Bible in Life

Why Rewards Matter | Rewards pt 4

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven wrap up their discussion of rewards in heaven by exploring the question of why learning what the Bible says about rewards matters.

Many of the passages where the idea of rewards shows up have to do with endurance:

Matthew 5:10-12

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  

 

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Are there Degrees of Rewards? | Rewards, pt. 3  

Some passages, especially in the parables of Jesus such as the parable of the minas in Luke 19, seem to suggest that there are degrees of rewards. That is, some people get more than others. 

But other Bible passages seem at odds with that. 

So in the episode of the Bible in Life podcast, Steven and John wrestle with the question, Are there degrees of reward in heaven? 

 

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What kinds of rewards are promised to us? | Rewards, pt. 2

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, Steven and John explore the kinds of things promised to God's people as rewards. And the distinctive thing is that the rewards promised fit the person and their life. In other words, the rewards aren't arbitrary. 

 

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Is it Wrong to Hope for a Reward from God? | Rewards, pt. 1 

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven introduce the topic of rewards in heaven and explore if it's in some way less honorable to seek God for a good reward. 

Bible Passages mentioned:

Hebrews 11

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. 

9 By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.  

 

C. S. Lewis Quote:

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from [Immanuel] Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” 

 

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Safety, Security, and Assurance - Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.³ And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  

 

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Goodness and Gratitude  

The basic human response to God as their Creator is gratitude according to Romans 1:21 (which Paul says humans typically fail to do). In this episode of the Bible in Life, John offers a reflection on what we can be grateful for and what ultimately that means for our life as followers of Jesus.

 

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Why You (should) Love the Wrath of God

God's wrath is a forgotten topic in many churches today. We prefer to talk about his love and mercy, not his wrath. 

But God's wrath is part of the good news, and it is that in a couple different ways. 

In this episode we explore why we actually want and need the wrath of God. 

Romans 1:18

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Romans 2:5-6

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,⁶ who will repay each person according to his deeds

 

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How can we pray without ceasing and other questions

On this episode of the Bible in Life podcast Steven asks John several lingering questions related to practicing the way of Jesus. 

-How can we pray without ceasing?

-How can we measure spiritual growth?

-Besides the spiritual disciplines, what are some other factors that are important to spiritual growth?

 

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Can we really be holy? 

This question derives from the reaction of a number of Christians who suppose that we’re so sinful we could never really ever be holy. Some have even said that to suggest that Christians can and should be holy by default indicates some sort of legalism or self-righteousness or works righteousness or something like that. 

So in this episode of the Bible in Life podcast John and Steven explore that question, can we really be holy? 

Key Bible verses: 

-1 Pet 1:14-16

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

-Heb 12:14

-Matt 5:48

One important idea: Holiness is not antithetical to our humanness; it’s actually the fulfillment of it. 

 

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The Mission of Jesus and Becoming Christlike 

Being a disciple means arranging your life to be with Jesus in order to become like Jesus. 

And being like him entails two aspects - becoming like him in character and like him in mission. So what does it mean to become like Jesus in mission? 

On this episode of the Bible in Life podcast John and Steven explore how we can be involved in the mission of Jesus. 

 

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