Christians work for rewards because every believer will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ to be rewarded for lasting works—not to gain or keep salvation.
Les Feldick makes clear that salvation is by faith plus nothing, but after salvation God expects His people to work for reward. At the judgment seat of Christ, works built of gold, silver, and precious stone will survive the fire and bring reward, while wood, hay, and stubble will burn. These rewards are responsibilities in the coming Kingdom and will be enjoyed for eternity.
1 Corinthians 3:14 — Directly states that a believer whose work endures will receive a reward at the judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — Shows that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive for what they have done in the body.
The Bible plainly teaches that believers will appear before a judgment seat where their deeds will be reviewed. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, '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 building passage in 1 Corinthians 3 describes the works themselves: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. The fire of 'that day' will test every man's work. Verse 14 promises, 'If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.' Paul also compares the Christian life to a race, noting that runners strive for a corruptible crown while believers seek an incorruptible one (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
Les Feldick emphasizes that Christians do not work for salvation in any sense. As he states it, salvation is 'all of grace by faith plus nothing' (Clip 1). But once a person is saved, God expects him or her to work for reward. That reward is what drives a believer to a fruitful, serving life, and it will be enjoyed for all eternity (Clip 2). At the Bema Seat—Christ's judgment seat described in 2 Corinthians 5—Les says believers will never answer for sin, because sin is already under the blood. Instead, Christ's 'fiery eyes' will look at the believer's whole Christian record: what was built with gold, silver, and precious stone, or with wood, hay, and stubble. Only the lasting elements will survive, and on that basis God will give reward. Les sees those rewards as responsibilities in Christ's coming Kingdom—the level of our rule and reign with Him will be based on faithfulness here (Clips 3-4). Les repeatedly urges believers to 'labor, to work, to serve for the reward' (Clip 5). He compares it to sending treasure ahead; everything done for God's glory is piled up and waiting. He also uses athletic and football analogies—it is far better to be in the game than on the sidelines. The whole concept is that rewards are real, but they must never be confused with salvation (Clips 6-7).
The Bema Seat, referred to in 2 Corinthians 5, is not a trial for sin. As Les explains, believers will appear before Christ to answer for what they did as believers—specifically for reward. It is distinct from the Great White Throne, which is for the lost only. Christ's fiery eyes will penetrate the believer's entire Christian record and test what he or she built with.
Les uses Paul's illustration of building materials: gold, silver, and precious stone versus wood, hay, and stubble. Only the materials that stand the fire will bring reward. These represent works done for God's glory—fruitful service, not things done to earn salvation. The fire of the Bema will determine which works remain.
No. Les is emphatic: 'You don't work one ounce for salvation.' Salvation is a gift of God by faith plus nothing. But after salvation, God expects His people to work, serve, and do everything to His glory, with the reward being a separate and additional outcome. The work is never the basis for salvation, only for reward.
Les teaches that the rewards will come to their fruition in the Kingdom economy. When Christ rules as King of kings and Lord of lords, believers will rule and reign with Him. Our level of responsibility will be based on our faithfulness here on earth. The rewards are not just trinkets; they are positions of service and responsibility in the Kingdom.
Bema Seat vs Great White Throne
Les clarifies that the Bema Seat is for believers only; the Great White Throne is for the lost. This lays the foundation for why believers appear before Christ for rewards, not for sin.
No Works for Salvation
Les states plainly that we work zero for salvation; after salvation God expects us to work for reward, to enhance His work and bring glory to His name.
Reward Drives Fruitful Life
Les connects works to reward and says the reward is what drives a believer to a fruitful life; he points to Paul's Olympic athlete analogy.
Fiery Eyes Test Works
Les describes Christ's fiery eyes testing our works—gold, silver, and precious stone survive; rewards are responsibilities in the Kingdom.
Rewards in the Kingdom Economy
Les says rewards are biblical and will be realized in the Kingdom economy, where our level of responsibility ruling with Christ is based on faithfulness here.
Labor for Reward
Les encourages believers to labor, work, and serve for reward, not for salvation, using the preference for active participation rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Rewards Piling Up
Les says we are saved by faith plus nothing, but we immediately begin to work and serve to God's glory because the reward is piling up and will be enjoyed for eternity.
Better to Be in the Game
Les uses the quarterback analogy to show that active involvement in the Kingdom is preferable; rewards are part of the excitement, and you don't work one ounce for salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Lists the two types of building materials that Paul says will be tested at the judgment.
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.
Explains that the fire of the day will reveal what kind of work each believer produced.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Promises that a believer whose work survives the fire will receive a reward.
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.
Shows that even if a believer's works are burned, he is still saved—rewards are separate from 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.
States that all believers must appear before Christ's judgment seat to receive according to what they have done.
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.
Compares the Christian life to a race with a prize to be won.
1 Corinthians 9:25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Contrasts a corruptible crown with the believer's incorruptible crown.
No. Les teaches that sin is already under the blood and believers will never answer for sin at the judgment seat of Christ. The Bema Seat is exclusively for evaluating a believer's works and granting reward (Clip 3).
No. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. Les is emphatic that believers do not work one ounce for salvation; we work for rewards after we are saved (Clip 1).
Les teaches that rewards will be responsibilities in Christ's Kingdom. When Christ rules and reigns, believers will rule with Him, and the level of responsibility will be based on faithfulness here on earth (Clip 4).
Paul uses the Olympic athletes to show that they strove for a corruptible crown, but believers run for an incorruptible one. The training and striving represent the believer's work and service, which will be rewarded at the Bema Seat (Clip 2; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
Watch the Teaching: Will Your Works Burn? The Judgment Seat of Christ