Mars Hill Fellowship

MESSAGE |

No Fear in Judgment: Our Heavenly Rewards

SERIES |

Heaven Is ...

SCRIPTURE |

Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Corinthians 5:10

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.  We are not the product of random chance or evolution, but the creation of an all-knowing, all-loving God. All of us will have to give an account to God for what we do with our lives.

1. In Hebrews 9:27-28, the writer makes a profound declaration that mankind is destined to die once. While we only live and die once, the way that we live makes a big difference.
   
   
2. The writer reminds us that, “everyone must face judgment.” Since we all will be judged, we must, “¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how [we] live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) Jesus said in Luke 8, “¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

II. Unbelievers will have to face judgement at the Great White Throne Judgment. Since unbelievers did not accept Christ’s atonement for their sins, they will be judged based upon their own merits. The bad news is that there is absolutely NO chance of being declared righteous by their own works. (Revelations 20:11-15) Believers are saved in judgment based upon Christ’s finished work on the cross but they will be rewarded on how faithfully they served God.  (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 and 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

III.  Our eternal destiny of heaven or hell is founded upon Christ’s finished work on the cross.

1. John 3:16declares: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

IV. While Christ secures our destiny, we still have to pay attention to how we live each day. There are degrees of reward in Heaven based upon the quality of work that we have done here on earth. Quality is not determined by prominence but by the genuineness of our motives in Christian Service.

1. The scriptures instruct us to build our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Matthew 5:11-12)
   
   
2. But God examines the motives of everything that we build. 1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us that Jesus will “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” The right motive for our work is to please God as His ambassador.

V.  We want the quality of our work to last for eternity.

1. Each of our actions will be tested and judged. We will be rewarded based on those things that we did that last for eternity. Examples include obeying the Great Commission, operating in the fruit of the Spirit, making disciples of all nations, using our talents to build the kingdom of God, loving others, enduring persecution for Christ sake, etc.