Blessed assurance?

Growing up, I was never taught that Christians could be confident about our salvation.

We sang about “Blessed Assurance,” but we were actually taught a sort of stoic agnosticism about our eternal prospects. Well, I hope I’ve done enough, was not an uncommon refrain, especially among the aged, as impending mortality loomed closer.

What was absolutely affirmed among us could be summed up in this simple statement: You are never eternally secure, until you are securely in eternity.

If you were to ask somebody if they were saved, you would be likely to get an answer like this: Well, I believe so, and I sure hope so. But of course, we won’t really know until we get there.

Almost like it was mighty presumptuous for anyone to say they were sure of their salvation.

Judgment Day was held over us as a day that would be fraught with unpleasant surprises—even for believers!

We were taught 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.

That’s what was impressed upon us: Judgement would finally be based on your behavior. Were you good enough? Heaven or hell would come down to your efforts.

And many Christians, we were told, would go into Judgment Day thinking they were saved, until Christ pulled the trap door to hell out from under them:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:22-23 KJV

If even prophets, demon-slayers, and wonder-workers might still end up in hell … how would a weak, sinful fellow like me ever hope to make it?

But all of this seems a far cry from how scripture in other places actually encourages believers to think about Christ’s return and final judgment.

Christians are told to long for that day, and hope that it will come quickly (2 Peter 3:12).

And we are told that we can indeed look forward to it with confidence, not anxiety. For example, St. Paul tells the Philippians:

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 CSB

Paul didn’t tell the Philippians that because they were a special sort of super-holy Christians. God preserved this promise for all believers in every generation, so that we too could live with confidence and hope—even in the midst of our struggles and shortcomings in this life.

So we’re going to come back to 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Matthew 7:22-23 at the end.

But first I want to share some truths from scripture with you that should help you see that Christians have nothing to fear from final judgment.

And preachers who are holding that threat of condemnation on Judgment Day over the heads of believers; need to understand that fear of punishment doesn’t transform us. It’s the kindness of God—not the threat of judgment—that leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Scripture paints a very different picture of what final judgment is like for believers and unbelievers. Like Johnny Cash sang: Everybody won’t be treated all the same. We need to pay close attention, because believers have every reason for confidence and hope as we face our future.

Romans 8:1 and John 3:18: No condemnation for believers

One of the sweetest Gospel promises in all of scripture is found in Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭CSB‬‬).

Let’s consider this phrase in Christ, because it’s St. Paul’s favorite phrase to describe believers. He uses it over 150 times in his letters.

You may be familiar with Paul’s phrase baptized into Christ, and his teaching that those who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians‬ ‭3:27‬ ‭ESV‬‬, emphasis added). There, he’s speaking about what God does to the believer in baptism. God puts the believer into Christ.

A believer is so closely joined to Christ that they are in a sense wearing him. His own perfect righteousness and holiness covers us. As St. Paul will say elsewhere: your life is hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3 ESV).

It is this perfect union with Christ—which is ours by grace through faith—that defines the Christian’s standing before God.

Consider how St. Paul describes our salvation in Ephesians 1. God the Father has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (1:3). He chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world (1:4). In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, and the forgiveness of our trespasses (1:7). And: In him [Christ], when we believed, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it (1:13-14). That last one is essential for our security, because it means the Holy Spirit secures us for future salvation.

All of that—and more!—is what we have received in Christ. John Stott observed that when Paul spoke of believers being in Christ, he meant that:

they know Jesus Christ, and that he is a living reality to them. They dwell in him and he dwells in them. He is the source of their life … To be “in Christ” does not mean to be inside Christ, as tools are in a box or our clothes in a closet, but to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree.

“Address After National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C.,” 1983

But to sum up—from Ephesians 1, we’ve learned that to be in Christ means to be 1) blessed with every spiritual blessing (spiritual in scripture means its source and power is the Holy Spirit); 2) chosen by God the Father from before creation; 3) redeemed and 4) forgiven our trespasses through the blood of Christ; and 5) sealed by the Holy Spirit for eternal life.

Given all that, and understanding how perfectly believers are united to Christ, it should come as no wonder that St. Paul would say: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

He doesn’t say there’s less condemnation—he says there’s no condemnation. None at all.

And he also doesn’t say: There will be no condemnation when you finally get your act together. He says: There is now no condemnation. As soon as you are in Christ, the threat of condemnation is over.

And don’t forget that therefore. Therefore—because of everything Paul has described beginning at Romans 3:24–there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The basis of there being no condemnation for those in Christ is solely what God has done on our behalf through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

For example, all who believe are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood (Romans 3:24-25 ESV). We are justified —declared righteous by God—on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which satisfies God’s righteousness anger at our sin.

Romans 4:25 tells us that Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (ESV) And when we believe that this is true, and true in our case, God credits our faith to us as righteousness.

Romans 5:10 says: For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (ESV) Saved by his life is a reference to Christ’s perfect righteousness, which covers the believer’s life (again, cf. Galatians 3:27; Colossians 3:3).

I don’t know how to make this any clearer: All of our sins, past, present, and future, have been atoned by Christ. This perfect atonement is ours by grace through faith. And this is why there can be and must be no condemnation for those in Christ.

Not now, and not at Judgment Day. John 3:18 should also make this abundantly clear:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

ESV

Whoever does not believe in Christ is already condemned—by default—because there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 ESV). But whoever believes in Christ is not condemned.

We’ll see how this applies to final judgment more in depth as we consider our next passage: John 5:24-29.

John 5:24-29: Whoever believes does not come into judgment

John 5:24 is one of those passages that I’m amazed doesn’t get preached more often, because it should take away all fear of Judgment Day from every believer.

In this verse, Jesus says:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

ESV

Read that through carefully, several times.

What did Christ Himself say?

That: 1) whoever hears His words, and 2) believes He really has been sent by the Father for their salvation; 3) will not come into judgment—that person will not be under scrutiny at the final judgment—but, 4) has already passed from death to life.

And His words in the verses that follow confirm this:

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:25-29 ESV

Christ says that when He returns, He will call all of those who have died from their tombs.

Those who have done good, He says, will be raised to eternal life. These are the believers He spoke of in v24, who believed in Him. They will not come into judgment, but have passed from death to life. That phrase they will not come into judgment in v24 is telling. That means they will not even have to enter the courtroom as defendants. Their trial is over, and they’ve been absolved for Christ’s sake.

Those who have done evil are those who reject the Gospel and remain hardened in their disbelief. Remember what Christ said in John 3:18? They stand condemned because of their unbelief. And in John 5:29, He says they will be be raised to the resurrection of judgment. They will come into judgment. And they will be condemned.

How does this work?

Believer, here’s something you need to understand. It’s essential.

Your Judgment Day already took place on Good Friday, almost 2000 years ago. That’s when God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:3-4 ESV).

Believer, your Judgment Day took place one Friday on a cross, 2000 years ago.

The judgment for your sin—all your sin—was executed upon Christ in your place. As it is written: the righteous one, my servant, [shall] make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah‬ ‭53:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

You were already judged at the cross. When Jesus died saying: It is finished (John 19:30), He meant, among other things, that the full judgment for your sin had been exhausted, and God’s perfect justice had been satisfied.

When you are in Christ, there’s no condemnation, because Christ already suffered your condemnation.

Based on what we have seen so far, I am prepared to make what for many will be a bold claim: Believers will not have to face the Judgment when Christ returns. Only unbelievers will be judged.

All that remains is to test this claim against the picture we are given of final judgment elsewhere in scripture.

And the place we find the most comprehensive description of what will happen that day is Revelation 20.

That’s where we’ll be going next.

Revelation 20: Judgment at the Great White Throne

Revelation 20:11-15 presents us with a detailed description of final judgment. Here’s the vivid picture John paints for us:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

ESV

On first glance, it may look as though everyone who has ever lived will be judged by their works.

But look again. Read closely. There’s one set of books that records the deeds of those being judged.

But there’s another book John mentions: the book of life.

This book of life is mentioned elsewhere in Revelation. Revelation 13:8 calls it the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. That’s Christ, of course. The names in that book are of those who have faith in Him. And both Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 mention that these names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world.

Moreover, both Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 state that everyone whose name is not in the Lamb’s book of life are those who worship the Beast. In other words—those who reject Christ and His gospel.

So what you are actually seeing described in Revelation 20:11-15 is two different categories of people who are being judged by two very different standards.

Those whose names are written in the book of Life are already justified. They are declared righteous by God by grace through faith. Not on the merits of their own works, but on the basis of Christ’s finished work: And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans‬ ‭4:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬). They are in Christ. Therefore, as we have already seen, there is now no condemnation for them. They will not come into judgment, but have passed from death to life (Romans 8:1; John 5:24).

(I could say even more in support of this, but this post is already longer than I intended. If you want to see more evidence, I invite you to check Revelation 20:4-6 against Ephesians 2:1-10. Those who have undergone the first resurrection, who now reign with Christ, and will not be hurt by the second death are all believers. We were once dead in our sin, but God raised us up with Christ, and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places. I believe this is also what Christ was referring when He said believers will not enter into judgment but have already passed out of death into life.)

So the verdict is already announced for those in Christ, whose are named in the Lamb’s book of life: No condemnation (Romans 8:1).

On the other hand, those being judged according to their deeds are the unbelievers, who are not named in the Lamb’s book of life.

They will be judged by the standard of God’s Law. And as St. Paul reminds us: by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬) The Law will only condemn them. They will be cast into the lake of fire.

Again, like Johnny Cash sang: Everybody won’t be treated all the same. Those who are in Christ through faith are enrolled in His book of life. They have already been justified in God’s sight. They will not come into judgment. Their faith will be vindicated.

But those outside of Christ—the unbelievers, whose names are not found in the book of life—they will be judged according to their deeds; again, as Johnny Cash sang: in measured hundredweight and penny pound. That is, strictly and exactly, according to God’s Law.

Final judgment according to works is reserved for unbelievers. Believers are already justified solely on the basis of Christ’s work—by grace, through faith.

But what about … ? 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Matthew 7:22-23 again

2 Corinthians 5:10 would seem to be the one passage that would refute everything I’ve just argued about what Revelation 20 reveals concerning final judgment.

For there we read:

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.

KJV

But of course, we must not base our doctrines—especially one so essential as final judgment—on single verses read in isolation. This is called biblicism, and it’s been at the root of every heresy.

We know that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We know that we stand justified before God on the basis of Christ’s finished work (Isaiah 53:11). In other words, we cannot add to or take away from what Christ has accomplished by our works. His perfect righteousness in life and full atonement in death are the sole basis for our standing before God.

Moreover, we have seen that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1). And we have heard Christ say that those who believe in Him will not come into judgment, but have already passed from death to life (John 5:24).

And based on all of these facts, we have seen that, indeed, those in Christ are enrolled in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20:12; cf. 13:8; 17:8). This is a record of believers. But unbelievers are judged according to their deeds, and they are condemned (Revelation 20:15). All of this accords with what we read in John 5:25-29, where some are called from their graves to the resurrection of life, while others are called to the resurrection of judgment.

It seems abundantly clear that we have a pretty consistent picture of two distinct categories at the final judgment:

• Those whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life. They do not come into judgment, for their final verdict has been rendered: In Christ—no condemnation. They receive eternal life through faith, on the basis of Christ’s work.
• Those whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life. They are judged according to their deeds.

So what do we do with 2 Corinthians 5:10? How about we move on to the next verse. It begins: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (KJV).

What is Paul’s point? That final judgment is coming, and it is a terrifying thought to be outside of Christ when it does. That’s a key motivation for Paul and his fellow apostles’ evangelism: to persuade others to come to Christ, so that they don’t face that terrible reality.

And that idea is what really forms the basis for the rest of the chapter. Paul will go on to say: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

And what does Paul say about those who believe the gospel, and are joined to Christ and reconciled to God through faith? He says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

He is a new creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬) His life is hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3). When God looks upon the believer, He sees the perfect righteousness of Christ. The old has passed away—the believer has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). Behold, the new has come—the believer has been made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). He has passed from death to life (John 5:24). He will not come into judgment, because there is no condemnation for those in Christ (John 5:24; Romans 8:1). He is sealed by the Holy Spirit for his future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), which is in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).

None of this is true for unbelievers. Before the great white throne of Christ, they stand condemned, because their names are not found in His book. They have only their deeds as a witness, and their deeds will testify against them. As St. Paul tells us, their conscience will bear witness to the Law of God written on their hearts, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus (Romans‬ ‭2:15-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬). Because their names are not in the book of life, they will be judged solely according to their deeds, and will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

It’s easy to see how the evil deeds of unbelievers will be punished at the final judgment. It’s more difficult to imagine how the good deeds of believers will be rewarded, when we know that we’re saved by grace through faith, on the basis of Christ’s obedience. We’ll come back to that idea later.

The thing to recognize now is that when read in context, and in concert with many other passages, 2 Corinthians 5:10 is not teaching that believers will be judged according to the merit of our own works. That would contradict both the Gospel that Paul preached, and other teachings of scripture we have carefully observed in this study.

Well, what about Matthew 7:22-23? In this passage, Jesus tells us that:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

KJV

Let’s start near the end. What’s decisive here is when Christ says: I never knew you.

Now, this is Christ, who says elsewhere that He is the good shepherd who calls all His sheep by name, because He knows them (John 10:3, 14). Likewise, St. Paul tells us elsewhere that: The Lord knows those who are his (2 Timothy 2:19).

So if Christ is telling them: I never knew you, that can only mean they never belonged to Him in the first place. Their names were never written in His book of life.

They were never in Christ. They’re unbelievers. And so—they are being judged according to their deeds. And they are attempting to justify themselves before God by their own works: have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

This is the opposite of salvation by grace through faith, isn’t it? Even before the great white throne, they are trying to argue that they are owed salvation because of what they did.

They never believed the Gospel. This is where folks get hung up, I think. Because they say: Well, obviously these people were Christians, because they were preaching and casting out demons.

Not so fast. Just because they were members of the visible church on earth doesn’t mean they were ever actually saved.

Jesus Himself tells us there will be false converts and false prophets (Matthew 7:15; 13:24-30). And some of these false prophets, He warns, will perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew‬ ‭24:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬) In other words, there will be false believers who are able to put on a convincing show, while never actually having saving faith.

Even Christ’s little flock during His earthly ministry had a false convert: Judas Iscariot.

When Christ sent His disciples out to preach and cast out demons, it’s not like Judas was not a part of that. He was there with the rest, by all appearances an integral part of the ministry team.

Judas did not start out a true believer, only to become cynical and lose faith and eventually betray Christ. That’s the way he’s sometimes portrayed, but it’s not how the Bible presents him.

Long before his deeds exposed his unbelieving heart, Jesus told His apostles: Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John‬ ‭6:70‬ ‭KJV‬‬) Judas was wicked and unbelieving the whole time. His name was never written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Now, of course, Judas is an extreme example. My point is that you can have someone who, by every appearance, is a true believer, a busy church member—they might even be in church leadership, a preacher or an elder—but they’ve never actually had saving faith.

These are who Christ is talking about in Matthew 7:22-23. They’re not being judged for underperforming, or for brazen sins. On the outside they appeared holy and pious and eager for good works. But they’re lacking the one thing necessary for eternal life, and that’s faith.

That’s why Christ will tell them: I never knew you.

Interestingly enough, you can actually confirm this by what Jesus said in v21:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

KJV

Now, at first glance, this would seem to support the idea of judgment according to works: only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.

But we need to pause and consider what it means to do the Father’s will.

In John 6:28-29, a crowd asked Jesus: What must we do, to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (ESV)

Think about this in light of what we’re told in Hebrews 11:6: without faith it is impossible to please [God].

Faith in Christ is God’s chosen means to receive salvation. Like the roots of a tree, faith soaks up the saving benefits of Christ’s work.

Any works we do apart from faith in Christ are tainted by sin. Scripture tells us that: We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬). Outside of Christ even our best deeds are so polluted by selfish motives and self-righteousness that God regards them as offensive. Likewise, St. Paul tells us that whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23 ESV).

Those who stand before Christ at Judgment Day pleading their own works have refused salvation by grace through faith. Unbelief is, ultimately, the sin that makes the difference between eternal life and eternal judgment. Because whatever we do apart from faith in Christ is sin. Our deeds outside of Christ are polluted. This is why Christ will say to them: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Preaching and miracle-working and any other “good work” done outside of faith in Christ is sinful—regardless of how “good” it may look.

Jesus isn’t preaching some sort of final salvation by works in Matthew 7:21-23. Again, in context, and in concert with the whole counsel of God, Christ is actually teaching us the necessity of faith in Him for salvation.

If you find yourself standing before the great white throne of Christ with only your works as your witness—it is already everlastingly too late.

So, if Christians will not be standing before the throne of Christ on Judgment Day, having their works evaluated, where will we be? The answer may surprise you.

1 Corinthians 6:2, 3: The saints on Judgment Day

Believers will not be standing as defendants at the judgment seat of Christ on Judgment Day. Scripture reveals exactly where we will be, and it’s nothing short of astounding.

St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3: do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we are to judge angels? (ESV‬‬)

We will be on the Judge’s side of the bar. Not on account of our own righteousness, but because we have been joined to Christ, the Man God has appointed to justly judge the world (Acts 17:31).

This accords with the teachings of Christ elsewhere. In John 5:22, He says:

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son

ESV

And in Matthew 19:28, He tells His apostles:

Truly, I say to you, in the new world,when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

ESV

In light of these passages, John Calvin concluded that:

in such a manner … he [Christ] will receive his saints into a participation with him in this honor, as assessors.

And Charles Spurgeon, commenting on 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, likewise concluded:

Sitting with Christ, at the last great day of judgment, we shall give our “Amen” to the condemnation of the fallen spirits.

Daniel 12:1-3 gives us this picture of the return of Christ and final judgment:

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

ESV

So the glorification of the saints will commence with all of those whose names are found in the Lamb’s book of life (remember that?) joining Christ at His great white throne to utter a solemn “amen” to all of His verdicts.

Now there’s one final topic I said I would cover before I concluded, and that is the reward of the saints.

If salvation is truly by grace through faith alone; and if eternal life is granted to believers on the basis of Christ’s finished work, and not our works—how will our good works be rewarded at judgment?

It is to this matter we now turn.

How God rewards the good works of believers

We are told in scripture that God will reward good deeds done in faith, just as He will condemn unbelievers for their evil deeds.

As the saints enter into eternal life, they will be told: Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master (Matthew‬ ‭25:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

Now, that quote is from the famous parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). This is what the Master says to His servants who have doubled the money He left in their care.

We need to be careful, though, not to misunderstand the teaching. This is not about our earning a heavenly reward by a lifetime of good works.

Our first clue is that the saints will be told to enter into the joy of their Master. Read that in light of Psalm 16:11: in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (ESV). We shall be called into the joy of Christ’s abundant glory. We will share in His joy.

Another reason we should understand the parable this way is another parable Christ told in Luke 17:7-10. This is another parable about a Master and His servants. In this story, when the Master returns, His faithful servants confess that they are not worthy of any reward. Christ concludes His story by telling His disciples:

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

Luke 17:10 ESV

What did Christ say? When you have done all that you were commanded. Have you kept all of God’s Laws? Have you done everything Christ has commanded?

Of course you haven’t! Because if you could, and if you did—you wouldn’t need Jesus in the first place.

But even if you did do everything the Lord commanded, Christ still says you wouldn’t deserve a reward. We don’t go around giving trophies to people just for showing up and doing what they’re supposed to be doing!

God doesn’t go around handing out participation trophies, either.

Christ wanted to impress on us that the good works we do in faith will be rewarded, not according to their merit, but according to God’s grace.

Even the good works we perform in Christ are of grace.

Returning to the parable of the talents—how does the parable begin?

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one …

Matthew 25:14-15 ESV

The servants weren’t investing their own money. They were given what they had by their Lord.

It was grace.

Again—what are we told in Ephesians 2:10? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) God makes us a new creation in Christ so that we can do the good works He has prepared and provided for us to do.

That’s grace.

And again, we are told that it’s actually God performing the good works through us: for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

Once more—it’s grace. It’s all grace, from beginning to end.

And God crowns His good work in us with more grace. Like St. John tells us: Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness (John‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭CSB‬‬).

Any heavenly rewards we receive in glory will not be based on the merits of our work, but on the riches of God’s grace toward us in Christ.

So I conclude with one passage that sums up beautifully what the scriptures teach about final judgment: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

For the wages of sin is death, means you have to earn judgment and condemnation by your works. It is the wages owed. If you stand before the judgment seat of Christ with only your own works to commend you, those very works will condemn you. Unbelievers are judged solely on the merits of their deeds.

But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, means that salvation and all its benefits are solely of grace. They are God’s free gift to those who believe in Christ. Believers don’t earn anything from God. We are rewarded not according to the merits of our own works, but solely on the basis of Christ’s finished work.

Condemnation is by works. Salvation, and any reward we receive from God in glory, is by grace alone.