Yes, after salvation believers are to work for reward, not to earn salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is by faith plus nothing, but once saved, God expects believers to work for reward. This work enhances God's kingdom, brings honor and glory to His name, and results in rewards that will be enjoyed for eternity. The purpose is to further God's work among the human race and to gain reward.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 — This passage illustrates that believers' works will be tested by fire, and while wood, hay, and stubble will be burned, gold, silver, and precious stones will bring reward.
Scripture clearly distinguishes salvation from works. Salvation is by grace through faith, plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, after salvation, believers are to perform good works that God has prepared for them (Ephesians 2:10). Paul uses the analogy of an athlete training for a prize to illustrate the believer's labor for reward (1 Corinthians 9:24). Furthermore, the judgment seat of Christ (Bema) is where believers' works will be evaluated. If any man's work abides, he shall receive a reward; if it is burned, he suffers loss, but not loss of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). Thus, works done after salvation are for reward, not for salvation.
Les Feldick emphasizes that while salvation is entirely by grace through faith, God expects believers to work for reward. He uses the analogy of 'little worker bees' to describe believers' role in enhancing God's work and bringing glory to His name. The motivation for such labor is the reward laid up for eternity, which should drive believers to live fruitful lives. Les also clarifies that these works are not to earn salvation but are a response to it. He teaches that even small opportunities, like a brief word or a question that prompts someone to think, can have lasting effects in furthering the gospel. Ultimately, believers' work should be motivated by a desire for God's glory, not personal ego, and will be rewarded according to its quality at the Bema Seat.
Absolutely. Les Feldick states, 'You work absolutely not at all for salvation. It's all of grace by faith plus nothing. But once we've entered in to that glorious salvation experience, then God expects us to work for reward.' He further explains that rewards are laid up for believers and will be enjoyed for all eternity. Works cannot be added to salvation, but after salvation, they are essential for reward.
The motivation is twofold: to further God's work among the human race and to gain reward. Les teaches that believers should work to enhance God's work and bring honor and glory to His name. He also emphasizes the reward waiting in eternity: 'Those rewards are going to be enjoyed for all eternity.' This future reward should drive believers to live fruitful lives.
Les emphasizes that even small opportunities matter. He gives an example of someone who would raise questions with people, urging them to think. One pastor later returned and said those questions caused him to search the Scripture. Such small comments can have lasting effects because 'eternity is forever.' Thus, even brief encounters can further the gospel and contribute to the work.
What Happens When We Die? — 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Explained
entity for the eternal. Alright, we've got a couple of minutes, let's come back again to II Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 6, "...therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body..." In other words, while we're alive and on the planet, while we're at home in the body, we are absent, that is bodily, from the Lord. I mean we can't be in both places.
Work for Reward, Not Salvation
Les teaches that believers are saved by grace alone but are expected to work for reward, enhancing God's work and bringing glory to His name.
Rewards Drive Fruitful Living
Les explains that rewards laid up for eternity motivate believers to live fruitful lives, using the analogy of Olympic athletes striving for a prize.
Work to Further God's Work
Les encourages believers not to become lazy after salvation but to work to further God's work among humanity and to gain reward.
Labor for Reward
Les reinforces that believers should labor and serve for reward, not salvation, and that being active is preferable to sitting on the sideline.
Romans 5:1-2 Explained — Peace With God Through Faith Alone
Keep your money. God can't use it anyway. And any of these things that you do in the energy of the flesh, that's why I've said so often, baptism. That's something that you can say and go to a pastor, if one won't do it, another one will, and you can say, hey, I want to be baptized and join the church. They'll do it. But what is it? It's a work. It's something that you have decided to do.
Rewards Pile Up in Heaven
Les teaches that everything done for God's glory is sent ahead, piling up as rewards to be enjoyed in eternity.
Distinction Between Salvation and Works
Les explains that at the judgment seat of Christ, works will be evaluated; loss is of reward, not salvation, clearly separating salvation from works.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15: 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.
This verse shows that even if a believer's works are burned, salvation is still secure; only reward is lost.
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 analogy to encourage believers to strive for the prize of reward.
2 Corinthians 5:9: Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
This verse indicates that believers labor to be acceptable to the Lord, relating to faithful service.
Believers work for rewards, not salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. After salvation, God expects believers to work for reward, which will be enjoyed for eternity.
Works done with the right motivation, aiming for God's glory, are like gold, silver, and precious stones. Those done for ego or self-interest are like wood, hay, and stubble, which will be burned.
No. Even if a believer's works are burned, they will be saved, yet so as by fire. Loss is of reward, not of salvation.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When We Die? — 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Explained