Gift vs. Reward
To understand what is happening at the Judgment Seat of Messiah, one must understand the difference between a gift and a reward.
Romans 6:23B
23Bbut the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua Messiah our Lord.
Eternal life is a gift from God. For a gift, one does not have to do anything to receive. All one has to do is freely receive the gift. Further, God tells us in Romans 11:29:
29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The word repentance is irreversible or irrevocable. It means that the gift cannot be turned from. If God gives one a gift, God will not take it back nor can one return the gift of God.
The reward or prize is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 9:24.
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
We all run in the race. Only one receives the prize, that one is the bride of Messiah.
2 Corinthians 11:2
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah.
We are espoused as believers to come into a relationship with Messiah. This is what the Judgment Seat is about. It is about rulership and it is based on what we do with our talents in this lifetime. We must increase. This is discussed in the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14.
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
The man traveling to the far country was Yeshua. He left certain items with his servants, Matthew 25:15-18.
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
After a time, the Lord came back to take account of his servants, Matthew 25:19-23.
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The first two servants fared well. This is because they used their God given talents and increased.
The third did not do so well, Matthew 25:24-27.
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
God expects increase in our lives. We are not on this earth for ourselves. We are to serve the Lord. We must use our talents for building God’s Kingdom today and the future to come on earth. Finally, to whom much is given much is expected, Matthew 25:28-29.
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Salvation has nothing to do with us. It is the free gift of God in Yeshua, that one freely receives. That is what grace is all about. But the prize, the crown and the rewards, require us to have works come out of our salvation, our faith.
2 Timothy 2:11-12A
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12AIf we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
If one does not suffer with Him, one is foolish to expect to reign with Him in the future kingdom.
Now one may be thinking, I am happy just to be saved. When the time comes and realization of what one gave up, they will not being saying that. Many do not strive for the reward because they want to have their self-will on earth. That only results in a miserable existence. At the Judgment Seat of Messiah, many will regret their decision and wish they had run the race with patience, 2 Corinthians 2:9.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Do not miss what is ahead for the believer that runs the race with patience.
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