The incentive is reward at the bema seat of Christ — not salvation, which is already secure.
Scripture says every believer will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what he has done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Les Feldick repeatedly teaches that salvation is by faith plus nothing, but after salvation God expects believers to work and serve for reward. This reward is the incentive that drives a believer to live a fruitful, pleasing life.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 — This is the key passage Les cites directly, showing that believers labor to be accepted of Him and will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ for reward.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 — Paul describes believer's works being tested by fire, with reward promised for work that abides.
The Apostle Paul directly connects a believer's labor with the coming judgment seat. In 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (KJV), he writes: "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." The passage identifies the judgment seat of Christ as an event for every believer, where the deeds done in the body are evaluated. Paul uses a building metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (KJV): "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." Here Scripture explicitly promises a reward for work that survives the test. Ephesians 1:12 adds that believers were redeemed "That we should be to the praise of his glory" — connecting redemption with a life that glorifies God. And in 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul pictures the Christian life as a race: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." These passages together show that Scripture holds out reward as the motivation for faithful service.
Les Feldick teaches that the incentive for believers to be pleasing in God's sight is reward at the bema seat of Christ. He stresses that salvation is never earned — "it's all of grace by faith plus nothing" — but once a person is saved, God expects him or her to work for reward (Clip 7). In 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, Les explains that believers labor "that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him, not for salvation, but for reward" (Clip 2). Les grounds this in the bema seat, the judges' seat at the Olympic Games. "The bema seat was the seat of rewards," he says, and at the judgment seat of Christ every believer will be "examined on what he has done with his life as a believer for reward." It is not a great white throne judgment and not a judgment for sin, because sin is under the blood (Clip 3). Les repeatedly uses the analogy of believers sending rewards ahead to heaven. "Everything you do for God's glory you're sending ahead," he says — rewards are "piling up" and will be enjoyed for all eternity (Clips 1, 4). The whole concept, he explains, is to work, serve, and live for God's glory because there is a reward waiting (Clip 5). He frames believers as "His little worker bees" who are to bring honor and glory to His name (Clip 7).
Les explains that the "judgment seat of Christ" in 2 Corinthians 5:10 is the Greek "bema seat," the same seat used at the Olympic Games where judges rewarded athletes according to their performance (Clips 2, 3). He is careful to distinguish it from the great white throne judgment (Clip 3). At the bema seat, every believer will appear before Christ to receive for what he or she has done in the body, whether good or bad — a matter of reward, not salvation (Clips 2, 3).
No. Les is emphatic that "you work absolutely not at all for salvation. It's all of grace by faith plus nothing" (Clip 7). Salvation was completed at the moment of belief; the question is whether a child of God will then live in a way that pleases Him. The bema seat is never about salvation being put in the balances — it is about reward (Clips 2, 5).
Les says that the anticipation of reward "is what's to drive the believer to live a fruitful life" (Clip 1). He compares believers to Olympic athletes who train and strive to win (Clips 1, 7). He also speaks of wood, hay, and stubble versus gold, silver, and precious stones: worthless works will count for nothing, while valuable works will earn reward (Clip 4). Believers are to work for God's glory because the reward is being laid up for all eternity (Clip 1).
Paul's Longing to Be with the Lord
Les describes Paul's suffering and his longing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, setting the emotional and spiritual context for laboring to please Christ.
Reward as the Driving Motivation
Les teaches that the expectation of reward is what should drive believers to live fruitful lives, and he compares it to athletes who strive to win.
Laboring to Be Accepted of Him
Les explains that believers labor to be accepted of Him not for salvation but for reward, citing 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 and identifying the judgment seat as the bema seat.
The Bema Seat as the Seat of Rewards
Les connects the bema seat to the Olympic Games and teaches that it is not a great white throne judgment or a judgment for sin, but the place where believers are examined for reward.
Wood, Hay, Stubble vs. Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
Les uses Paul's imagery to show that worthless works count for nothing and valuable works bring reward, motivating believers to serve for glory because rewards are piling up.
Laboring for Reward, Not for Salvation
Les urges believers to labor and work for reward, making clear that salvation cannot be earned but rewards are gained through service.
Saved to Be to the Praise of His Glory
Les teaches that believers are not saved just to escape hell but to bring praise and glory to God in this life, which is the purpose behind pleasing Him.
Work for Reward After Grace Salvation
Les contrasts salvation by grace with the expectation that believers then work for reward, bringing honor and glory to God's name, and points to 1 Corinthians 9:24.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10: Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
This is the central passage Les uses to show that believers labor for acceptance and will appear before the judgment seat for reward.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Paul's building metaphor shows that believers' works will be tested and that reward is given for work that endures.
Ephesians 1:12: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Les uses this verse to teach that believers are redeemed in order to bring praise and glory to God in this life.
1 Corinthians 9:24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Paul's race analogy is cited by Les to encourage believers to strive for the reward.
No. Les Feldick teaches that salvation is all of grace, by faith plus nothing. Once a believer enters into that salvation, God expects him or her to work for reward, but the works never earn salvation itself.
No. Les says the bema seat is the seat of rewards in the Olympic Games, and at the judgment seat of Christ every believer will be examined for reward. It is not a great white throne judgment and not a judgment for sin.
According to 1 Corinthians 3:15, the believer himself will be saved, yet so as by fire. Les says such works count for nothing and bring no reward, but salvation remains secure.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?