The difference between salvation and the rewards of the Christian By Shad David Sluiter

1.Salvation is a gift. Rewards are earned. Romans 6:23. The gift of God is eternal life. Colossians 3:22-24 (22) Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. (23) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2. Nobody deserves salvation. The believer deserves the reward. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

3. Salvation is not by works. The reward is for works. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

4. Salvation is a current posession. The reward is in the future. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Luke 14:13-14 (13) But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, (14) and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

5. Salvation cannot be lost. Rewards can be lost. John 10:27-29 (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

6. Salvation is all about sin. Reward is all about service. Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Ephesians 6:5-8 (5) Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (8) knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

7. Salvation is given at the moment when a person receives Christ. Reward is earned for a lifetime of service. 1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

8. Salvation is based on what Christ did on the cross. Reward is based on what we have done. Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

9. Every believer shares the same salvation. Every believer is not going to receiver the same reward. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Luke 19:18-19 (18) And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.' (19) And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

10. Salvation didn’t cost me anything. Reward will cost me much. Isaiah 55:1 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Matthew 5:11-12 (11) "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.