The idea of this verse is that each individual will be rewarded specifically in terms of his work.

Because Jesus declared (John 6:29) that the work of God is that we believe in the One whom God sent, are we to maintain, therefore, that all that is required of us is that we believe that Jesus is Christ?—that the Christian work is only to believe in the Divinity and claims of Jesus? Such a conclusion could be reached from scattered verses but it is in opposition to the greater part of the writings of the Apostles. It is to remove John 6:29 from its context and ignore the bulk of the admonitions of the New Testament. It is the practice of cultists, not of saints, to seize on a few verses and from them develop a body of faith and practice.

The abominable, the sorcerers, the immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and the liars are not allowed into the new Jerusalem (Revelation 22:15). Can a liar enter the new Jerusalem by believing in Christ? Can he gain the right to the tree of life apart from performing the commandments of God (Revelation 22:14)?

Contemporary Christian teaching answers, "Emphatically, yes!" The Scriptures thunder, "Never!"

"But what about the thief on the cross," those who want an excuse to sin may ask.

We know nothing about the thief on the cross except that Christ promised him he would be with the Lord in Paradise (not in the Kingdom of God) that day. We do not know what events had brought him to that point; what covenants he had made in his heart with God; what crying out and repenting he had done.

(The disobedient Saul and his sons went to be with the Prophet Samuel in the regions of the dead—I Samuel 28:19.)

We do know that numerous "believers," desiring to worship Satan throughout their lifetime and then "receive Christ" in a deathbed conversion, have comforted themselves and others with the story of the thief on the cross, not understanding what Jesus meant by His statement that the thief would be with Him in Paradise. All such will receive their due reward.

The Holy Spirit does not intend that Christ's goodness to the thief on the cross be used to cancel the warnings of the New Testament.

The doctrine that the Christian redemption primarily is a covering with Christ's righteousness is expanded to include the idea that once we are "saved" we cannot be lost because God no longer sees what we are or what we do. We are saved by "grace" and our works have nothing to do with it.

There are many passages that invalidate this concept:

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (II Peter 2:20,21)

Sometimes it is taught that such individuals never were truly "saved." This argument is weak.

The Scripture states they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Christ. They have known the way of righteousness. Obviously this is referring to true Christians.

To be continued.