by Charity Rose

Created on: July 31, 2009   Last Updated: December 07, 2009

This question should be, "Why anyone cannot earn heaven as a reward". Let's look first at the authority of heaven and earth, which is God. John 1 - 3 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (end of verses)(These verses also establish that Jesus is God in the flesh, 100% God 100% Man). Also, Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life and no man cometh unto the father except through me." Where is God? In heaven...what is heaven? It is a gift not a reward.

We just established that God was in the beginning and that he made everything...everything belongs to him (technically speaking since he was the creator). Now let's look at Ephesians 2: 8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (end of verses). Please look carefully at this passage, verse eight tells us it is a gift from God, this is not our reward...our reward come later also scripture tells us "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus TO DO good works, which God prepared in ADVANCE for us to do." We first have to be in Christ to do the works he has designated for us to do. These are what I call eternal works.

Works are a very important part of one's faith, though it won't get you into heaven alone, it is there to carry out God's will, to test obedience and faith, to help others and to bless you. Looking at works as a way to get into heaven would be an insult to our heavenly father and is kind of like paying him the money he gave you to work to get into heaven....it's kind of absurd if you look at it that way isn't it? However, 2 John 1:8 says: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. (end of verse) Let's look at this verse this way...You want and need a job, you're offered the job IF you accept it. You get the job, but during the time you're there, you work hard and do a good job...not just a good job, but a great job! (If you were doing just an average job you would still have a job, you just won't be rewarded.) You're nominated for a customer service award, you win the award and you are rewarded. Now let's look at this analogy from an eternal perspective...you

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