SALVATION AND REWARDS - Pastor J. C. O'Hair

 

 SALVATION AND REWARDS

Pastor J. C. O'Hair

In I Corinthians 15:58 and Colossians 3:17 we read: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

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In Titus 3:8 and Titus 3:14 believers, saved by grace, without works, are exhorted to maintain good works. They are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works and God has ordained that believers should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10). Believers are to believe Hebrews 6:10 and Colossians 3:24 and 25: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love.” “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

It is for these reasons that the Holy Spirit wrote in I Corinthians 15:58 for saints to be steadfast in good works and to know that no believer’s good works in Christ Jesus will be in vain.
There is a great difference between salvation by grace, “not by works” (Titus 3:5), “not according to our works,” (II Timothy 1:9), “not of works” (Ephesians 2:9), “to him that worketh not” (Romans 4:5), and “God’s workmanship, unto good works.”

This is why, in rightly dividing the Word or truth, believers should study the “strive” of Luke 13:24; the “endure” of Matthew 24:13 and 14; the “baptized” of Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38; the “worketh righteousness” of Acts 10:34 and 35 and many other mixed messages in the light of the later truth which Christ revealed to Paul. Note II Timothy 1:9, “God Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (II Timothy 1:9).
Note what the grace of God teaches saints in Titus 2:12: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
In the third chapter of Colossians the believer is told just how to live such a life by the grace of God. Salvation is by the grace of God. Good works are by the grace of God. (I Corinthians 15:10).

But first let us get this truth of John 6:29 and Romans 4:5: “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom God hath sent.” “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” The first all-important work is the work of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ unto the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39)

When we have the right start, and know “that they that are in the flesh cannot please God,” that there is no good in the flesh, (Romans 8:8 and Romans 7:18 to 20), “that other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” (I Corinthians 3:11), that we are redeemed and forgiven on account of Christ’s shed blood and the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:6 and 7), then we should always abound in the work of the Lord, and know the truth of Colossians 3:24 and 25 and I Corinthians 3:14: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

Let us be sure of our foundation before we begin to build for eternity, and for rewards. Let us even keep in mind that no flesh shall glory in God’s presence, (I Corinthians 1:30 and 31). We have been forgiven, for Christ’s sake. (Ephesians 4:32). Our salvation is in and by and through the Lord Jesus Christ and He must have all the glory for what we do, if our works are to abide.

 
Posted By – Cecil Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

 

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