1 Corinthians #7: IT PAYS TO DO RIGHT

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1 Corinthians #7: IT PAYS TO DO RIGHT 19

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV) 12

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Revelation 22:12 (NIV)

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According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Cor. 3:10-13 (ESV) 14

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 1 Cor. 3:14 (ESV)

The Bible describes eternal rewards as:  your capacity to experience all that God has for you in eternity. 2

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3 (ESV)

 your area of service in Jesus’ future kingdom. (See Luke 19:11-27)  crowns incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25) crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19) crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) 14

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:14-15 (ESV)

Commentary note: Roman Catholics look to this text in support of the doctrine of temporary punishment for those not good enough to go directly to heaven. They point to the fact that it speaks of people who “suffer loss” when their works are “burned” by fire and yet they are eventually “saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15). However, the Bible does not teach the doctrine of purgatory. It is actually contrary to many facts of Scripture. First, hell is a permanent place of “everlasting fire” (Matthew 25:41). Second, once one goes to hell, they can never leave (Luke 16:26). Third, the doctrine of purgatory is an insult to the all-sufficiency of the death of Christ on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; John 19:30). Fourth, the doctrine of purgatory is based on the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees (12:46, Douay). It says that it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins. But, this second century BC book is not part of the Bible. This book never claims to be inspired by God, nor do any of the apocryphal books. Finally, in 1 Corinthians, Paul is not speaking of purgatory, but of the “judgment seat of Christ”. All those who are believers in Jesus will appear before the Bema seat of Christ to receive the rewards “for things done while in the body, good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).