Saved by Faith Alone, Rewarded by Faithful Obedience
1st, Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.
Jesus won the war through His obedient (Rom 5:19) faithfulness unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:8). His sin‑atoning death & resurrection are the Fathers public receipt that the required wage for sin has been fully paid & accepted.
When a person calls on Jesus for sin forgiveness & places their faith in His Finished Redemptive work, a faithful Jesus who knows the heart of every person (Rev 2:23) forgives them (1 Jn 1:9) & Holy Spirit Baptizes (Matt 3:11) indwelling them (Eph 3:17) with His Forever (Jn 14:16) salvation sealing (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) gift of eternal life. Salvation is 100% Christ's doing - not ours
After salvation what's next? Heaven is a meritocracy. The New Covenant is a reward system, not a punishment system (1 Cor 3:10–15 & Matt 19:27–30).
Matt 10:42 Even the smallest act done in His name - a cup of cold water - receives a reward.
Lk 19:
12 Jesus said; A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and [then] to return.
(NOTE: Jesus ascended to heaven & will soon return.)
13 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas [one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days’ wages] and said to them, ‘Do business [with this] until I return.
(NOTE: Jesus gives His Holy Spirit (by grace through faith, not works, Eph 2:8–9) so we can continue His work of revealing God's grace & plan)
15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done.
(NOTE: This is the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom 14:10 & 2 Cor 5:10), for believers only - not the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11–13).
16 The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall [now] have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom].
(NOTE: The servant who multiplied his mina 10 fold is rewarded with authority over 10 cities. Faithful work > greater authority.)
18 The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.
19 And he said to him also, ‘And you shall take charge over five cities.’
(NOTE: The servant who gained 5 minas receives authority over 5 cities. Less work > less authority, but still rewarded.)
26 [Jesus explained,] I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.
(NOTE: Faithfulness increases reward, neglect decreases reward.)
Matt 19:
27 Then Peter answered Him, saying, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]; what then will there be for us?”
(NOTE: Peter asks Jesus what do I get for my work done for you?)
28 Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, in the renewal [that is, the Messianic restoration and regeneration of all things] when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you [who have followed Me, becoming My disciples] will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(NOTE: Jesus didn't scold Peter or tell his the His grace was enough. Jesus said, you gave Much & your Reward will be Great! You'll sit on a throne & judge on my behalf)
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [d]or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
(NOTE: Jesus said, I pay based on merit & my return on investment is exponential to your input).
1 Cor 3:
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
(NOTE: Each believer receives a reward according to his own labor.)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(NOTE: Gold & silver = Good works done in Christ's name. Hay, wood & stubble = no works, selfish works, even bad works)
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(NOTE: Every work good & bad will be tested)
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(NOTE: Good works done in Christ's name will receive a reward)
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(NOTE: Hay, wood & stubble deeds will burn-up bringing, shame & loss = """OF REWARDS""" not SALVATION)
Rereading verse 15: He "Will SUFFER LOSS", though he "HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED"
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Matt, Lk & 1 Cor posted all teach: After salvation (100% Christ's doing) good work done receives reward, negative works could result in losing a previously given reward. The exception of your salvation will never be lost. Christ never breaks His promises/covenants (Rom 11:29).
Christ's obedience purchased our salvation, our obedience proves our gratitude & determines our reward. Saved by His work & rewarded for ours.
1st, Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.
Jesus won the war through His obedient (Rom 5:19) faithfulness unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:8). His sin‑atoning death & resurrection are the Fathers public receipt that the required wage for sin has been fully paid & accepted.
When a person calls on Jesus for sin forgiveness & places their faith in His Finished Redemptive work, a faithful Jesus who knows the heart of every person (Rev 2:23) forgives them (1 Jn 1:9) & Holy Spirit Baptizes (Matt 3:11) indwelling them (Eph 3:17) with His Forever (Jn 14:16) salvation sealing (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) gift of eternal life. Salvation is 100% Christ's doing - not ours
After salvation what's next? Heaven is a meritocracy. The New Covenant is a reward system, not a punishment system (1 Cor 3:10–15 & Matt 19:27–30).
Matt 10:42 Even the smallest act done in His name - a cup of cold water - receives a reward.
Lk 19:
12 Jesus said; A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and [then] to return.
(NOTE: Jesus ascended to heaven & will soon return.)
13 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas [one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days’ wages] and said to them, ‘Do business [with this] until I return.
(NOTE: Jesus gives His Holy Spirit (by grace through faith, not works, Eph 2:8–9) so we can continue His work of revealing God's grace & plan)
15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done.
(NOTE: This is the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom 14:10 & 2 Cor 5:10), for believers only - not the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11–13).
16 The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall [now] have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom].
(NOTE: The servant who multiplied his mina 10 fold is rewarded with authority over 10 cities. Faithful work > greater authority.)
18 The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.
19 And he said to him also, ‘And you shall take charge over five cities.’
(NOTE: The servant who gained 5 minas receives authority over 5 cities. Less work > less authority, but still rewarded.)
26 [Jesus explained,] I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.
(NOTE: Faithfulness increases reward, neglect decreases reward.)
Matt 19:
27 Then Peter answered Him, saying, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]; what then will there be for us?”
(NOTE: Peter asks Jesus what do I get for my work done for you?)
28 Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, in the renewal [that is, the Messianic restoration and regeneration of all things] when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you [who have followed Me, becoming My disciples] will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(NOTE: Jesus didn't scold Peter or tell his the His grace was enough. Jesus said, you gave Much & your Reward will be Great! You'll sit on a throne & judge on my behalf)
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [d]or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.
(NOTE: Jesus said, I pay based on merit & my return on investment is exponential to your input).
1 Cor 3:
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
(NOTE: Each believer receives a reward according to his own labor.)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(NOTE: Gold & silver = Good works done in Christ's name. Hay, wood & stubble = no works, selfish works, even bad works)
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(NOTE: Every work good & bad will be tested)
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(NOTE: Good works done in Christ's name will receive a reward)
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(NOTE: Hay, wood & stubble deeds will burn-up bringing, shame & loss = """OF REWARDS""" not SALVATION)
Rereading verse 15: He "Will SUFFER LOSS", though he "HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED"
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Matt, Lk & 1 Cor posted all teach: After salvation (100% Christ's doing) good work done receives reward, negative works could result in losing a previously given reward. The exception of your salvation will never be lost. Christ never breaks His promises/covenants (Rom 11:29).
Christ's obedience purchased our salvation, our obedience proves our gratitude & determines our reward. Saved by His work & rewarded for ours.
