Happy Saturday

Salvation versus rewards by Sumner Wemp

What Christ did for me on the cross brings salvation, What I do for Christ after being saved brings rewards.

The work of Christ brings salvation we are all in the same boat, we have all sinned, offended God, polluted ourselves and deserve the wages of sin, spiritual death, eternal separation from the one and only living Holy God Rom. 3:23, 6:23. The Good news is that Christ died for our sins, paid our debt in full, rose again, and was seen alive by hundreds 1 Cor. 15:1-4. "The gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes" Rom. 1:16. Nothing more and nothing less will bring salvation. "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5. see Matt. 3:13-15. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory but not before God.  Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Works of righteousness by us brings rewards "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" Eph. 2:8-10. 

Rewards according to our works "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done" Rev. 22:12. Read 1 Cor. 3:11-15. If a man's works are burned, he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire.

The bottom line is I am saved by grace but after I am saved, I am rewarded in heaven by works done to the glory of God.

O dear people, put your gifts to work for Christ and lay up treasures in heaven and pleasures down here. All because of Calvary, sumner

Daily Smile:

One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their P.J.'s, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers thrown all about the front yard. The door to his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess.

A lamp had been knocked over, and a throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, Breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand lay piled up by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and other piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried that she might be ill, or worse!!

He found her lounging into the bedroom, still in her pajamas, reading a novel.

She smiled, looked up at him and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "you know everyday when you come home from work and ask me what in the world did I do today?"

"Yes", he replied reluctantly.

She answered, "We'll, today I didn't do it!!"