Believer rewards are not salvation itself but eternal levels of responsibility in Christ's Kingdom, granted on the basis of faithful works done in this life.
Les Feldick teaches that rewards are waiting in heaven for believers and will be enjoyed for all eternity. At the judgment seat of Christ, each believer's works will be tested by fire, and only what is built with gold, silver, and precious stones will survive and result in reward. These rewards will become responsibilities in the coming Kingdom, and believers will rule and reign with Christ according to their faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 — These verses directly describe the testing of every believer's work by fire, with reward for abiding work and loss of reward—but not loss of salvation—for burned work.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — This verse shows that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body, which is the event Les connects to reward.
Scripture shows that every believer's work will be made manifest at the day of judgment, and the fire will test what sort of work each person has built (1 Corinthians 3:13). If what he has built remains—gold, silver, precious stones—he will receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14). If his work is burned, he will suffer loss, yet he himself will be saved (1 Corinthians 3:15). Paul also tells believers, "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" (2 Corinthians 5:10). The apostle uses the picture of a race in 1 Corinthians 9:24, noting that although many run, one receives the prize, and he urges, "So run, that ye may obtain." Scripture, therefore, clearly links a future reward to the quality of a believer's works after salvation.
Les teaches that the reward believers will receive is not salvation and is not to be confused with the crowns mentioned in Scripture. Rather, rewards are what believers will receive as a result of the things they have done in the body during this earthly sojourn. He stresses that every believer has something God has given them that can be used as a gift to precipitate rewards. At the judgment seat of Christ, the Lord's penetrating eyes will test each believer's Christian record. Works built with wood, hay, and stubble will count for nothing, while gold, silver, and precious stones will survive and earn reward. Les says those rewards will be enjoyed for all eternity, and God will grant them in the form of responsibilities in the Kingdom. As we rule and reign with Christ, our level of responsibility will be based on our faithfulness here on earth. Some believers will be in glory with no reward, but there will be no envy or jealousy because there is no sin nature in glory.
Les places the reward event at the judgment seat of Christ, referencing 2 Corinthians 5. He says believers come before the Lord not to be judged for salvation and never to answer for sin, but to answer for reward. The fiery eyes of the Lord will penetrate the believer's whole Christian record, testing whether it was built with wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones. What survives the fire determines the reward given for eternity.
Les teaches that rewards are based on the believer's faithfulness and Christian walk here on earth. The one whose work abides—gold, silver, and precious stones—will receive reward, while the one whose work is burned will suffer loss of reward but be saved. Every believer has something God has given them to use as a gift, and that can precipitate rewards. The level of responsibility in ruling and reigning with Christ will be based on faithfulness.
Yes, according to both Scripture and Les's teaching. If a believer's work is wood, hay, and stubble, it will be burned, and he suffers loss—but the loss is of reward, not salvation. Les emphasizes that salvation was based on faith and is not what is being evaluated at this judgment. He also notes that in glory there will be no sin nature, so there will be no envy or jealousy from those without reward toward those who have reward.
Les teaches that rewards will be enjoyed for all eternity. By comparison, 70 or 80 years in this life is nothing. Everything done for God's glory is sent ahead and waiting, and believers will be able to cash in on these rewards when they arrive. The rewards come to their fruition primarily in the Kingdom economy.
Rewards Result from Works in the Body
Les distinguishes rewards from crowns, teaching that rewards are received based on what believers have done in the body during their earthly sojourn, and every believer has a gift that can precipitate reward.
Rewards Are Enjoyed for All Eternity
Les says rewards are laid up and waiting, to be enjoyed for all eternity; 70 or 80 years of this life is nothing by comparison, so reward should drive faithful living.
Rewards Are Piling Up
Les compares believers' works to wood, hay, stubble or gold, silver, precious stones; everything done for God's glory is sent ahead and waiting to be cashed in.
Suffering Loss of Reward but Saved
Les teaches that if a believer's work is burned, he suffers loss of reward, not salvation; in glory there will be no envy, and salvation remains based on faith.
Reward Brings Responsibility in the Kingdom
Les teaches rewards come to fruition in the Kingdom; as believers rule and reign with Christ, their level of responsibility will be based on faithfulness here.
Fire Tests Every Work
Les explains that the fire of judgment tests each believer's work; only gold, silver, and precious stones earn reward, while wood, hay, and stubble produce loss of reward but not loss of salvation.
The Judgment Seat of Christ Determines Reward
Les describes reward being determined at the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5; eternal reward is given on the basis of what survives the fiery test, taking the form of responsibilities in the Kingdom.
Rewards Are Levels of Responsibility in Reigning
Les uses the parable of the talents to show rewards are levels of responsibility in ruling and reigning with Christ; those with no lasting works will be present but will not enjoy the benefits of reward.
1 Corinthians 3:13: 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.
This verse establishes that every believer's work will be tested by fire at the day of judgment.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
This verse directly promises reward for work that survives the fire.
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This verse shows that loss of reward does not mean loss of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:10: 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 verse is the basis for the judgment seat of Christ where believers receive according to their deeds done in the body.
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 uses the race metaphor to encourage believers to pursue the reward.
No. Les teaches salvation is by faith plus nothing, but rewards are received based on works done as a believer. A believer whose work is burned suffers loss of reward, yet he himself is saved.
No. Les stresses that loss at the judgment seat is loss of reward, not salvation, because salvation was based on faith and is not what is being evaluated.
Les says rewards are eternal responsibilities given in the Kingdom. Believers will rule and reign with Christ, and their level of responsibility will be based on their faithfulness here on earth.
Yes. Les teaches that rewards will be enjoyed for all eternity, making 70 or 80 years of this life nothing by comparison.
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