A couple years back I listened to a series by Chip Ingram called "The Real Heaven". One of the episodes brought up different rewards in heaven. It was the first time I'd heard of this concept. Thanks to Google, here is a summary:
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Initially I thought this didn't sound right, but then I pulled out my book "
Doctrine - What Christians Should Believe" written by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. (Now I know Mark Driscoll may be a bit questionable, so I'd like all of your input here)
And again thank you Google, here's a summary of what they say in the book:
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Is this right? I've always just been happy with knowing I will be in Heaven one day with Jesus. Is there more we should be thinking about?
Thank you.
There is certainly some truth in what you posted, but
I think a few conclusions go beyond what Scripture actually says. We need to be careful not to make definite claims where the Bible does not speak clearly.
The Bible does teach that salvation and rewards are not the same thing. Salvation is the gift of God, “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Rewards are connected to how faithfully a believer serves Christ. Paul wrote, “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
First Corinthians 3:12-15 is one of the clearest passages on this subject. A believer’s work will be tested. Some work will remain and receive a reward, while other work will be burned up. Paul says, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” That shows that a believer can lose reward without losing salvation.
Believers will also appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment does not determine whether a person is saved, because “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). But believers will still give an account of how they lived and served the Lord.
That is why I would be careful with the statement that believers will not be evaluated for anything sinful or wrong. Our condemnation has been removed in Christ, but Scripture still says, “
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). This is not a judgment to decide heaven or hell, but
neither should we make it sound as though careless or disobedient living does not matter.
Jesus also spoke about laying up “treasures in heaven” rather than living for earthly riches (Matthew 6:19-21). Scripture mentions crowns connected with faithfulness, endurance, and service. These promises are biblical, but we should not speculate about exactly what every reward will look like.
The claim that some believers will have a greater “capacity for joy” than others is not clearly taught in Scripture. The Bible also does not explain different levels of glory in the detailed way these summaries present them. Some passages may suggest different responsibilities in Christ’s kingdom, such as the servants being given authority over different numbers of cities in Luke 19:17-19. But that is still an inference, and we should not build a whole doctrine of heavenly ranks from it.
I would also be cautious about saying there will be no sense of loss or shame at the judgment seat. First John 2:28 warns believers not to be “ashamed before him at his coming,” and First Corinthians 3 says some will “suffer loss.” Revelation 21:4 does promise that God will wipe away every tear and that there will be no more sorrow, pain, or death.
But that does not mean we should treat giving an account before Christ as though it is nothing serious.
The word “earned” can also give the wrong impression.
Believers do not place God in their debt by serving Him. Even our ability to serve comes from what He has given us. Paul asked, “What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Rewards are given by Christ for faithful service.
They are not something we can boast about before Him.
So yes, rewards are biblical, and they should cause us to examine how we are living. But our goal should not be to compete with other believers for a higher position in heaven. Our desire should be to please the One who saved us and to be faithful with what He has given us.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
