Heaven as a Reward Matthew 5:11-12

This post discusses the correct meaning of heaven as a reward.

Jesus spoke of heaven as a reward to those who suffered earthly persecution, Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

What does heaven as a reward mean?

Unfortunately, any statement such as, “Receive this award,” may mean either of two things.

1.You get a complete gift—something unearned and freely given.

2.Or, you get a reward based on some activity or personal characteristic. For this reason, this dual meaning leads some people to feel that they earned the reward. Do we earn heaven in some way? We do not and cannot earn a reward in heaven. Instead, the Apostle Paul made it clear that salvation in heaven happens through faith and not any works we have done, Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

However, our salvation by faith and not works does not erase the requirement to do good works, Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 This means that we must do good works, but they will not provide the basis of salvation in heaven. Our good works do not obligate God to provide heaven.

Salvation as a gift of God further invalidates any mental concept or feeling that in our lives we must balance our sins with good works. Therefore, having more good works than sins, does not gain us heaven. In brief, nothing we can do will justify or earn a reward of heaven.

In summary, what do these verses teach?

1.We receive salvation as complete grace from God.

2.Works do not obligate God to provide us salvation.

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