Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15).

There exists in God's Word two distinct doctrines, which we must not confuse.  They stand in stark contrast to each other.  One is the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.  The other is the doctrine of rewards for the service of the saved.

1.  Salvation is a free gift of God.

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift  of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee the living water. (Jn. 4:10).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior. That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-8).

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted unto him for righteousness."  (Rom. 3:5).

2.  A Christian earns rewards by works.

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."  (Mt. 10:42).

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righetousness. (2 Tim. 4:7,8).

"And he said unto him, Well done thou good and faithful servant; because thou has been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities."  (Lk. 19:7).

"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide, which he hath built upon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."  (I Cor. 3:11-15).

Salvation is a present possession for the believer.  (John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47; 2 Timothy 1:9; I John 5:11, etc.).

Rewards are in the future.  (Mt. 16:27; 25:19; Lk. 14:14; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 22:12, etc.).

Dr. C.I. Scofield has noted 3 purposes of God in His promise to reward faithful service by His saints: 3

  • to win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures
  • to sustain them in the trials of persecution, and
  • to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues.

Faith in Christ is the root 2 of eternal life; good works are the fruit, or result of salvation.

Salvation always produces good works, but good works never produce salvation.  Good works are the results of God's saving grace.

For we are his workmanship1, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:10)

This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works...."  (Titus 3:8)

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1 "Workmanship" is translated from the Greek word poimea, "the things which have been made."  The word was often used of art and literary masterpieces.

2 In this article, the author has used bold type for emphasis on certain words; this is the author's addition.

3 Scofield, C.I., Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.  Grand Rapids, Mi.: Zondervan Books, 1973