I love teaching the Book of Hebrews we are studying, as much of this Book is foreign to most believers. We were created by Jesus for a purpose (Eph. 2:10), one of which as long as we remain faithful, is to earn the right to reign with Him in His future kingdom on earth as well as for eternity in the new heaven and earth to come (see Rev. 21:1-7). In the book of Hebrews this reward is called becoming a Metachos or“partner” with Christ to co-reign with Him over all He has made and is an honor available to ALL faithful believers. This concept of special blessingis taught throughout the Bible and was certainly understood by the
Jewish audience of Hebrews. Consider the following list I’ve prepared to help you see rewards theology throughout the Bible.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS paints the “Rewards” picture with the idea of Metachos”or partner with Christ
THE BOOK OF REVELATION paints the “Rewards” picture with the idea of“Overcomer”
THE BOOKS OF ST. PAUL paint the picture of “Rewards” with the idea of “Running the race and winning crowns”…in addition to the Bema Judgment for rewards to all faithful
believers
THE BOOK OF ST. PETER paints the picture of “Rewards” with “the glory to come at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
IN THE BOOK OF 1st JOHN the picture is one of loss of “Rewards” for those who do not abide in Christ leaving a believer to shrink back in shame at His coming
Jesus couldn’t have been any clearer throughout the Gospels by instructing us in Matt. 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal”
AND FURTHER CONSIDER Matt. 19:27-30 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
ALL OUR WRITERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE PAINFUL SERVICE NOW FOR FUTURE KINGDOM PRIVELEGE…but DON’T MISS THIS…They are NOT connecting the FREE GIFT of eternal life with any of the following:
A) NOT-To earn or maintain or prove your receipt of your free gift of eternal life (which is faith alone in Christ alone)
B) NOT-To meet the standards of some religious denomination
C) NOT-To earn God’s love or right standing (This comes from a warped sense of God). God loves you unconditionally no matter what you do or don’t do! His love is NOT something you have to earn…His love is freely given with no strings attached!
Now here comes the problem I want to talk about.
Please don’t ever compare yourself to other believers as a measuring stick of how you stack up in your Christian faith! God created you unique and you will answer to Him alone. He created you to obey Him and simply steward the time, talents and gifts He has given to you period, so please STOP LOOKING AT OTHERS AND KEEP YOUR EYE FOCUSED ON JESUS!
Heb. 12:1-3
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Who of us can compare ourselves to a Billy Graham or Moses or Abraham? I mean I relate more to David’s failures or to Sampson’s waste of potential, yet most surprising you will find ALL these people listed in Hebrew’s chapter 11, which is the “Who’s Who of faith”. Here’s what you WON’T find in this chapter…the failure of Moses to enter the promised land…the faithlessness of Sara and Abraham who both doubted God’s ability to perform on His promise of a child when this couple took things into their own hands and sinned by having sex with Hagar. Nor will you find any of these saints failures listed.
Why aren’t their failures listed? Because the writer of Hebrews has already told us, when we fail in our faith as Christians we have a King, a High Priest who invites us to boldly come
to His throne for a healthy dose of GRACE.
Heb. 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Heb. 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This year in 2012 BE YOURSELF and serve God out of gratitude for what He has done for you…it is then you will find Him rewarding you out of gratitude for what you have done for Him!
AND, when you blow it…Remember to go to His throne of grace where you will receive mercy and find grace upon grace to help in your time of need!
With all my love and agape in the grace of mercy of our Lord and King Jesus,
Pastor Steve
Jewish audience of Hebrews. Consider the following list I’ve prepared to help you see rewards theology throughout the Bible.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS paints the “Rewards” picture with the idea of Metachos”or partner with Christ
THE BOOK OF REVELATION paints the “Rewards” picture with the idea of“Overcomer”
THE BOOKS OF ST. PAUL paint the picture of “Rewards” with the idea of “Running the race and winning crowns”…in addition to the Bema Judgment for rewards to all faithful
believers
THE BOOK OF ST. PETER paints the picture of “Rewards” with “the glory to come at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
IN THE BOOK OF 1st JOHN the picture is one of loss of “Rewards” for those who do not abide in Christ leaving a believer to shrink back in shame at His coming
Jesus couldn’t have been any clearer throughout the Gospels by instructing us in Matt. 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal”
AND FURTHER CONSIDER Matt. 19:27-30 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
ALL OUR WRITERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE PAINFUL SERVICE NOW FOR FUTURE KINGDOM PRIVELEGE…but DON’T MISS THIS…They are NOT connecting the FREE GIFT of eternal life with any of the following:
A) NOT-To earn or maintain or prove your receipt of your free gift of eternal life (which is faith alone in Christ alone)
B) NOT-To meet the standards of some religious denomination
C) NOT-To earn God’s love or right standing (This comes from a warped sense of God). God loves you unconditionally no matter what you do or don’t do! His love is NOT something you have to earn…His love is freely given with no strings attached!
Now here comes the problem I want to talk about.
Please don’t ever compare yourself to other believers as a measuring stick of how you stack up in your Christian faith! God created you unique and you will answer to Him alone. He created you to obey Him and simply steward the time, talents and gifts He has given to you period, so please STOP LOOKING AT OTHERS AND KEEP YOUR EYE FOCUSED ON JESUS!
Heb. 12:1-3
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Who of us can compare ourselves to a Billy Graham or Moses or Abraham? I mean I relate more to David’s failures or to Sampson’s waste of potential, yet most surprising you will find ALL these people listed in Hebrew’s chapter 11, which is the “Who’s Who of faith”. Here’s what you WON’T find in this chapter…the failure of Moses to enter the promised land…the faithlessness of Sara and Abraham who both doubted God’s ability to perform on His promise of a child when this couple took things into their own hands and sinned by having sex with Hagar. Nor will you find any of these saints failures listed.
Why aren’t their failures listed? Because the writer of Hebrews has already told us, when we fail in our faith as Christians we have a King, a High Priest who invites us to boldly come
to His throne for a healthy dose of GRACE.
Heb. 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Heb. 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This year in 2012 BE YOURSELF and serve God out of gratitude for what He has done for you…it is then you will find Him rewarding you out of gratitude for what you have done for Him!
AND, when you blow it…Remember to go to His throne of grace where you will receive mercy and find grace upon grace to help in your time of need!
With all my love and agape in the grace of mercy of our Lord and King Jesus,
Pastor Steve
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