Most Christians agree that there are eternal rewards for the good deeds we do in this life. Jesus and his disciples clearly taught this. But some people think that believers can LOSE rewards because of their subsequent evil deeds. This is contrary to scripture, and has hurt the lives and ministries of Christians for centuries. Let’s go to God’s Word and see what it says about this.
Misunderstood Scriptures
2 John 1:8:
Look to yourselves, that WE LOSE NOT those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a FULL REWARD.
This scripture seems to indicate that we need to be watchful so that we don’t lose our future rewards. But this contradicts what Jesus told his disciples.
Matthew 10:42:
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.
Mark 9:41:
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he SHALL NOT LOSE HIS REWARD.
The context of John’s second epistle is to specific believers.
2 John 1:1:
The elder [John] unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.
In this letter, he encouraged the believers to walk in love and in God’s commandments [verses 4-6]. Then he warned them about “deceivers” and those who are “antichrist” [verse 7]. Such people are “anti” [against] Christ, and teach things contrary to who Christ truly is. John encouraged these believers not to be deceived to the end of living contrary to God’s way in Christ. This would cause them to lose potential rewards they WOULD HAVE GAINED for walking in God’s way. This IS NOT talking about losing rewards that they had already gained.
Here’s an interesting verse in the King James Version:
Philippians 2:1:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.
But that doesn’t fit with what Paul also declares in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:8,9:
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.
So, what is the answer?
Romans 10:9,10 says we are saved when we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. That “foundation” brings eternal life. Then we are to build “good works” upon that foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones [good and loving works], wood, hay, stubble [worthless works and deeds];
Every man’s work [good or worthless] shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire [“fire” is used in the Bible for cleansing and purifying]; and the fire shall try [prove] every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, HE SHALL RECEIVE A REWARD.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss [of rewards]: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.
This is so clear. When Christ returns, we will have eternal life based on the “foundation” of salvation in Christ. We WILL RECEIVE REWARDS for those good deeds done in love [gold, silver, precious stones]. We WILL NOT RECEIVE REWARDS for the worthless things we’ve done [wood, hay, stubble]. They will be “burned up” in the proving “fire” of future judgment. But our good deeds WILL RECEIVE A REWARD! They CANNOT BE LOST.
This truth is seen clearly in Paul’s second letter to this same Corinthian church.
2 Corinthians 5:10:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat [Greek bēma, reward stand for victorious service] of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad [phaulos, worthless].
Some people try to make this say that we will receive judgment in the future for the “bad” deeds we have done. But this is far from the truth. The “judgment seat” in this verse is actually the Greek word used for a reward stand. This is where athletic or military victors would receive rewards for their labors. We WILL RECEIVE EVERY REWARD for the good we do. But the “bad,” the worthless deeds, will be “burned up” and come to nothing. Let’s look at this Greek word for “bad” to better understand its meaning. Every use shows that it refers to “worthless” acts.
Worthless Deeds
John 3:20:
For every one that doeth evil [phaulos, worthless things] hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jesus said that the people who do nothing for God are afraid to come to the light. Those people who perform so-called “good works” without God’s love will be disappointed [1 Corinthians 13:1,2]. Because they reject God’s light in His Son and the scriptures, their deeds are worthless.
John 5:29:
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil [phaulos, worthless things], unto the resurrection of damnation [judgment].
This is a very similar truth to what we read in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Here, Jesus is speaking of separating the “sheep from the goats”—those who have believed on him and those who have rejected the Savior. Those who have done “evil,” have wasted their lives on worthless endeavors that brings no eternal life or rewards. They will be judged and fall short because of their worthless deeds. This is NEVER TRUE of those born again. We have eternal life in Christ, even though our worthless deeds will go unrewarded.
Titus 2:7,8:
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil [phaulos, worthless] thing to say of you.
When we set a good example by living the true standard, no one can genuinely say that we are “worthless.” Those good deeds WILL BRING FUTURE REWARDS. Our labor is “not in vain in the Lord” [1 Corinthians 15:58]. James also describes this “worthless” evil.
James 3:16:
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil [phaulos, worthless] work.
How true is that! We’ve all seen how confusing life becomes when people are envious of each other and striving against one another. That’s true with children and adults. With that confusion comes an inability to get anything done that is profitable. Every work done with envy and strife brings confusion, resulting in worthless deeds.
God Doesn’t Forget!
God is gracious and will not forget the good deeds that we have done.
Hebrews 6:10:
For GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
God is righteous and JUST. He will remember and reward us for the good we have done. WE CANNOT LOSE OUR REWARDS. However, we can lose potential rewards by our failure to live for God. Those worthless deeds will “burn up” at Christ’s return, but we will enjoy the reward for the good we’ve done throughout eternity!
