2 Coríntios 5

2 Coríntios 5:10

Cole - "The “great reward” of He 10:35 is synonymous with “the promise” of He 10:36. Both refer to God’s promise of eternal life.") Hebrews 11:6+ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Comment: Do you really believe God will reward the saints at the Bema Seat? Hebrews 11:24+ 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 passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Comment: Ultimately our greatest "Reward" is the present and perfect union with Christ Himself, but additional "rewards" are not excluded. Radmacher writes that "The possibility of reward is the most frequently mentioned motivation for enduring in the faith (Mt. 5:10, 11, 12; 16:24, 25, 26, 27; 1Cor. 3:12, 13, 14, 15; 2Co 4:16, 17, 18; 2Ti 2:11, 12, 13; 1Jn 2:28; Re 22:12) 1Peter 1:17+ And if you address as Father (a believer) the One who impartially judges (present tense indicates there is a sense in which we are already being judged. Indeed each day that we live is an opportunity to either make or mar our eternal destiny) according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth. Comment: This is a “family judgment,” the Father dealing with His beloved children not for salvation but for dispensing rewards. The Greek word translated judges carries the meaning “to judge in order to find something good.” God will search into the motives for our ministry, examining our hearts (1Co 4:5), and reward accordingly. During the time of your stay emphasizes the finiteness of our the time we have to "redeem" and use as wise stewards. 2John 1:8 Watch (present imperative = command emphasizing need to continually be on guard see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves (Emphasize "yourself" - as the cartoon character Pogo said ''We have met the enemy… and he is us.''), that you might not lose what we have accomplished (cp 1Co 3:15), but that you may receive a full reward. Ryrie reminds us: All believers will receive praise at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 4:5), but some will receive more rewards than others (1Co 3:11, 12, 13, 14, 15). THE "REWARDS" OUR LORD PROMISES TO ALL OVERCOMERS Rev 2:7+ (Church @ Ephesus) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.' Comment: Each of these "rewards" in the letters to the Seven Churches is a promise to overcomers, which is the same Greek verb nikao which means to get the victory, to conquer, to subdue. Furthermore, in each description of the Seven Churches, nikao is in the present tense which describes their continual or habitual practice was to live as overcomers and the active voice indicates that their lifestyle of overcoming (the world, the flesh and the devil) continually involved a volitional choice or a choice of their will. John explains that "overcomers" is not a description of "super saints" but a description of every believer (1Jn 5:4, 5 - in both verse "overcomes" = nikao). And Jesus makes it clear that believers overcome their enemies not in their own strength but in the strength of His indwelling Spirit and grace (cp Stephen Acts 6:3, 5, 8, 10, 15 [Spirit filling affects one's face!] Acts 7:55), because He has overcome (nikao in the perfect tense = speaks of the permanence of Christ's victory) the world (Jn 16:33, Gal 6:14+), the flesh (Ro 6:6+, Ro 8:9+) and the devil (Heb 2:14, 15+). Rev 2:11+ (Church @ Smyrna) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.' Rev 2:17+ (Church @ Pergamum) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.' Rev 2:26+ (Church @ Thyatira) 'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. Rev 3:5+ (Church @ Sardis) 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. Rev 3:12+ (Church @ Philadelphia) 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. Rev 3:21+ (Church @ Laodicea) 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Rev 11:18+ "And the nations were enraged, and Thy wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Comment: I think this could well be referring to the Judgment Seat of Christ, and might give a clue as to the specific timing. If this chapter is chronological as a careful observation of the context of Revelation suggests that it is, then it is possible that this verse is suggesting that the Bema of Christ is at the Mid-Point of the 70th Week of Daniel, before the Great Tribulation. But why would it occur then and not at the beginning of the 70th Week or even at the end for that matter? Is it not enough to know simply that it will occur and that it is associated with rewards… to the utter praise of the glory of His grace, abounding generosity and eternal forgiveness… not only to save us but to reward us! Rev 22:12+ "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Comment: There is a "positive" reward but also a "negative" reward as with Alexander the Coppersmith!( 2Ti 4:14+). CROWNS AWARDED PRESUMABLY AT THE BEMA SEAT The crowns associated with the reward of the believer are always stephanos. (1) INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN 1Co 9:25 (+) And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath (crown), but we an imperishable (non-fading crown). (2) CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 2Ti 4:8+ in the future there is laid up 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. (3) CROWN OF LIFE Jas 1:12+ Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Rev 2:10+ 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (4) CROWN OF GLORY 1Pe 5:4+ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. OTHER ALLUSIONS TO CROWNS Re 3:11+ 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. 1Th 2:19+ For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? C I Scofield's note on "Rewards" … God, in the NT Scriptures, offers to the lost, salvation; and for the faithful service of the saved, He offers rewards. The passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is invariably spoken of as a free gift (e.g. Jn 4:10; Ro 6:23; Ep 2:8, 9), whereas rewards are earned by works (Ed Note: Not fleshly works but Spirit energized works = Abiding in Vine type works - Jn 15:5) (Mt 10:42; Lk 19:17; 1Co 9:24, 25; 2Ti 4:7, 8; Re 2:10; 22:12). A further distinction is that salvation is a present possession (Lk 7:50; Jn 3:36; 5:24; 6:47), whereas rewards are a future attainment, to be given at the rapture (2Ti 4:8; Rev 22:12). Andrew Bonar has some wise words regarding our works which we all need to ponder… The best part of all Christian work is that part which only God sees! In the last verses in Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote… The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God (Ec 3:14, 5:7) and keep His commandments (if we fear God we will turn away from evil - Job 1:1), because this applies to every person. For (the motive for fearing and obeying God is that) God will bring every act to judgment (cp Ec 11:9), everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ray Pritchard… The result of diligent labor is to be a reciprocal reward (cp 2Ti 2:5+, 2Ti 2:6+, 2Ti 2:15+). The Lord is going to give the Christian workman exactly what he labored for, no more and no less-regardless of his or her profession, wealth, position or even poverty. A person may be honest or dishonest, a good or poor workman, a white collar or blue collar worker, a professional or laborer, average or gifted, it does not matter. Everyone is going to receive from God exactly what he or she has put into their life of work. (cp 2Cor 5:10). (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Heavenly Rewards) PARABLE PRINCIPLES REGARDING REWARDS Joe Wall explains the principles of the rewards associated with the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30) and the similar Parable of the Minas (Lk 19:11-27) Both parables contain similar messages concerning the relationship of stewardship to subsequent rewards and position in eternity. Obviously, Jesus is represented by both the wealthy man and the nobleman. Each leaves for a time, picturing Jesus' absence between his first and second comings. The talents and minas symbolize all that Jesus has given us to be used wisely in His absence: our physical capabilities, our natural talents, our spiritual gifts, our training, our family ties, our wealth, our time, and our energy. In the mina parable, the citizens evidently represent the unbelieving Jews. One can easily draw from the two stories important principles that apply to Jesus' judgment in the future and to our stewardship as Christians: 1. According to the talent parable, not all of us are given the same gifts from God. So He holds us responsible, not for what we do not have, but for what we do have to invest. Some people can sing, others have a superior intellect, and still others are gifted in leadership. Some can make money easily; others are sensitive and easily show mercy to those in need. Whatever God has given to us is what He demands we use for Him—and use wisely and faithfully. 2. The mina parable indicates that rewards and future responsibilities are not determined by how big a ministry we have but by how well we have used what God has given us and how large a percentage of return He gets on our investment. 3. Both parables teach that our stewardship now will affect the kind of responsibilities, honor, and authority we will have in the messianic kingdom. 4. Four traits of rewardable stewardship are mentioned: Goodness: Has the steward acted kindly and ethically? Faithfulness: Has the steward been loyal and responded to the master's desires? Wisdom: Has the steward chosen investment opportunities that produce the greatest amount of fruit of eternal value? Industry: Has the steward been lazy or hard at work in things that matter? A friend of mine told me of a time when his entire business was destroyed in a flood on the Platte River in Denver. That night he went home to his wife, totally exhausted, and seemingly left with nothing. "You know, Honey" he said, "the only thing we have left is what we have given away" He understood what a wise investment is. (Borrow Going for the gold) You have probably heard the humorous but true saying… Work for the Lord. The pay isn't much, but the retirement benefit is out of this world. Vance Havner had an interesting comment related to future words for present works declaring that… God called us to play the game, not keep the score. Charles Hodge The Scriptures teach that the happiness or blessedness of believers in a future life will be greater or less in proportion to the service of Christ in this life. Those who love little, do little; and those who do little, enjoy less. Tony