I want to welcome you to our class on biblical distinctions. We're looking tonight at discerning the difference between salvation and rewards. And I found it interesting, you know, when I study a book of the Bible, I will... You know, Brian, I'm almost out of battery here. Can someone change it over? While they're changing it, I'll just use this other mic. You know, when I study a book of the Bible, I first of all always do my own study, and secondly, then I look at some commentaries. And on any particular book that I'm especially concentrating on, I may look at anywhere from three to five to 10 to 15 commentaries to see what they have to say. Now, after about 10 verses of the book, I pretty much know I'm just going to really look at these three commentaries probably, because a lot of them just copy each other or they don't say much. But one of the commentaries I was using in 1 Peter, partly because he interacted with the Greek text, was from the New International Version, the New American Commentary by 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude by Thomas Schreiner. Now, Schreiner is a pretty well-known scholar in a lot of circles. But I'll tell you this. I don't care if you're a quota scholar, and I don't care if you even know Greek. The Greek is not the bottom line. The bottom line is observing carefully the text of scripture and understanding it. And when it comes to this issue between salvation and rewards, I want you to listen to what Schreiner says. He's talking about 1 Peter 2, 18 through 25, slaves submitting to their masters, and Christ is the example. He says the motivation for the exhortation is given in verse 19. Now listen to this. Those who endure suffering from masters while doing what is good will be rewarded by God. Now is that true? Is that true? Okay. So far so good. Given the emphasis on the eschatological reward in 1 Peter, the reward in view here is probably the end-time gift of salvation. Let me read that again. The reward in view here is probably the end time gift of salvation. How can you have a reward that's a gift? How can you have a gift that's a reward? Now that is theological double talk to the max. Now I write in my commentaries, whoever gets my commentaries when I'm dead are going to read all my scribbling and I'll say, terrible, or good point, or yes, amen, or I'll put a mark, this is a good thing to remember. So I'm very interactive in the margins of my commentaries. And you can tell right away what I like and what I don't like and so forth. But notice he talked about a reward that is the gift to salvation. And one of the things we want to see tonight is the difference between salvation and rewards. In doing so, open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. We're going to move pretty quick through this. Often people use reward passages to arrive at a works-based salvation. Does it really matter how a believer lives post-salvation? Do all believers receive the same reward? What is the biblical basis for salvation, and what is the biblical basis for reward? Do you know the difference between salvation and rewards? Now, in 1 Corinthians 1, look at verses 17 and 18. Regarding salvation, what is Paul right? For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Verse 21, for sense in the wisdom of God, the world through Its wisdom did not know God. It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who simply believe." So the Gospel again is, to the lost is foolishness, unneeded, unnecessary, inaccurate, or impossible. And yet it's through that very message that God saves those who believe. And so we preach Jesus Christ. Verse 22, the Jews request to sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews, a stumbling block, and to the Greeks, foolishness. And that is the message the Corinthians had heard. That is the message the Corinthians had believed according to 1 Corinthians 15, 1 and 2. In doing so, they were, chapter 3, verse 1, in Christ. They were brethren, and I, brethren, cannot speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. What was one of their problems they were having? Verse 4, when one says, I am of Paul, another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal? They were rallying around human leaders instead of around the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 5 who then is Paul who's Apollos but ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one Notice ministers through whom you what? confessed No asked no blee as the Lord gave to each one. I planted, I was instrumental in getting out the gospel, there at Corinth, planting the seed. Apollos watered it, but it's God who gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, they're united. Now catch this, each one will receive his own what? Reward according to his own labor. There's a difference between salvation and rewards. Salvation is not by works, it's through faith alone in Christ. A reward is according to his own labor. Verse 9, For we are God's fellow workers, you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God that was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation by preaching the gospel, and another builds on it by teaching you the word of God. But let each one take heed how he builds, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear for the day, the day of Christ. When he returns, we'll declare it because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test each one's work of what sort or quality it is. If anyone's work, which he has built on it, endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." Notice, rewards can be gained or they can be lost. Salvation cannot. There's a difference between reward and salvation. See, everything in the Christian life has been provided by the Lord. And so through faith in Christ alone, one comes to possess eternal salvation. And you now have a foundation of Jesus Christ. And you now have a choice how you will build upon that foundation in your life and in your ministry. You can build with it with materials of gold, silver, precious stones, or you can build with it with wood, hay, and straw. Three are permanent materials. Three are perishable materials. You are going to build with something. The question is, what materials are you going to use? Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, and straw, each one's work will become clear. The day will declare it because it could be refilled by fire. Fire will test each one's work of what sort or quality. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, endures what? The fire test. The judgment seat of Christ. He will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved. By the way, the phrase will be saved is a future passive indicative. In the future, after this judgment, it is guaranteed that he will be saved. He doesn't save himself passive voice. He receives this salvation. Yet so as through the fire. So the offer, A, salvation is offered to unbelievers, where as rewards are offered to believers. In salvation, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Salvation from sin's penalty is offered to unbelievers. Rewards are offered to believers. And again, the Corinthians were believers. 1 Corinthians 6, 11, such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified. Those are all past done realities for these believers. And they had a foundation of Jesus Christ. As we think of the reception, salvation is appropriated by grace through faith alone and Christ alone apart from works. We have seen this again many, many times. Therefore we conclude a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law, or Ephesians 2.8.9, not of works, lest anyone should boast. On the other hand, rewards are obtained by grace through ongoing faith resulting in Christ honoring works. Christ honoring works. Again, we read that each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. God provides it all, yet we're to appropriate His grace by faith, walk by faith, admit our insufficiency, and yield or rely upon Him, and the Spirit of God can produce good works through our life. You've seen the offer, seen the reception. Number three is the possession. Salvation is the believer's present possession. So when you look at verses like John 3 16 notice if you believe in him you have Everlasting life he believes in him is present tense not condemned In John 3 verse 36 he believes in the Sun has right now presently possesses everlasting life Thus you will never perish present tense, but when it comes to rewards they are the believers possible future attainment future attainment Verse 14 of first Corinthians 3 if anyone's work which he has built on it endures he will future tense receive a Reward This takes place again at the judgment seat of Christ. How do you know that rewards are connected with the Lord's return? And I say that because, you know, I read Dave Hunt in the Berean Call a few years ago, in which he made the statement that he believes that the judgment seat of Christ and rewards, or at least rewards, are given to the believer upon death. And I thought, that's not true. In fact, look at chapter four with me. Verse five, therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsel of the heart. Then each one's praise will come from God. Praise is part of that reward. And notice it's not until the Lord comes. There are various passages that indicate that reality. And so salvation is received the moment of faith in Christ. John 5.24 tells us. The moment you believe, you have everlasting life. But rewards are given out at the judgment seat of Christ after the rapture. And so again, if we were to draw this, notice he says it, well, in 2 Corinthians, in Romans 14.10, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 5 9 and 10 therefore we make it our aim whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in his body according to what he has done whether good or bad notice one may receive in the future the things done in his body and in the body again it's connected at the judgment seat of Christ we believe happens right after the rapture. The permanency. Salvation can never be lost. can never be lost. And right here in this reward passage in 1 Corinthians 3, we see that. Verse 15, and anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. You know why? Because while the fire might burn down the woods, hay, and stubble, or will burn it down, the foundation still remains. Ever come upon a house that was burned down? And you look and you see, there's the foundation. All the wood walls are burnt down and whatever, but you look, there's that cement foundation. In the same way, for some believers, that will be their life, but because the foundation is Christ and salvation is secure, the foundation remains and thus the salvation is guaranteed. Again, John 10, 27 through 30, very familiar eternal security passage. 1 Corinthians 3.15 guarantees he himself will be saved. On the other hand, while salvation can never be lost, rewards may be lost. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss. Loss of what? The reward that he could have had. In fact, 1 John 2.28 says, and now little children abide in him, that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Roman numeral six, the involvement. Salvation solely involves trusting in Christ. Acts 16.30, what must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. On the other hand, rewards involve, number one, the quality of one's work. The quality of one's work. Remember what the passage says? That the fire will test each one's work of what sort or quality it is, whether it's gold, silver, or precious stones. 2 Corinthians 5 tenses that you may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. The words mean worthwhile or worthless. This is divine good versus human good. The issue at the judgment seat of Christ is not your sins. which have been paid for by Christ, were chastened in time for our sins. The determination of rewards is in the future, involves the evaluation of the quality of your works as a believer. Whether they were wrought of the spirit or wrought of the flesh, whether they were done according to divine wisdom or human wisdom, whether they were done to glorify Christ or done, again, to glorify yourself. And that's why, number two, rewards involve one's faithfulness to God's will and word. In the following verses in chapter 4, verse 2, moreover, it's required in Stuart's that one be found faithful. Not only faithful in what you're doing, but faithful in your motives, as verse 5 again indicates. that one day when the Lord comes, he will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsel of the hearts. Why did you do what you did? Why did you do what you did? In fact, remember when Mary of Bethany broke the alabaster box and put it on Jesus' head and the disciples rebuked her for it? And what did Jesus say? He said, Verse six, let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work. Why did she do it? For me, for you have the poor with you always and whenever you wish to, you may do them good. Nothing wrong with helping the poor. But me, you do not always have. She has done what she could. And I really like that verse. She didn't do what she couldn't do. She did what she could do. God isn't asking you to do everything, but are you willing to do what you can do? She had been faithful to the Lord. And faithfulness to God's will and word requires that you be doctrinally sound as well. And that's why in 2 John, verses 8 through 11, look to yourself that we do not lose those things which we worked for. Lose what kind of things? Lose rewards, or a reward. But that we receive a full reward. Now you see the word full? The word full is a degree word. Technically, I do not believe you receive rewards, plural. You either receive a reward or no reward. But in that reward singular, there are degrees. In other words, in fact, just think of the Olympics, they're coming up, right, this winter? The three people that stand on the stand, do they all receive a reward? Are they the same reward? No, one's a gold, one's a silver, one's a bronze. They have various degrees of value. I believe the same will be true for believers who receive a reward. Some are full, some are less than a full reward. Now, in the context, it's all about remaining faithful to the Lord doctrinally and not being moved away from sound doctrine. Rewards involve, number three, one's motives before God. Remember, Jesus said, if you do things to be seen of men, you have your reward. In other words, the Lord isn't going to give you one. You've got yours already. And notice he said in 1st Corinthians 4, 4, for I know nothing against myself yet. I am not justified, but he who judges me is the Lord. Colossians 3, 23 through 25, whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. Notice what is evaluating that what you do, you're doing it heartily. with the right motives in mind, as to the Lord and not to men. And that's where crowns come in. And by the way, crowns aren't the only rewards in scripture. But they are mentioned. There's the crown of life for believers being faithful to God unto death and trials. There is the crown of righteousness for believers being faithful and doing God's will. And then there is the crown of glory for pastors being faithful in their ministry. By the way, what do Reformed people who teach lordship salvation, who are not dispensational, though there are some lordshippers like MacArthur, who's at least a leaky dispensationalist, that's what he calls himself. They will make this distinction, but you know what most Reformed people do? They'll say the crown is, the reward is life, righteousness, and glory. In other words, it's salvation. That's how Shriner cut it. What confusion. You can't have a gift that's a reward. The determination. A, salvation determines one's eternal destiny. Right? Whether you have eternal life or not. 1 John 5, 11-13. Rewards determine your function and privilege in heaven. Your function and privilege in heaven. Now, I'm not gonna go to Philippians 3, but I am gonna refer here to 2 Peter 1 for a moment. By the way, do you remember the parable Jesus told about the minas, M-I-N-A-S? And in doing so, he taught a parable about the minas and how people use the minas. And with the one person who used it well, he was made Lord over 10 cities. The other one was made Lord over five cities. The third one had what he had, and he got it taken from him because he didn't use what was the opportunity given to him. He lost his reward. But in the passage then, but the enemies of the Lord, the unsaved, they were slain. This is found in Matthew, I believe, or Luke 19, Luke 19. Now in 2 Peter 1 verses 11 and 12, And here's the key word, abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I remember reading this passage and saying, I don't get it. Every believer is going to enter the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So why does he say, if you do these things, you will never stumble, for so an entrance will be supplied to you? Why? The key word is abundantly. It's a degree word again. In fact, you ever been at a graduation service? at a graduation service, and everybody that's up there, they graduate, don't they? But some of them have these things on their gowns. What are they? What do they indicate? They're part of the what? Honor society. They all graduate, but these people graduate with honors. Why? Because in their work, they did over and above. They did quality work, as it were. Now, do you think there's some people that maybe at the graduation time, they see these other people with that and wish they would have worked a little harder? Probably, right? But when the graduation service is over, they all throw their hats in the air, don't they? They're over the regret. Hallelujah! We've graduated. And I think that's the way it's going to be at the Bema. That when we see the Lord, there'll be some believers who are ashamed. But when it's at the end of the day at the graduation ceremony, they're all throwing their hats in the air. Well, we're with the Lord. We're in heaven. We're going to enjoy His presence forever. They're not walking around for a thousand years saying, man, I wish I would have. Man, you know, heaven's great, but I don't think so. But for those who have been faithful to the Lord and build upon that foundation, they not only receive a reward, but they receive an abundant entrance. Here comes the honor, students, as it were. So all believers get promoted to heaven. Some get promoted, as it were, with honors. And so the evaluation, salvation makes one accepted before God. to the praise and the glory of His grace in which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. On the other hand, rewards reflect that one's post-salvation life was well-pleasing to God. In fact, the verse before the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5.10 is 2 Corinthians 5.9, which says, therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well-pleasing to Him. I'd like to hear one day from the Lord, well done thou good and faithful servant. The result, a salvation result in praise to God. Those in heaven in Revelation 5, the 24 elders representative of the raptured rewarded church are praising the Lord for who he is and what he's done. On the other hand, rewards will result in praise to God as well. For we know in Revelation chapter 4 that the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the Lord, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. You know, some people have told me, you know, I don't really like this concept of rewards. Isn't just knowing you're safe forever and can enjoy the presence of God, shouldn't that be enough? But did you realize what the Lord's saying, that's wonderful, but there's this reward truth that you need to come to grips with. Why is it mentioned so many times if it doesn't matter? It does matter. How you live your life after you're saved does matter. You say, well, it's kind of selfish, doesn't it? You get this reward? What, do you walk around and flash your medal to people? Or what do you do? No, you take that medal and you cast that crown, as it were, at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. And in a sense, it's your way of expressing your thanks. for what He's done for you, and now what He has done in you, and what He has done through you, for His honor and glory. And so, again, let's review. Salvation is offered to unbelievers. Rewards are offered to believers. Salvation is appropriated by grace through faith alone in Christ alone, apart from your works. Rewards are obtained by grace through ongoing faith, resulting in Christ honoring works. Salvation is the believer's present possession. Rewards are the believer's possible future attainment. Salvation is received the moment of faith in Christ. Rewards are given out at the judgment seat of Christ after the rapture. Salvation can never be lost. Rewards may be lost. Salvation solely involves trusting in Christ. Rewards involve the quality of one's work, one's faithfulness to God's will and word, one's motives before God. Salvation determines one's eternal destiny. Rewards determine our function and privilege in heaven. Salvation makes one accepted before God. Rewards reflects that one's post-salvation life was well-pleasing to God. Salvation will result in praise to God. Rewards will result in praise to God. Now what we just covered, which you've heard taught here over the years, it's absolutely revolutionary to people when they first grasp it. When we go places and we teach, it's like, wow, this clears up all kinds of things. And what's one of the problems with Lordship Salvation? They combine these two concepts. Why? Because they combine justification and sanctification, don't they? So therefore, they combine salvation and rewards too. It's very prevalent. Just like Schreiner says, and I quote him in closing again. Oh, maybe I won't. I gave up the page. I think I'll find it. I'm motivated. Given the emphasis on the eschatological reward in 1 Peter, the reward in view here is probably the end time gift of salvation. You know what that is? That's nuts. It comes from the Greek word noutos. That's just absolutely impossible. Just let the text say what it says. Okay, we are going to break for 15 minutes, in which we'll then come back and have effective evangelism tonight. Any questions you have, we'll be glad to discuss them in the fellowship.