Rewards and Punishments

Dr. R.C. Sproul writes: “God graciously saves us on the grounds of Christ’s righteousness, and also, in His grace, gives in heaven extra rewards to those who are obedient and diligent in serving Christ. We are given incentives to work for that reward, to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.” Scripture amply testifies to this. For instance, Revelation 20:11–15 tells us that while God rewards our works, our eternal life is based not on our deeds recorded in the books of works opened at the final judgment but on whether our names have been written in the Book of Life.

Today’s passage is one of many that speak of rewards based on works that are given to those who have eternal life through God’s unconditional election to salvation and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Note that in the parable of the talents, the first two people who put to work the talents they received from their master receive a return on their investment and then are granted additional rewards. They are “set . . . over much.” The servant who does nothing with his talent, however, earns no return and is cast into the outer darkness (Matt. 25:14–30). Francis Turretin, the great Reformed Scholastic theologian, notes that the truths about these rewards “could not be said unless there was granted a diversity of reward corresponding in a certain proportion to the disparity of labor.” First Corinthians 3:10–15 confirms that our works will be rewarded. Some Christians will have contributed to the building of the kingdom well (“with gold, silver, precious stones”), and others will not have contributed so well (“with . . . wood, hay, straw”). Fire will be the test, with only the former group receiving an extra reward, though both groups get eternal life.

While Scripture talks about rewards and degrees of rewards, it does not give much detail about what those rewards will look like. We just know that those who are more obedient will receive a greater reward, though even this will be by grace. None of us could obey and use our skills for the kingdom unless God granted us obedience and even the skills themselves (4:7).

Moreover, Scripture also tells us that there will be degrees of punishment for the reprobate (Luke 12:35–48). Again, God’s Word does not explain in detail what this means, but as we will see in our next study, it does indicate that some sins are worse than others and will receive a more severe judgment.