Subject: why are there rewards in heaven |
Bible Note: Not wishing for a moment to disagree wth Seth's excellent posting. but there are just two points I would wish to raise. Firstly that when Jesus said of John the Baptist, 'Among men that are born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist but he who is least in the Kingly Rule of Heaven is greater than He', I do not see it as referring to their comparative righteouness. Indeed John the Baptist has entered Heaven through the righteousnes of Christ in the same way as we will. For Romans 3.24-25 applies to 'sins done aforetime', that is prior to Christ's coming. In my view it is referring to status. It is bringing out that Jesus was saying that what He had come to introduce was far, far more significant than all that had gone before. God's Kingly Rule had come into the world in Jesus, and thus all Who respond to Him and come under the Kingly Rule of Heaven achieve a status unknown in the Old Testament. They are adopted as 'sons of God' (Galatians 4.1-7), a term never used of God's people, certainly in this sense, in the Old Testament. They call God 'Abba Father' becaue they have received the Spirit of His Son (Galatians 4.6). They have been made one with Christ. They are 'greater', because their King is greater,and they share in His glory. And they are greater because they humble themselves as servants. Who is greatest among them? The one who is least among them (Luke 9.46, 48; 22.24-27). Secondly that when the mother of James and John spoke of their sitting on Jesus' right hand and left, what she was really asking was that they might take the positions of prime importance in what she saw as the soon coming kingdom. Like most who followed Jesus she was expecting Him soon to make the move that would drive out the Romans, establishing God's kingdom in Israel. Jesus of course sits on two thrones (made clear in Rev 3.21). One is the throne of His Father, at which in His manhood He sits at God's right hand (Heb 1.3 etc), while in His Godhood He sits in the midst of the throne (Rev 5.6). The other is His Messianic throne on which we as overcomers will sit with Him (better than being at His right hand). This was the one at which one would sit on His right hand and the other on His left, a position reserved for those whom God determines. (But does this mean that they will not sit on His throne. Of course not. They will be overcomers. This reminds us that thrones are earthly things. They magnify the one who sits on them. In Heaven we will not be seeking a throne. we will be longing to be servants along with the great Servant (Matthew 20.25-28; Mark 9.35; Luke 12.37; 17.8). Those who are looking forward to sitting on thrones have the wrong spirit. They should be looking forward to being the servants all. Heaven should not alter what our attitude should be. How sad if we enter Heaven wanting a throne. (It is quite another thing what God decides to give us). Nor does God sit on a throne except when he is making a theophany for our sake. He is Spirit. What is being indicated is that God is Lord over all. |