This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the "Celebrating the Life That Christ Makes Possible".
I Corinthians 3:3, 8, 14 NKJV for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
Scripture Reading:
I Corinthians 3:8-15 NKJV Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Introduction
There is a great difference in the doctrine of salvation for the lost and the doctrine of rewards for the saved. Salvation is by grace, not by works, but rewards are according to the works of the believer. Salvation is a gift; rewards are earned.
Living the supernatural life is a blessing not only now but also in the future.
Text:
I Corinthians 3:3, 8, 14 NKJV for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
The scripture that Jean read today, First Corinthians 3:8–15 reveals several truths about rewards:
(1) Every believer will be rewarded according to his or her own labor
I Corinthians 3:8 NKJV Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
(2) We are laborers together with God, not for salvation but for his service.
I Corinthians 3:9 NKJV For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
(3) We are to build on Christ as our foundation
I Corinthians 3:14-15 NKJV If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
(4) We have a choice of two kinds of building materials: gold, silver, and costly stones or wood, hay, and straw.
The first kind represents eternal materials; the second represents temporal materials, things that will decay or wear out.
Building with eternal materials results in rewards. Building with temporal materials results in loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
Let's talk for just a minute about the judgment seat of Christ.
The judgment seat of Christ is different from the Great White Throne Judgment. The Great White Throne judgment will be the final judgment of the wicked prior to their being cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Appearing before the Great White Throne will be unbelievers.
Believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
The judgment seat of Christ does not determine our salvation; that matter was settled by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf and our faith in Him. All our sins are forgiven, and there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” as it says in
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Jesus Himself said at;
John 5:24 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
So, believers are secure in Christ, but they still must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That will be a time of examination and a time of reward. Jesus will inspect our works.
What did we do with the resources God gave us? How faithful were we? Did we neglect our opportunities to serve the Lord?
A minister sat at the bedside of a dying friend. As the friend talked of going home, tears filled his eyes. Knowing the man was young in the Lord, the minister thought he was afraid to die and tried to speak words of encouragement to him. The friend said, “I’m not afraid; I’m just ashamed to die.” Christ was his Savior, but he had to meet him empty-handed. His life was like “wood, hay, and straw.”
It doesn’t have to be that way. Christians can live and die crowned with victory. Sometimes the Christian’s reward is called a prize, but several times it is called a crown. Five crowns are mentioned in the New Testament.
The crown of life
the crown of rejoicing
the crown of righteousness
The crown of glory
The incorruptible crown
I. The crown of life
James 1:12 NKJV Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The crown of life is sometimes called “the lover’s crown.” We find strength to overcome temptation and endure trials through the love of God. Without his love in our hearts, trials can cause us to become bitter and critical and lose the crown of life. This is also the crown that is received for being “faithful unto death”
Revelation 2:10 NKJV Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
All believers have eternal life, but not all believers will be rewarded with the crown of life. To receive it, we must love the Lord more than our own lives.
Mark 8:34-35 NKJV When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
We must live for Christ and endure temptations and trials in
the power of the love of God.
II. Then there's the crown of rejoicing
I Thessalonians 2:17-20 NKJV But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
The crown of rejoicing is called the soul-winner’s crown. The greatest work we are privileged to do for the Lord is to bring others to a knowledge of Christ as their personal Savior.
A. Just how do we win souls?
1. We can win souls by the example we set by being the witnesses that Jesus said we would be. When we trust the Holy Spirit in our witnessing.
Jesus told his disciples
Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Paul said in his second letter to the Christians in Corinth,
II Corinthians 3:2-3 NKJV You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
You are the example that unbelievers see. There’s an old saying that goes “You may be the only bible that some people read”
2. We can win souls through our giving.
When we give tithes and offerings to support others who are preaching Christ we are partners in winning souls. In addition to partnering in the winning of souls when you give to support the gospel your needs are met too. We talked about that last week.
Philippians 4:15-17 NKJV Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We are talking about the crown of rejoicing right now and there is a lot of rejoicing going on when the lost are saved.
Heaven rejoices
Luke 15:10 NKJV Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The new believer rejoices. Here’s an example from scripture of a new believer rejoicing
Acts 8:36-39 NKJV Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
The sower and reaper rejoice, in other words everybody involved in bringing someone to salvation rejoices.
John 4:34-38 NKJV Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
III. We’ve talked about the crown of life and the crown of rejoicing there is also the crown of righteousness.
II Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The crown of righteousness is the crown earned by believers who eagerly anticipate the second coming of Christ. Like Paul you would be able to say, “I have fought a good fight”. He could also say, “I have finished my course”, “I have kept the faith”. There’s no looking back.
IV. There’s the crown of glory
I Peter 5:1-4 NKJV The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being Lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The crown of glory is a special reward for the faithful, obedient, God-called pastor. Jesus, The Chief Shepherd himself gives it. It is eternal.
However, every believer can share in the pastor’s “crown of glory” because God will reward those who support his chosen servant through prayer and encouragement.
Let me read what Jesus said about those who support His servants.
Matthew 10:40-42 NKJV “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
V. Finally, there’s the incorruptible crown
I Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
This is the crown for victorious living. In the Greek games, the competitors ran for a corruptible crown; in the Christian race, we run for an incorruptible one.
The key to victory is a disciplined life, whether in the Olympic games or in the Christian life. Athletes deny themselves many things their bodies crave. Likewise, Christians must subdue their bodies or else be disqualified for the prize. The New Testament gives guidelines for us to win the incorruptible crown of victory.
A. We must keep our eyes fixed on Christ.
We must deny ourselves anything that would weigh us down and hinder us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
B. We must find our strength in the Lord
Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
C. We must place our all on the altar of the Lord.
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
D. We must, by faith, refuse anything that would impede our spiritual progress.
Moses is an example of someone refusing to settle for less than God had for him
Hebrews 11:24-27 NKJV By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
To win this incorruptible crown we must; keep our eyes fixed on Christ, find our strength in the Lord, place our all on the altar of the Lord, and by faith, refuse anything that would impede our spiritual progress.
There is no way to win this crown and be a spectator. We must enter the race and run to win!
Conclusion
In an old legend, an angel was talking with an older in age Christian. Going into a great vault, he brought out a beautiful crown with shining jewels of rare value. He said, “This is the crown I designed for you when you were a youth, but you refused to surrender yourself completely to the Lord; now it is gone.”
From the vault he brought another crown. It was beautiful but not nearly as beautiful as the first one. He said, “This is the crown I designed for your middle age, but you gave those years to indolent discipleship; now it is gone.”
The angel brought a third crown from the vault. It was just a plain gold crown with no jewels in it. He said, “Here is the crown of your old age. This is yours for all eternity.”
You see what he missed by not giving his best in advancing the kingdom in his lifetime?
Every one of us will receive a reward according to our labor. What will be your reward? You can start or continue working on it now. Remember salvation is a gift; rewards are earned.
I Corinthians 3:14 NKJV If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you that you are able to bring hope through even the toughest of times, strengthening us for your purposes. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Sermon Audio
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