It is essential to understand the vast difference between the doctrine of salvation for the lost, and the doctrine of rewards for the saved.
Salvation is a gift from God. . .
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rewards are given according to the works of the believer. . .
MATTHEW 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.
WE DO NOT LABOR FOR SALVATION!!!!!
This Scripture reveals all Truth about rewards-
1 CORINTHIANS 3:8-15
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (every believer will be rewarded according to his own labor)
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. (we are laborers together with God for rewards – not salvation!)
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (the believer is to build on the LORD Jesus Christ – the only foundation)
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (every believer has a choice between two types of building materials – gold, silver, precious stones – the eternal building materials; or wood, hay and stubble – the temporary building materials)
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.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall 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.
Every believer who builds with eternal materials, will receive rewards – and those believers who build with temporary materials will not receive rewards – because their wood, hay and stubble will be “burned.” These believers will actually be ashamed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
1 JOHN 2:28
And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear,
we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
It is important enough to mention the doctrine of “Lordship Salvation.” There is ambiguous understanding of this term among God’s people – largely because of the redefining of the term “repentance.” What many preachers are teaching as repentance is not what the King James Bible says. The true definition of repentance means to “turn, or change your mind.” It does not mean the sinner stops sinning! If you for one minute, think you are capable of not sinning, or keeping the Law – you are effectually denying the complete sufficiency of our Savior’s atonement for the sins of the entire world. By saying that you are “keeping the Ten Commandments,” you have placed yourself on His level – which is blasphemy – for only He can keep the Law perfectly, because He is the Personification of it.
Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ, and turning towards Him in faith for salvation. Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the of signs of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to build only on the foundation that is Christ – and not with the shabby materials of wood, hay and stubble, but with solid stones of planting, cultivating, and harvesting the Gospel of Peace.
The Vine Vigil 