Will there be degrees of reward in heaven? This is a question I am frequently asked. It seems to be on the minds of many people.
Many, many years ago the pope in Rome needed some money, so he invented a scheme that was sure to cause people to give him their money. He told people that they could both have their sins partially remitted, so that they would not have to spend such a long time in purgatory, and that they could buy the souls of their loved ones out of purgatory. Of course, this was a very profitable business. Priest went all over the world selling indulgences, telling men and women, "When the pennies jingle in the cup, a soul is released from hell." Of course, it was all a fraudulent scheme. But the people fell for it.
The religious leaders of our day have concocted their own system of indulgences. In order to get their followers to give more of their money, devote more of their time, and be more regular in their religious service, modern day fundamentalists have followed the example of the pope. They tell men that by giving great sums of money, making great sacrifices, and being faithful in Christian service, they can buy, or earn certain crowns, and privileges, and rewards in heaven. These hucksters and religious con-men are no less guilty than the pope in trickery and deception.
Will there be degrees of reward in heaven? Certainly not! Whoever he was that first invented the doctrine of degrees of reward in heaven was totally ignorant of the doctrine of the grace of God! The Bible no where speaks of such a thing. There are no crowns, mansions, privileges, or rewards in heaven promised to some of the Lord's people that are not promised to all of them. There will be no back settlements in the heavenly Canaan. There will be no second-class citizens in the heavenly Jerusalem. All who enter heaven will enter entirely upon the merits of Christ's perfect righteousness and shed blood. We are all "accepted in the Beloved". All of God's elect are chosen of the same Father, redeemed by the same blood, regenerated by the same Spirit, saved by the same grace, sons of the same family, and heirs of the same eternal inheritance. They shall all receive the same full and perfect Reward, and that Reward is Christ. All that Christ is and all that he has belongs to all who are in him. All spiritual blessings have been given to all of God's elect by the gift of sovereign grace. All the blessings of grace were earned for the people of God by Christ's righteousness as our Representative. And all were purchased for us by the blood of Christ, shed as our Substitute at Calvary. Heaven is the reward of pure, free, sovereign grace. Hell is the reward of your works and mine. This idea that there are degrees of reward in heaven is most pleasing to the flesh, and therefore very popular among men. But it is contrary to the plainest statements of Holy Scripture, and runs in direct opposition to the doctrine of the grace of God. What pride can be so monstrously self-righteous as to suppose that any sinful man can do anything to merit reward from God? Such proud heresy is near kinsman to blasphemy!
"But", someone might say, "If there are no degrees of reward in heaven, what motive is there for Christian service and faithfulness?" That is the language of one who does not know the grace of God. Those who are truly born of God are not motivated by legal threats of punishment or promises of reward. We are motivated by grace, constrained by love, and inspired by gratitude to the Lord our God. The renewed heart needs no motive but the love of Christ, and looks for no reward but Christ himself.
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