The Lord Rewards His Faithful Saints | Zac Poonen
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Summary
The central message is that while salvation is secured by the foundation of Christ's righteousness, believers must actively build their lives upon this foundation through righteous works. The speaker draws from 1 Corinthians 3 to illustrate that a life will be tested by fire, and while works do not earn salvation, they will be evaluated for reward. The ultimate regret in heaven will be realizing how selfishly one lived, neglecting the love of Christ for self-centered concerns.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Laying the foundation of ChristNo man can lay any other foundation than Jesus Christ, which is the necessary starting point for forgiveness and being declared righteous by God.1 Corinthians 3:11
Building with quality versus quantityBelievers build on the foundation with either gold, silver, and precious stones representing quality, or wood, hay, and straw representing mere quantity, which will be tested by fire.
Receiving a reward according to our worksJesus is coming quickly to render a reward to every man according to what his work shall be after receiving Him.Revelation 22:12
The wedding dress of the brideWhile our acceptance before God is based on Christ's righteousness, the bride's dress in Revelation represents the righteous acts of the saints.Revelation 19:7–8
The possibility of eternal regretBelievers who live entirely selfish lives after conversion may experience deep and lasting regret when they see Christ face to face and realize how they wasted their lives.
The wise virgins and the hidden oilThe parable of the virgins highlights the importance of having both an outer testimony and a hidden inner life filled with the Holy Spirit.
Trading our time and conquering our fleshParables about servants with minas show that all believers are given equal time and fleshly lusts to battle, and will be evaluated on what they produced.
Separating the sheep and the goats by how we treat believersAt the final judgment, Christ evaluates people based on whether they served the physical and practical needs of His brothers, the fellow believers.Matthew 25:35
Examining our motives in church lifeBelievers must examine whether they join churches for selfish earthly benefits like schools and personal convenience rather than seeking the glory of Christ and serving others.
Paul's confidence in receiving a crownAt the end of his life, the Apostle Paul confidently stated that the Lord would give him a crown of righteousness as a reward for finishing his course.2 Timothy 4:7–8
Concluding prayer for biblical balanceThe speaker closes with a prayer asking God to help believers maintain a balanced view of Christ's imputed righteousness and the righteous acts of the saints.
