There is a difference between individual rewards for believers and those things bestowed to all believers; the "overcomers":

1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Promises to the Overcomer

Revelation 2:7 - "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God"

 

Revelation 2:11 - "He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death"

 

Revelation 2:17 - "To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it"

 

Revelation 2:26-28 - "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'- as I also have received from My Father and I will give him the morning star"

 

Revelation 3:5 - "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels"

 

Revelation 3:12 - "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name"

 

Revelation 3:21 - " To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne"

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Rewards for works done by the individual believer:

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

At the Bema Seat Judgment our works will be put through a refining fire:

1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

The passage above shows that Christ has laid the foundation for our crowns. Our good works that survive the fire will be our rewards, that will adorn our crowns with "gold, silver" and "precious stones". The following verses describe the specific works these crowns are rewarded for:

The Crown of Life - Reward for faithfulness, even unto death:

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The Incorruptible Crown - Reward for living set apart for the Lord and from the world:

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ... Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

The Crown of Rejoicing - Reward for sharing the Gospel that leads to others accepting Christ:

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

The Crown of Glory - Reward for leading and ministering to other believers:

1 Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

The Crown of Righteousness - Reward for those who have devotion to watching, as they fervently anticipate the return of Jesus:

2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Another purpose of the refining fire, will be to become a purified Bride for Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:1-2 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly-and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ

The works that are left from the refining fire will become our wedding garments and awards:

Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'"

http://www.trackingbibleprophecy.org/rapture2.php#bema

 

Note that the refining fire of our works is NEVER referred to as the "second death" when referring to believers, as was suggested in an article posted the other day. 

 

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I believe that God shows us things through patterns on Earth, such as in the parent-child relationship.   God even calls us "sons":

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

While in the flesh we will still sin, disobeying God:

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

As "sons" God deals with this disobedience with chastening, or correction as a parent would.  If a professed "Christian" is not being chastised for continued disobedience, then they are not really saved:

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Somethings are bestowed upon children as rewards for doing good (like the crowns for the believer), but in many cases some thing come as being part of the family (like the promises for the overcomer). 

 

For example, if my son were to clean his toys when I tell him to, he would be given praise.  If my son doesn't clean up his toys, he would be punished.  But as my son, regardless of what he does or doesn't do, I will provide housing, clothing, food, and the necessities.  But beyond that, my son is given birthday gifts, goes on family outings, etc. 

 

Someday (assuming the rapture won't happen first) him and his brother will inherit what is left from their father and I after we die.  These things come are/will be given to him because he is my son, not because of anything that he did.  Other things my son receives because of what he does or doesn't do.  However, the opportunities and abilities to do these things ultimately they come from God. 

 

Personally, I've tried to do "works" on my own and failed miserably.  Those "works" will burn up in the refining fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  After learning the hard way, I've come to rest in the power through the Holy Spirit, to be strenthened and accomplish the works He has made for me to do:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

 

Maranatha!

Amy Van Gerpen