Fourth Year Ministries

Question - Dear Pastors, Matthew 16:27 refers to rewards given to believers according to what they have done. Scripture is clear that salvation is not contingent upon works. Therefore, Jesus must be speaking of heavenly rewards. Why are we rewarded? What rewards can some people expect? Answer - Good question. If I'm reading your question correctly, you are asking why we would be rewarded or repaid for the deeds or works that we do in this life. And, secondly, what rewards we can expect. I'm not sure I can find a given list of rewards that we may receive in Heaven anywhere in scripture. I believe that is for a reason. I will speak to that a little later. First, let's look at what Jesus said in Matthew 16:27 - "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS." (NASB) Take a look at the context in which Jesus was speaking these words. It is not necessarily heavenly rewar...

In this final part of the series on the question, "What is salvation and can you lose it?", we will turn our attention to the difficult subject of "apostasy." If you missed the first four parts, you can read them here: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 . As we've surveyed issues relating to salvation, it seems clear that the gift of God in eternal life is not something that can be lost or stolen from the individual who repents and places their faith in Christ. Thank God, for this is good news indeed! However, this does not appear to be the end of the story -- and there is a danger of "giving up" or "forfeiting" this salvation based on our own stewardship of the gift we have received (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Paul apparently recognized this danger in his own life when he states plainly regarding his "freedom in Christ": I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not k...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word. So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race. It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to ...

After taking a look at the past ( Part 1 ) and present ( Part 2 ) elements of salvation, it's time to turn to the future element of salvation. To briefly recap, salvation is being rescued from the penalty of sin (the past element) and the power (the present element) of sin, death and the devil by the grace of God. In the future , we will be saved from the presence of sin. God is Holy and Righteous, so no sin can dwell in His manifest presence (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:5; 76:7; 130:3) and in the final state (what some theologians refer to as "The Eschaton") God will be manifestly present among His people in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4). Since this is the case, sin will necessarily be dealt with fully and finally prior to ushering in the final state of Heaven at a time yet future (see these posts for more about the current state of Heaven and Hell ) by God. As part of the coming judgment , God will bring every thought, word and deed into light and wil...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27  My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.   So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word.  So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race.  It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to run the race ...

Q: I told [my son] yesterday about Satan starting off as an angel and that he and the other angels are "fallen angels" and told him the story of what happened. Today I was telling him that scripture tells us that we will judge angels in heaven and he said "you mean the fallen angels?" My first thought was no but I thought I would ask which angels and for what will we be judging them? A: The Scriptural reference to the saints judging angels in heaven is in 1 Corinthians 6: Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this ...