# Rewards Blessings and Obedience Study ## **Background** - Started - 2009.05.12 - 2015.11.25 - Restarted - All of the original work was moved to the [Suffering, Persecution, Endurance and Perseverance Bible Study](https://docs.google.com/document/d/14U1ilq-tGHyXQ8GFW9vegiWaAjNT7zOyTZcsNe_7Bsg/edit# "https://docs.google.com/document/d/14U1ilq-tGHyXQ8GFW9vegiWaAjNT7zOyTZcsNe_7Bsg/edit#")) - 2017.11.05 - Merged Rewards Bible study into this one. - The Google Doc was started on 2015.08.11. - However, there are notes dating from 2001.09.03. - See also [J-091230 - Rewards.] - 2017.11.06 - This study was refocused. It is now focused on how my obedience (or lack of obedience) affects my relationship with God, both good and bad; in particular the relationships between blessings / rewards on earth / eternal life. ## Questions - What does the NT say about receiving rewards in heaven for the things we do? - How are obedience and blessing related? - How did things change, if at all, after the cross? - What does the Bible say about Rewards? - Look at the requirement and the reward. - What is the connection between “rewards” and the “crowns” in Revelation? - How is our “inheritance” related to the rewards? - Is there a connection between “rewards” and faith? - Is there a clear cause - effect between obedience and blessing? - Why am I not afraid of God’s judgment?  Do I assume correctly / incorrectly that Jesus has me covered? - How is this study different than the “[Repent and Believe Bible Study](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPp6Cu2mkfnfIAr7ULs6iAVi9yX9m5wLsNQsCo2WhC0/edit "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPp6Cu2mkfnfIAr7ULs6iAVi9yX9m5wLsNQsCo2WhC0/edit")”? - 2020.03.16--What does the Bible say about God being my reward? - Questions from unrelated studies - How are obedience and salvation related? - Is it possible to “lose” salvation? - Examples of how is obedience modeled in the Bible. - Examples of how obedience is commanded in the Bible. - How did Jesus model obedience? - Does obedience “count” if not done with the proper heart attitude?  (**Matthew 15.7-9, Mark 7.6**) - What is the difference between repentance and obedience? **Matthew 21.28-32, 1 Cor 16.16** - ## ToDo - ToDo Study - Compare with the following other studies - [Repent, Believe, Obedience and Salvation Bible Study] - [Potential Questions - Issues] - [Costs, Rewards and Consequences] - Look at the following - [[G3408]] - [[G5293]] - ToDo Transfer - Move and link: [Rewards Blessings and Obedience Bible Study.odt] - Move applicable stuff to this study from the [Suffering, Persecution, Endurance and Perseverance Bible Study](https://docs.google.com/document/d/14U1ilq-tGHyXQ8GFW9vegiWaAjNT7zOyTZcsNe_7Bsg/edit# "https://docs.google.com/document/d/14U1ilq-tGHyXQ8GFW9vegiWaAjNT7zOyTZcsNe_7Bsg/edit#")) - Link the following - Journal Entries - J-091230 - Rewards - Move the following to the applicable study / note/ etc - Another passage against accountability [Matthew 6.16-18] - At least when it comes to giving to the needy and praying, these passages speak AGAINST accountability. [Matthew 6.1-6] - We must repent and believe [Matthew 21.28-32] - Jesus makes it clear that obedience from the heart is what counts. If we are more worried about what our “A-Team” thinks than what God thinks, then our hearts are not in the right place. [Matthew 15.7-9, Mark 7.6] - Obedience related takeaways should be copied to [Obedience Takeaway Summary] - Five Eternal Crowns of Reward - Gary's Copy.odt - J-091230 - Rewards.odt - Rewards - 090301.doc.odt ## TL;DR - Jesus talked about rewards & blessings a lot, both good and bad: - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5.3) - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5.4) - Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5.5) - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5.6) - Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5.7) - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5.8) - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5.9) - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5.10) - Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (Matthew 5.11) - Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. (Matthew 5.12) - If we perform our “righteous acts” to be seen by men, we won’t get any reward (G3480) from our heavenly Father (Matthew 6.1) - We shouldn’t sound a trumpet before us when we give to the needy so as to be honored (G1392) by men (Matthew 6.2) - If we do our giving in secret, our Father who sees what is done in secret will reward (G0591) us (Matthew 6.3-4) - When we pray, we shouldn’t do it to be seen by men because that is the only reward (G3408) we will receive (Matthew 6.5) - Rather, we should go into a private room and pray to our Father in private and He will reward (G0591) us (Matthew 6.6) - Don’t put on a disfigured face when fasting to be seen by men.  That will be the only reward (G3480). (Matthew 6.16) - Rather our fasting shouldn’t be obvious so we will receive our reward (G0591) from our Father in heaven (Matthew 6.18) - He who receives (G1209) a prophet (G4396) because he is a prophet, will receive (G2983) a prophet’s reward (G3408) (Matthew 10.41) - He who receives a righteous (G1342) man because he is a righteous man, will receive (G2983) a righteous man’s reward (G3408) (Matthew 10.41) - Anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple (G3101), truly I tell you, he will never lose (G0622) his reward (Matthew 10.42) - Jesus makes it clear that He will repay (G0591) everyone according (G2596) to what he has done (G4734).  He precedes that by talking about denying ourselves and taking up our cross. (Matthew 16.24-27) - Based on its definition “blessing” ([[G3107]]) is closely related to faith. - Heavenly reward from the Father instead of praise from men. [Matthew 6.1-6] - Jesus is speaking against reward from men instead of from God. [Matthew 6.16-18] - If we are obedient to what Jesus tells us, the work we do will stand. [Matthew 7.24-27] - This seems like another passage teaching about rewards in Jesus' Kingdom. [Matthew 16.27] - Some thoughts from Life of Messiah on John 14.15: - Verse 15 is not a “command” it is a “statement of fact” - We don’t keep His commands to “demonstrate” our love for Him, our keeping is the “natural expression of our love” - Jesus promises these rewards for keeping His commandments: - We will remain in His love as He does in His Father’s love [John 15.10] - His joy will be in us and will be complete [John 15.11] - We will be called His friends [John 15.15] - ?? Bear fruit [John 15.16] ## ## Chapter-by-Chapter Notes - [[Daniel_12|Daniel 12]] - 2018.12.06 {3} - Thesis - I believe my reward in heaven will be based on how well I help others get their rewards in heaven. ## Other Notes - ## Outbound Links - Scripture - Topics - Words - Study - Other ---