Salvation & Rewards Chart
Salvation | Rewards |
| Salvation is by grace, not of works. (Eph.2:8-9; Titus 3:5; II Tim.1:9; Rom.3:20; Rom.5:15-16; John 4:10; Rev.22:17) [Works, good or evil, are not even considered in salvation.] | Rewards are earned by works. (Rev.22:12; Rev.2:10; I Cor.3:9-15; I Cor.9:24-25; II Cor.5:9-10; Col.3:22-24) [Works & motives are the only consideration.] |
| Salvation is a present possession. (John 3:36; 5:24; II Tim.1:9; I John 5:11-13) [Received in this life] | A reward is a future possession. (Rev.22:12; I Pet.5:4; II Tim.4:8; Luke 14:14) [Received in the life to come.] |
| Salvation can never be lost. (John 10:28; I Cor.3:12-15; 5:1-5) | Rewards can be lost. (Rev.3:11; II John 8; Col.2:18; 2:8) |
| Salvation is God’s work for us. (John 19:30; Rom.5:6-8) | Rewards are our works for Him. (Matt.25:23; Heb.6:10) |
| Salvation has to do with destiny. (Matt.25:31-46; Rev.21:6-8) | Rewards have nothing to do with destiny. (I Cor.3:15) |
| Salvation is exactly the same for every believer. (John 5:24; I John 5:12) | Rewards vary greatly among believers. (Matt.13:23; I Cor.3:15 cf. Matt.25:23) |
| Salvation is related to Christ’s judgment (condemnation) of of our sins (evil deeds). (Gal.3:13; II Cor.5:21) | Rewards are related to a judgment of our works (good & bad deeds). (I Cor.4:5; Col. 3:24-25) |
| Salvation is received in one moment of time. (John 3:14-15; 5:24; Acts 2:47; 16:31) | Rewards are accumulated throughout our entire Christian life. (I Cor.9:24-27; Col.3:23-25) |
| Salvation is related to God’s grace towards the sinner. (Eph.2:8-9; John 3:16) | Rewards are related to God’s justice towards the saint. (Gal.6:7-8; Rev.22:12; Heb.6:10) |
| Salvation was accomplished at Christ’s first coming. (Heb.2:14-18; 9:25-28; I Tim.1:15) | Rewards are given when He comes again. (I Cor.4:5; Rev.22:12) |
| Salvation provides an “entrance” for us into God’s kingdom. (John 3:5; Col.1:13; I Cor.3:15) | Rewards provide an “abundant entrance” into the everlasting kingdom. (II Pet.1:5-11; Matt.25:23) |
| Salvation is something God gives to us out of grace. (Eph.2:8-9; John 10:28) . | A reward (crown) is something we return to God out of gratitude! (Rev.4:10-11) |
Salem Bible Church, 11 Ermer Road, Salem, NH 03079