Question: Mr. Albrecht,

            I would appreciate an answer to this question . . .

            I am having trouble with the concept of eternal rewards in Heaven being given.  What kind are they?  Isn’t the joy of salvation enough of a reward?  (2 Corinthians 5; 1 Corinthians 3).  Also, regarding the concept of being judged for our deeds - both good and bad.  Surely this does not mean God will judge Christians who are under the blood of Christ?  In other words, for things that I KNOW I have done sooooo wrong, and have sincerely asked forgiveness for and repented of, surely God will not stand and judge me for those things?  I am under the impression that God already judged sin, on the Cross!  Am I correct?  I am also concerned about not everyone being equal in the kingdom of God. . .because of these eternal rewards. . .

            I love God and what He has done for me!  I want to serve Him out of love and reverence, but lately, fear has cropped up in my heart because I DON’T want to do anything that would take me out of His presence . . .

            Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.

            Thank you so much!

            (Anonymous)

Answer:  Dear “Crossfire” (Anonymous)

            Yes, God has already judged sin on the cross.  You are forgiven.  But you also ask about eternal rewards.  First, it is important to separate the idea of the gift of salvation from rewards.  The New Testament constantly affirms that we re saved by the free gift of God, that nothing we can do earns us anything.  Our works are not meritorious or salvific.

  We have many questions and answers on this topic posted under the category of “salvation” and we recommend that you read these for background to this question.

            Second, the idea of rewards.  There are places that suggest this – the parable of the talents and that of the pounds – 1 Corinthians 15 notes that just as heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon and stars differ in splendor “so will it be with the resurrection of the dead.”

            But what do we infer from this?  Would God tell us that we are not saved by works, but having been saved, those same works that did not save us would gain us a “higher level” in heaven?  Not logical, not consistent with God – or the inspiration and teaching he gives us in the Holy Bible.

            The parables of talents and pounds suggest a level of rewards consistent with gifts we have been given – and how we use them.  So the reward is not a matter of how many times we went to church, how faithfully we gave money to the church, how much and how long we prayed, etc., etc. – but rather how we allowed God to use us in his service.  This might suggest the idea of being salt and light, tools in God’s hands, reflecting the light that Christ alone generates within us, as he lives his life in us.  In short, it may be that we are rewarded by how we yielded to God – how we allowed him to use us to evangelize, to share the gospel, to be part of the kingdom work here on earth – not by the works that we produced.

            Hope this helps.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht