Varying Degrees of Reward in Heaven—Works Smuggled In
I’ve become increasingly unsettled with the idea of varying degrees of rewards for the believer in heaven.
What do men excel at but putting a burden upon themselves and others? This is what the legalist does, by his very nature. If you’ll just do, then you’ll merit the favor of God. Of course, we renounce works-based salvation and find our rest and joy in the blessed doctrine of justification by faith alone (Sola Fide as it were). Yet, we must be diligent in our attentiveness because works creep in. Legalism seeps into the gaps not firmly filled with the righteousness of Christ.
There exists a seemingly standard and widespread idea in the evangelical church that believers, though saved by faith through grace, will receive varying degrees of rewards in heaven based upon their work for the kingdom of God as believers. I heard a biblical teacher once proclaim that he couldn’t wait to earn a particular crown (reward) so that he could cast it at the feet of Jesus on that day.
Does this notion, varying degrees of rewards in heaven for believers, hold up under the scrutiny of Scripture?
In support of the idea, proponents point to the five crowns listed in Scripture, texts such as 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 which seem to unequivocally teach the idea, as well as texts that speak about people receiving the just due for their actions, either rewards or punishment, or others that reference the least or the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Five Crowns
1. The Imperishable Crown
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath [crown], but we an imperishable. (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Here, Paul applies his frequently used allegory of comparing Christians to athletes running a race to obtain a prize. Here though, he speaks about “every” athlete, that every Christian exercises self-control as they run the race and that they, Christians, do this as they run that they, Christians, may receive the imperishable crown.
The race motif reveals the differing economies. In God’s race, there is no first, second, or third place. There are those who finish the race, Christians, and those who do not, unbelievers. The imperishable crown is the reward, whatever it may be, that all believers obtain in their salvation and eternal glorification.
2. The Crown of Rejoicing
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
Paul longs to see his brothers in Thessalonica, in person. Satan hindered his previous efforts to visit. (v.18) Why is he so set on seeing them? Verse 19 answers the question. They, the Thessalonians, are his hope and joy, his crown of boasting before the Lord. In the following verse he amplifies, “For you are our glory and joy,” and we could add, his hope, his crown.
Paul’s affection for the persecuted but faithful church is evident in this address. He addresses others similarly. He refers to the church in Philippi as, “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown.” (Philippians 4:1) This crown of rejoicing or crown of boasting is clearly not some future heavenly reward but that his dear brothers in Christ are this crown. They are his reward, presently.
3. The Crown of Righteousness
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
Speaking of his own life, his own race coming to an end, Paul declares to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (v.7) This is an apt description of every believer approaching eternity. By definition, believers fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.
Further, Paul caveats the declaration by saying “not only me, but also to all who have loved his appearing,” in other words, believers. The crown of righteousness is for every believer.
4. The Crown of Life
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
James, the Lord’s brother, gives believers yet another hope for future glory. Again, by definition, a believer will stand the test, will remain steadfast under trial. This is what believers do. Of course, we fail on occasion, of course we stumble, but our trajectory is persistence.
Further, James’ promise, God’s promise, is for “those who love him”, i.e. believers. The Crown of Life is for all believers.
5. The Crown of Glory
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4)
Here we have perhaps the most difficult passage to understand pertaining to the crowns. Peter’s offer is clearly addressed to elders. (v. 1) He gives them (elders) encouraging advice and then the offer of the “crown of glory” in verse 4 before switching to address those who are subject to the elders. (v. 5)
Yet, throughout the letter, we see Peter’s offer of eternal glory to all believers. In eternity, believers will be “filled with glory.” (1:8) Believers have “the Spirit of glory”. (4:14) Further, as we interpret Scripture with Scripture and we see that every other crown is either an eternal reward for every believer or doesn’t pertain at all i.e., the Crown of Rejoicing, then we may safely say the Crown of Glory is offered here specifically, to those who labor as elders, but is not reserved only for them, but is for all believers.
6. The Casting of Crowns
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (Revelation 4:10)
This verse is often cited to demonstrate the crowns as rewards in heaven. As the elders fall before Jesus, whoever they are, they cast their crowns at his feet. In the same way, we believers, will fall before Jesus in heaven and forbid that we might have no crowns to cast at his feet. Therefore, we ought to earn our crowns, as the logic goes.
Yet, no description is given of anyone other than these elders doing this. Nowhere are believers prescribed to cast crowns at the feet of Jesus. What we see here is a surrender of earthly authority from the elders, likely representative of Israel and the Church. They have ceded all authority to Jesus, symbolically casting their crowns at his feet in honor of him. This symbolic display is spurred on by the worship of Jesus in heaven, “whenever” the four creatures give him glory and honor. (Revelation 4:9)
Revealed by Fire
11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13each 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. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
Paul’s admonition to the church in Corinth contains perhaps the strongest suggestion of varying degrees of rewards in heaven for believers based upon what they do.
For believers, Christ is the foundation. (v. 11) No one disputes that. The believer is to build upon that foundation, to do good works. (v.12) Again, no one disputes that. The nature of the work varies, and Paul describes it as either “gold, silver, precious stones” as in, work that is valuable and will endure or “wood, hay, straw” or work that is lesser in value and will likely not endure. (v. 12) It is the coming of Christ, “the Day”, that will reveal which is which, as “the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” (v. 13) Symbolically, the Second Coming of Christ will be like fire that reveals things that are eternal and things that are not eternal, as far as works accomplished by believer.
In this revealing, there are rewards for those whose work survives, that is those who built upon the foundation of Christ with “gold, silver, precious stones.” (v. 12) In other words, those who pursue eternal matters, their work will persist into eternity, and they will be amply rewarded for this.
On the other hand, are those whose work is burned up in the fire. They built with lesser materials, did not concern themselves with matters of eternity, and this work will be burned up and “he will suffer loss” that is, he will not receive a reward though “he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (v. 15) Here we have the image of a believer regretfully entering eternity, entering heaven with the knowledge that nothing they did mattered in eternity, and that they receive no reward. God forbid such a thought.
For starters, I know of no man who only builds with “gold, silver, precious stones.” Likewise, I know of no believer, more importantly, nor does Scripture, who only builds with “wood, hay, straw”. What is universal is that all believers build upon the foundation of Christ, and we all know Christ’s admonition, “to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) And yet, we all build imperfectly. Sometimes we do well and build well. Other times, as we wrestle with sin and self, we build poorly, focusing upon the wrong thing or transient and temporal things. With this in mind, everyone would have things burned up and everyone would have things endure and therefore all believers would receive a reward. No mention is made of a varying reward for surviving work.
Further, the “loss” mentioned in verse 15 that most apply to the “reward” of verse 14 is more appropriately applied to the “work” of verse 15 that is burned up. That is, the believer labors over something that is inconsequential, and, in the end, it is lost, it is burned up. He loses all the misplaced labor that he invested in temporal or transient work.
I see, in these verses, an admonition for believers, an encouragement to look ahead to the future revealing of that which is transient and that which is eternal and to seek to invest in things of eternity and that for believers, there exists a reward in heaven for exactly this.
Least or Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
Several times Jesus speaks of those who will be “least” or “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19, 11:11, 18:4, Mark 9:34-35, Luke 9:48) This seems to indicate a potential ranking or ordering of Christians in heaven in the future.
We’ll start with Matthew 11:11 whereby Jesus, in discussing the greatness of John the Baptist, makes the comment that “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.” (v. 11b) Notice first, the present tense, “is”. Jesus is speaking to a present reality, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, time now. John the Baptist, as the greatest of all the prophets, still fell short in that he did not witness the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, nor the establishment of the church in Acts 2. The point that Jesus is making is quite the opposite, it is that all believers are equally greater than the greatest of any prophet, even John the Baptist with incomplete revelation. Believers know and believe the complete revelation of Jesus. I’m sure I’ll see John the Baptist in heaven one day, but not because of any sort of prophetic greatness on his behalf, and that is precisely Jesus’ point. John will definitely agree.
Once this is established, the other passages fall into line quite easily. The point from these is to upend man’s view of merit and what is meritorious and even the actual existence of man’s merit in God’s economy, not to establish a completely new system of merit that we must now grade ourselves upon. In the economy of God, Christ is the only merit, ever.
Jesus makes this exact point to the Apostles. On several occasions, they come to him seeking to know who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answers them, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) Notice that the criteria for entering the kingdom of heaven, the faith of a child, is the exact same criteria for greatness.
To the Apostles, Jesus promises them, “you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28b) Again, there seems to be an inevitable ranking of Christians. Yet, writing to the struggling church in Corinth, Paul says, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world…Do you not know that we [Christians] are to judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3) Again, we see a leveling of the field in eternity, an elevation of all Christians.
In all of these situations, the heavenly rewards are synonymous with eternal life in heaven.
What of the warnings that Scripture seems to give about being judged based upon the deeds we perform or even the words we speak? (Romans 2:6, Revelation 22:12, Matthew 12:36, Luke 12:2-3) To this we must necessarily say, if you are in Christ, this is not for you. These verses drive us to intense thankfulness for Christ. Because of Christ, I will only be judged upon His merits, His perfect deeds, and perfect words. Now, we ought to do good deeds, speak edifying words, yet no Christian will ever stand in judgement for the deeds we do or don’t do, the words we speak or don’t speak. That would be a redemptive regression of the worst sort. As Blomberg writes, “The purpose of Christians’ standing before God’s bar of justice is to declare them acquitted, not to embarrass them before the entire cosmos for all their failing.” (167)
What is the fear of the legalist, but that if we don’t threaten the Christian accordingly, warn them, then they won’t do any deeds, they’ll speak only idle words. If the Gospel were not supernatural, this might be true, but because the Christian is indwelt of the Holy Spirit of God, they will necessarily do good works and speak good words, increasingly, but still imperfectly as they wrestle their persisting sin nature until glorification in death. Even the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27) provides not a contrast between faithful and rewarded Christians, but rather, a contrast between the conduct of the saved and the lost. The saved do things on behalf of the kingdom of God, are faithful with what God gives to them, while the lost squander the gifts and blessings of God.
It is no surprise then that proponents of varying degrees of rewards struggle to define the nature of the rewards, resorting to speculation. Is it an increased capacity for service, added responsibilities, higher degrees of bliss, an enriched relationship with Christ? And they must account somehow for awareness as in, others won’t be aware of your rewards, only you. But, if heaven is perfect, if Christ is perfect, then how would we find varying degrees of perfection? Logically, that doesn’t even make sense.
In all of this, I simply find no mandate for varying degrees of rewards in heaven. What we do find in Scripture is the exact opposite of this.
Refutation
Scripture provides two options for men, salvation by grace alone through faith (i.e. unmerited) or damnation by works. Apart from Christ, men live under the covenant of works which requires perfect, perpetual obedience to the law of God for salvation. What must man do to live? Obey the law. Love God and love people, perfectly. That’s it. That’s all one must do. Obviously, this is a crushing burden that no man save for Christ has ever borne. It is the Gospel that liberates man from the curse of the Law. Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Law, His perfect righteousness, is imputed to the believer, credited to his account. The believer is freed from the economy of merit, that great and unbearable burden. Do we really think God would then return to an economy of merit within His kingdom? As Paul writes, “the wages of sin is death”. (Romans 6:23a) The wages, the only thing we can earn with our works, is death. Thank God he goes on to clarify, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (verse 23b) Which makes perfect sense since we do see clear indications of varying degrees of wages in one arena, that is varying degrees of punishment in hell. (Luke 12:47-18, Matthew 10:15, 11:22, 24, Romans 5:13)
The lesson of the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16) is that all believers are equal in the economy of God, even those who might have been saved much later in life, maybe even right before death, and had no opportunity to even work or earn a reward. Blomberg writes, “And when one reflects soberly on the vast gulf that separates even the most righteous of believers from God’s infinitely perfect standards it is hard to see how the difference among Christians that seem to loom so large in the life could figure significantly in God’s eternal reckoning. The differences in elevation between Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench seem negligible when viewed from Mars.” (162)
In Christ, God has granted to the believer “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3) What has God withheld from His people, not one single thing. The believer can proclaim, “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) We look ahead to the final fulfillment of a promise made in eternity past, a promise of the very presence of Christ where we will know fully, just as we have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) We will see His face and there will be no more darkness. We will reign forever with Him. We will worship Him, drink from the river of life, live in the heavenly city, bask in His glorious presence forevermore. No more death. No more crying. No more pain. No more sin. We have Christ! What greater reward could there possibly be?
The notion of varying degrees of rewards is works. That’s it. Nothing more. It is an attempt by men to smuggle works in the back door and it’s no wonder it’s such a prevalent teaching. The western church (all that I’m familiar with) imitates the world in so many other ways, it should come as no shock that we’d seek to imitate the world and its merit-based foundation within the church and a future in heaven. Again, consider the legalistic heart of all men. As the Gospel progressively destroys legalism, breaches barrier after barrier, man clings tighter and tighter to his works.
“No, no, I have to work to be saved.” Destroyed.
“God saved me based upon my foreseen faith.” Sigh.
“I must work to retain my salvation.” Excrement.
“I must work to make God happy.” Pure garbage.
“I must work to earn rewards in heaven.” Really?
What a devilish thought that the Lord might esteem some of His children more than others based upon the works they do when it is He that calls them to specific works in the first place. (Ephesians 2:10)
My dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, allow me to reassure you. Allow me to lift a burden from your shoulders. At the wedding feast of the Lamb, every table will be the head table. The thief on the cross will be just as esteemed as the Apostle Peter. The Lord Jesus loves you every bit as much as Martin Luther or Charles Spurgeon or pick a “great” man or woman of God, even as much as the Apostle Paul himself, who would no doubt resolutely agree. I pray you’ll find rest in this truth.
