Paul gave these warnings because of the tendency of the believers to drift back into sin. He is not addressing the unbelievers nor is he excusing the believers, as evidenced by the context.

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (Revelation 22:12)

The second domain of the Divine judgment has to do with rewards or punishment depending on the choices we make. Every person will be revealed one day at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There he will receive the consequences of his actions while living in the world.

The New Testament speaks of fantastic rewards to be given to those who choose to serve the Lord and dreadful punishments to be meted out to the believers who are lazy and careless.

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)

One of the deadliest of the current Evangelical teachings, along with the idea that we continue to be forgiven even though our conduct is not pleasing to God, is the concept that there are no fantastic rewards or dreadful punishments that will be assigned to the believers. The idea of no great rewards and no severe punishments is based on the concept that we are saved by a sovereign grace. If we are saved by a sovereign grace independently of our conduct, how could there be great rewards or severe punishments?

This is error heaped on error. First, we are not saved by a sovereign grace independently of our conduct. Second, the Bible speaks of great rewards and severe punishments. To say there are no great rewards or severe punishments is to deny several passages of the Scriptures.

We really are in a mess today, theologically speaking. The result of our incorrect theology is that the churches in America are in the deep freeze of an unprecedented apostasy (unprecedented for America).

If the Christian does not endure to the end he will not be saved. This is what Jesus said. Salvation always is an opportunity and our participation in the program depends directly on our response.

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (Hebrews 3:14)

He who overcomes will sit with Jesus in His throne. This is a fantastic reward. The person who did not use his talent was driven into the outer darkness. This is a dreadful punishment.

Maybe we better get back to the Bible.

To be continued.