The greatest reward for keeping the commandments of God is to have Christ formed in us. This is the new covenant. This is how we ultimately keep the commandments of God perfectly—by having Christ formed in us.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (II Peter 1:19)

The above verse means we are to pay attention to the Old Testament Scriptures and to do what they say (excepting the covenantal statutes of the Law of Moses) until Christ is formed in us. The new covenant, which is the writing of the Word of God (Christ) in our personality, does not consist of our keeping the commandments. Rather it is true that the keeping of the commandments makes possible the forming of Christ in us. The forming of Christ in us is not the sum total of our keeping the commandments. The forming of Christ in us is a supernatural occurrence that takes place as the Holy Spirit builds Christ in us from the body and blood of Christ's Divine Nature.

But if we do not keep God's commandments, if we do not come out of the world and pray, read the Bible, gather with the saints, lead a holy life, Christ will not be formed in us. It is as straightforward as that.

As Christ begins to be formed in us we begin to keep the commandments of God by nature. Then the work of our first personality has been completed and will eventually fall away as scaffolding.

The second, Evangelical viewpoint is that there is no reward of truly eternal significance for keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

Here is a passage that clearly supports the second position.

I am writing again to you to encourage your hearts. As I told you before there is no reward for keeping the commandments of Christ. You are saved by a sovereign, unconditional grace that admits no human enterprise. If then you are saved by a sovereign, unconditional grace, set apart for you from the beginning of time, you can see, brothers, how illogical it would be for one to have a greater reward than the other. When I appear I will reward all equally. You all have been accepted in the beloved. Therefore live as you please, knowing that when our Lord appears you all will be given a mansion in which to reside forever. There are no greater and lesser in the Kingdom of God. When speaking of the greatest and least in the Kingdom our Lord was referring only to Jews who still were under the Old Testament. Whereas they had to work righteousness to attain rank in the Kingdom (which they could not do in any case because they had not been born again—you see how logical I am being) you have only to rest with the pigs in the slops. If you will but raise your hand your Father will leave home and run to you, bringing a bottle of wine for your stomach's sake. Remember, God blesses those who do nothing at all but believe that Jesus is Lord and Christ. If you continue to have faith alone (James was an unconverted Jew and was biased!) your reward will be greater than that of Abraham and Daniel. (Passivity 10:1-8)

To be continued.