (Titus 3:5).
   3. God gave us life together with Christ (God saved us by grace) (Ephesians 2:4-5).
   4. God saved you by grace through faith. You did not work for it because then you would boast. It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Finally, salvation is possible because Christ died in our place. He took our sins on Himself. Christ shed His blood on the cross for our sins.
   1. He loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
   2. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice once to take away the sins of many people. Christ will come a second time, but not to take away the sins of the people. Christ will come the second time to deliver those people who are waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28).
   3. Christ gave Himself for us in order that He can redeem us from all sin (Titus 2:14).
   4. Christ gave Himself for our sins in order that He can deliver us (Galatians 1:4).
   5. See also Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24.

III. SALVATION IS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD
Every honest Bible student knows that God will give salvation to any person anywhere in the world. From eternity God knew those who will believe (1 Peter 1:2), and He chose them (Ephesians 1:4). The Bible calls them the people God chose (Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2). God offers His great salvation to all people.

1. All people in all parts of the world should follow me and I will save them (Isaiah 45:22).
2. God, our Savior, wants to save everybody everywhere. He wants everybody to know the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
3. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11).
4. Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).
5. Note also: John 3:16-17; 7:17; Acts 2:21; 10:43; 17:30-31; Romans 10:13.

IV. HOW TO RECEIVE SALVATION

1. A person cannot receive this salvation by good works.
   1. All men are guilty of sin and they are not worthy of the grace of God.
      1. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our good works are like dirty cloths (Isaiah 64:6).
      2. Jews and Gentiles are all the same. They are all guilty of sin. Like the Bible says, there is no person without sin. All the people in the world are guilty before God (Romans 3:9-12,19).
   2. Salvation is completely from God. God gives salvation to all people by His grace. Salvation is free to all people. No person can work for it in any way.
   3. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11).
      1. The free gift of God is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man, Adam. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many people received God’s gift of life by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15).
      2. God saves you by His grace. Salvation is the gift of God. It is not by your own works because then you would boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
      3. We do not receive salvation by good works that we do ourselves (Titus 3:5).
2. There remains but one way for anyone to receive salvation. It is by faith alone.
   1. Salvation is by faith in the sacrifice of the blood that Christ shed on the cross. Christ did the work!
   2. Christ paid for our sins.
   3. Christ washed us from our sins.
   4. Christ put away our sins.
   5. The death of Christ satisfied the holiness of God.
   6. The death of Christ maintains the justice of God in connection with our sin.
   7. Christ destroyed the power of Satan.
   8. Christ kept and honored the law.
   9. The law demanded punishment. Christ paid it in full.
   10. The death of Christ removed the curse of the law.
   11. Christ bought us back from the slave market of sin.
   12. On the cross Christ cried, “It is finished.”
   13. Christ bought complete salvation for us in order that God can give it to us freely if we put our faith in Christ.
       1. God saved you by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
       2. Even we (Jews) believed in Jesus Christ in order that God can make us right with Himself by our faith in Christ (Galatians 2:16).
       3. The Scriptures shut up everyone like prisoners under sin. The purpose is that God will give what He has promised. He gives what He promised based on faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe (Galatians 3:22).
       4. The person who does not work for salvation, but believes on Him who makes the ungodly right with God, God counts that person’s faith for righteousness (Romans 4:5).
       5. Therefore we believe that God makes a person right with Himself by faith. God does not make him right with God because of the things he did to obey the law (Romans 3:28).
       6. Note also: Romans 3:22-24; 10:9-10; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16, 36.

V. WHAT ARE REWARDS?
Rewards are the honors, which God promises for faithful service. We will receive these honors when we get to heaven. These honors will remain forever. God offers these rewards to us in order to encourage us to work for heavenly rewards instead of earthly riches, honors and pleasures. God wants to encourage us in order that we will be faithful and strong in our lives and in our work. Note the following:

1. Moses thought that it was better to suffer for Christ than to have all the riches of Egypt. Moses waited for the reward that God would give him (Hebrews 11:26).
2. Our troubles are light and remain for a short time. They result in eternal honors that weigh much more than all our troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17).
3. Remember that in heaven you will receive your reward from the Lord. He will give you what He promised His people (Colossians 3:24).
4. Your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:12).
5. Every man will receive his own reward (1 Corinthians 3:8).
6. If a person’s work remain, he will receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14).
7. That person will surely get his reward (Matthew 10:41-42).

VI. TO WHOM DOES GOD GIVE THE REWARDS?

1. God gives the rewards to those people who faithfully build their work on the foundation which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-14).
2. God gives the rewards to those people who are wise and faithful servants of what God has given to them (Matthew 25:21; Luke 19:17).
3. God gives the rewards to those people who are strong in time of temptation (James 1:12).
4. God gives the rewards to the faithful elders or shepherds who feed the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2-4).
5. God gives the rewards to those who try hard to find the Lord (Hebrews 11:6).
6. God gives the rewards to those who win souls (Daniel 12:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:19).
7. God gives the rewards to those who fight a good fight and finish the course and continue to live for Christ and love to wait for the Lord to appear (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
8. God gives the rewards to those who are faithful in planting and watering the seed of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 3:5-8).
   • In Psalm 19:11, we read that there is great reward when we obey God’s Word. 1 Timothy 5:18 states that “the laborer is worthy of his reward.” We receive many rewards in this life for living a righteous life. In many ways it pays to serve Jesus! But I feel I must tell you again that in this lesson we are talking about rewards that God will give to us when we get to heaven. These are the rewards that can never rot. Such rewards are for believers only. God has already saved us completely by grace, but now we can work hard and faithfully to win the prizes God offers to us when we get to heaven.

VII. WHEN DOES GOD GIVE THE REWARDS AND WHO DOES HE GIVE THEM TO?
Salvation is for the past, present and future. Salvation is for today and forever. We can enjoy our salvation at the present time. In this lesson we are talking about the rewards we will receive in Heaven. We will receive rewards at the judgment seat of Christ.

1. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that we may receive rewards for the things we did while we were in this body. We will receive rewards according to what we have done, whether it was good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
2. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 – We note that the “DAY” means “the day of Christ.” Every man’s work will be shown in the open. God will test our works by fire. If a man’s work passes the test, he will receive a reward. If his work does not pass the test, he will lose rewards. He will not lose his salvation.
   • 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 also talks about the judgment of believers which is also called “the judgment seat of Christ.” Bible students must separate the judgment seat of Christ and the judgment of the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-15). The judgment seat of Christ (Bema Judgment) is for believers only and will happen after Christ comes back on the clouds. This is the time He will give all the believers, those who are alive and those who have died, a new body and take them back to heaven. The Great White Throne judgment is for people who have not believed on Christ as Savior. This judgment happens at the end of the one thousand year reign of Christ.
3. When Christ returns He will reward every man “according to his works.” We see Christ as the one who gives the rewards (Matthew 16:27).
4. Christians will rejoice on that day. They will jump for joy because their reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:23).
5. Paul says that the believers will be his crown of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when Christ comes back on the clouds (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
6. “And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me…” (Revelation 22:12).
   • It is clear that believers will receive their rewards in heaven when Christ comes back on the clouds. Christ will give these rewards at the time when He will receive the people He bought from the slave market of sin. Christ will give these rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. It seems that Christ is the most important giver. But it also seems that the Father will give some of these rewards.

VIII. WHAT CROWNS CAN THE BELIEVER WIN?

1. The Soul Winner’s Crown
   1. “they that turn many to righteousness (shall shine) as the stars...” (Daniel 12:3).
   2. You are my joy and the crown I will be proud of when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. Truly you are our joy and our glory (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
      • What a joy it will be to see people in heaven that we have won to Christ. How sad it is that many saints have yet to win their first soul.
2. The Runner’s Crown
   You know that in a race all the runners run. But only one runner gets the prize. Run in order that you will win the prize. All people compete in order that they can win a crown. Therefore I run like a person that has a goal (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
   • This crown is for Christians who run the race of the Christian life according to the rules. He controls himself and trains seriously. Remember, if an athlete is running a race, he must obey all the rules to win (2 Timothy 2:5).
3. The Soldier’s Crown
   I have fought a good fight, Paul says. I have finished the race. I have guarded the faith: Now a crown is waiting for me. I will receive this crown because I am right with God (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
   • To win this crown you must fight hard in the war against the powers of evil. You must finish the job God gave you to do and stay strong in the faith. In verse 8, Paul says that Christ will give that crown to all people who want Him to come again and who wait for Him.
4. The Victor’s Crown
   When Satan tempts a person and he still continues to be strong, he can be happy because after he has proved his faith, God will give him the crown of life (James 1:12). This crown is for those people who have continued to be strong and faithful after they passed through difficult trials and testings (Revelation 2:10).
   • At this point it is right to say that God meant the following verses for you Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:37 2 Corinthians 2:14.
5. The Shepherd’s Crown
   When the chief shepherd comes, you will receive a crown of glory that does not fade away (1 Peter 5:4).
   1. God offers this special crown to “elders” or “bishops” who are the “shepherds” who feed the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2). God will crown such elders if they do the work of the office well (1 Peter 5:2-3).
   2. Revelation 4:4 and 10 seem to show us that the twenty four elders (the CHURCH) knew that they were not worthy of this crown as they stood in the presence of Christ’s glory. Therefore they put their crowns at Jesus’ feet.

IX. The DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SALVATION AND REWARDS
To illustrate the differences between salvation and rewards, I am giving you a few things to compare one with the other:

CONCLUSION
Remember, salvation is for sinners only. Rewards are for believers only. We do not work in order that God will save us. We work because God already saved us.

Christianity is not a religion of works – it is a life that works for God. Heaven is not a paradise the believer can win – it is a promise God gives to the believers (Hebrews 1:4; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29).

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