Category: Level: Intermediate

rewards

The Ultimate Reward In Eternity – Rewards Part 3

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Our last two posts looked at individual rewards that believers will have in eternity. First we saw that God has promised individual rewards; second, we saw that one of those rewards will be management over God’s creation. In fact, other than God’s expressed approval of our lives, there are no other clearly stated individual rewards in Scripture. However, in this post I offer a suggestion about the nature of individual rewards. As I reflect on this, I ask myself these questions: “What kind of reward would our loving God give to his children?” Answer: probably whatever is most valuable in eternity. “What is most valuable in eternity?” Answer: partaking of God’s nature, for there is no higher bliss than God himself. “So how could God make a reward out of partaking of his nature?” Answer: we already know that when he fully restores his image in us he will make Continue Reading →

rewards

Our Future Reward Of Developing God’s Creation – Rewards Part 2

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Our last post on individual rewards leads to the question of how God will reward believers. Since he is going to reward us what will the rewards be? Scripture gives few details, but we have at least one clue from Jesus’ parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11-27) that Jesus told when some thought the appearance of the kingdom was imminent. A ruler gave some money (a mina) to some of his servants and instructed them to put the money to work while he was gone. When he returned he heard the report: “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ Continue Reading →

rewards

God Rewards Each One Individually – Rewards Part 1

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Scripture teaches that after Jesus returns individual believers will receive individual rewards based on their life on this present earth. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God . . . each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:10 12, ESV) (see also Heb. 4:13). “Each will receive his wages according to his labor” (1 Cor. 3:8, ESV). After we run the race in this life God will reward his beloveds with gifts for all their service and for all the progress they made in Christformation. This is the victory of God’s good justice. Everything matters. Rewards for believers are most plainly promised in 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (ESV). Can you Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

We Will Be Beautiful – Our Future Christformation Part 3

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We have been looking at our future Christformation into New Adams after Jesus returns. In the past couple of weeks we have looked at how God will give us Christlike bodies and give us his goodness. As New Adams we will also be beautiful. In Revelation 19–21 there are five phrases referring to the beautiful appearance of the saints, the bride of Christ (19:8; 21:2, 11 (twice); 21:18-21.) In that section God appears to be showing off his bride’s beauty and John seems dazzled in 21:11 when he observes that she has the “glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel.” Surprisingly, in the last four chapters of the Bible, the bride’s beauty is extolled more than God’s! This demonstrates his humility and love as well as his desire to establish a community of people that radiate his beauty. Thus, in Revelation 19-21 God is not predominantly interested Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

The Joy Of Our Future Christlike Bodies – Our Future Christformation Part 1

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After Jesus returns all our striving for Christformation will be over and we will finally enter our time of rest (Hebrews 4 and Rev. 14:13). Our internal struggle against sin will be complete and we will experience the overwhelming bliss of perfect peace. No possession on this present earth can come close to the value of our future Christformation. This is why God instructs us to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, ESV).  Christformation is promised many times in the New Testament. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). 1 Corinthians 15:49 states: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (ESV). Philippians 3:20-21 promises: “But Continue Reading →