Beth-El Baptist Church
02/04/2007
Greg Tomlinson
Are there different rewards
in heaven?
Due many different verses in the Bible, there are many that believe that different people will have better rewards or benefits than others who have been saved. The scriptures specifically speak of greatest & least, condemnation, rewards, various crowns, and labor. Each of these will be looked at today in order to gain an understanding of God’s heavenly reward program.
1. What do we know about believers and levels of greatness?
Deuteronomy 10:17 Job 21:15
Psalm 8:3-6 2 Samuel 14:14
2 Chronicles 19:7
Matthew 5:19; 11:7-12; 18:1-6 Luke 7:24-29; 17:7-10; 22:25-27
John 13:16 cmp John 14:12 John 19:11
Acts 10:34 Romans 2:11
Ephesians 6:9 Galatians 3:27-29
Hebrews 2:6-9
The scriptures do speak about the “least in the kingdom of God” and the “greatest in the kingdom of God”, but it does not identify anything that actually separates them except for humility. Specifically Jesus proclaims that the greatest is the one that humbles himself as a little child while at the same time He clearly states that unless you become as a little child you cannot enter into heaven. Being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is an indication of actually entering into heaven for no one can enter without being humble and making themselves nothing.
2. What do we know about believers and condemnation?
Lamentations 3:22-24
Matthew 12:34-37; 23:14-15 Mark 12:38-40; 10:42-45
Luke 20:46-47; John 3:18-21; 5:24
Romans 8:1-4, 34; 14:11-12 Colossians 3:23-25
Hebrews 13:17 James 3:1
The scriptures proclaim that unjust and unfaithful teachers “receive the greater condemnation” but it also states that for those who are in Christ will face no condemnation. The point of the condemnation is to provoke Godly fear into the hearts of the teachers so that we teach is that which is good, just, right, and true. The message that is taught is the very Word of God and not the words of men. The words of men lead astray, the Word of God convicts of sin and leads to righteousness. Therefore the teacher of the scriptures needs to properly and respectfully proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified so that men can turn to the true Shepherd for mercy.
3. What do we know about differing rewards?
Genesis 15:1 Psalm 103:8-10
Matthew 5:10-12; 10:40-41 Luke 6:22-23
1 Corinthians 9:16-23 2 John 1:8
The scriptures talk about ‘great rewards’, particularly with regard to those who are persecuted for their faith. This could imply that a greater reward or benefit awaits those who are persecuted for their faith. At the same time, the scriptures proclaim what our reward is. Our reward is God himself. There is no greater reward that can be received than to receive God. To receive God is to receive Jesus Christ, which is to be saved by faith and have eternal life.
4. What do we know about differing crowns?
Glory : Proverbs
4:7-9; 16:31 Isaiah 28:5;
62:1-3 1 Peter 5:4
Rejoicing : 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 John 15:11; 17:13
Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8 Romans 4:3-6; 10:3-6; 14:17
1 Corinthians 1:30 2 Corinthians 5:21
Philippians 3:9 Jeremiah 23:6
Life : James 1:12 Colossians 3:4 Revelation 2:10
What happens? Revelation 4:10-11
There are several crowns identified in the scriptures. Ultimately each of these crowns is not a picture of something extra that one believer receives and another believer does not receive but each of them is a picture of Jesus Christ who is our glory, our joy, our life and our righteousness. In the end, each of the crowns belong to Jesus and they are returned to him for is and he alone is worthy of them and it is he that deserves them.
5. What do we know about differing labor?
Matthew 20:1-16
Luke 17:7-10;
Romans 4:4-5
1 Corinthians 3:8-15
1 Peter 1:17-19
Ephesians 2:10; 3:20
The scriptures proclaim that we will be judged by what we do. Some view this as an increase of benefits for those who have done “more” or “better” work than others. The work that we are truly judged by is our relationship to Jesus Christ for there is no work that we can do to elevate ourselves in the eyes of God. Instead the scriptures teach that whenever we enter into fellowship with Jesus Christ and no matter what kind of work that we do, we all receive the same reward.
The scriptures do talk about the idea of different rewards and being the greatest in the kingdom, but all they really indicate is that we need to humble ourselves in the sight of God and follow in obedience expecting nothing in return.