Receiving and Reward

Receiving Jesus by faith is the best thing anyone could ever do, for it gives God glory and Christ the reward due His suffering.  Being born again is also for our good forever, and it is for the good of the church and world people would be sanctified to be more like Him.  John 1:11-13 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  Those who will receive or "own" Jesus Christ as Saviour and Son of God He makes His own by redeeming them with His own blood.

The fact Christians have received Christ and have been adopted into the family of God is not a cause for proud arrogance but humility.  When the disciples disputed concerning which of them would be the greatest, Luke 9:46-48 reads:  "And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."  Fascinating, isn't it, how receiving and accepting a little child in the name of Jesus receives Him, for when we do unto the least we do it unto Him (Matthew 25:40).  In receiving Christ we receive God the Father who sent Him.

There was a time when the disciples tried to prevent children from being brought to Jesus, and we are told in Mark 10:13-16, "But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." ¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them."  Jesus did not embrace ministry to adults yet ignore children because of their low social status, but He took them in His arms and blessed them.  The children who came to Him illustrated the willing humility required to receive the kingdom of God, desiring protection, provision and blessing from Jesus.

God will richly reward all who receive Him, and the minds of the disciples must have been reeling after Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-42, "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  Jesus established those who receive Him by faith receive the Father, and He also taught those who receive a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward--and the same goes with a righteous man.  When we receive, support and help those who do God's work--one of God's little ones--we receive a reward that aligns with their reward.  We may think a prophet will be more rewarded than one who extends hospitality, but God would see to it one who offered a meal or bed for the night would receive a prophet's reward.

Giving someone a cup of cold water is a relatively insignificant act, but God will reward Christians who receive His people with love and humble service.  Our motivation in receiving a righteous person is not to increase our heavenly reward, for it is rewarding and fulfilling to walk in obedience to Christ today with intent to honour Him.  Seeking a reward aims to exalt ourselves when Jesus leads us to humble ourselves, even dying to self as we take up our cross daily to follow Him.  We consider Jesus who endured such harsh opposition from sinners, and this helps us endure and overcome the opposition our souls face from our own stubborn, selfish flesh by faith in Him.  Having received Christ as Saviour, He opens our hearts to receive others we would have remained closed to.  Fellowship with God and His people (including children!) by faith in Jesus is its own reward we wouldn't trade for the world.

Look to Jesus!

Jesus had a man run up to Him and ask, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus responded with a question in Mark 10:18:  "So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God."  Jesus did not deny He was good, but if He truly was good (as the man suggested but did not yet believe) He was indeed God.  It is no surprise the Jewish man thought he needed to do something to inherit eternal life, for he had been raised keeping the Law of Moses that gave no certainty of eternal life whatsoever.  Surely something needed to be done, for though he was a son of Abraham the enthusiastic man had no assurance of salvation.  This sounds a bit like the testimony of C.H. Spurgeon who was raised to read the Bible and taught of God, yet needed to wrestle awhile until he submitted his will to God by faith in Christ Jesus.  Spurgeon wrote:

"I can remember the time when my sins first stared me in the face.  I thought myself the most accursed of all men.  I had not committed any very great open transgressions against God; but I recollected that I had been well trained and tutored, and I thought my sins were thus greater than other people's.  I cried to God to have mercy; and I feared that he would not pardon me.  Month after month, I cried to God, and he did not hear me, and I knew not what it was to be saved.  Sometimes I was so weary of the world that I desired to die; but then I recollected that there was a worse world after this, and that it would be an ill matter to rush before my Maker unprepared.  At times I wickedly thought God a most heartless tyrant, because he did not answer my prayer; and then, at others, I thought, "I deserve his displeasure; if he sends me to hell, he will be just."  But I remember the hour when I stepped into a little place of worship, and saw a tall, thin man step into the pulpit:  I have never seen him from that day, and probably never shall, till we meet in heaven.  He opened the Bible and read, with a feeble voice, "Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and beside me there is none else."  Ah! thought I, I am one of the ends of the earth; and then turning round, and fixing his gaze on me, as if he knew me, the minister said, "Look, look, look!  Why, I thought I had a great deal to do, but I found it was only to look.  I thought I had a garment to spin out for myself; but I found that if I looked, Christ would give me a garment.  Look, sinner, that is to be saved.  Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved.  That is what the Jews did, when Moses held up the brazen serpent.  He said, "Look!" and they looked.  The serpent might be twisting round them, and they might be nearly dead; but they simply locked, and the moment they looked, the serpent dropped off, and they were healed.  Look to Jesus, sinner.  "None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good." (Spurgeon, C.H. (2004) Spurgeon’s sermons: V. 1-2. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. pages 318-319)

There is something every sinner must do to inherit eternal life, and it is to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  A Philippian jailor asked a similar question to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30-31:  "And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹ So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."  We cannot do anything to save ourselves; we can do nothing to inherit eternal life.  It is impossible for us to cleanse ourselves of sin.  But Jesus has done everything for sinners to be redeemed--saved from hell and granted entrance into eternal glory--purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ by the Gospel.  God's word that ministered salvation to Spurgeon by God's grace is extended to every sinner today:  look unto Jesus with faith in Him and be saved.  He has fixed His loving gaze on us sinners, not willing any should perish.  Will you look to Him today for salvation?

Yes and Amen

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

 2 Corinthians 1:20

People are not strangers to caveats and limited-time offers, how in marketing the bold print gives but the fine print takes away.  The little asterisk next to an incredible deal often leads to the realisation the advertised deal wasn't as great as initially thought.  I have also had the experience of buying what I believed was an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product only to find it was a very cheaply made knock-off.  Several times I returned products to sellers that assured me a full refund of money but never paid.  Prompt communication fooled me into thinking a company had good customer service until they failed to follow through--and all communication on their end went silent.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul reminded believers they were assured God was faithful to keep His promises in 2 Corinthians 1:18-23:  "But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."  The Gospel that assures forgiveness of sins and salvation not wishy-washy, but in Christ is Yes and Amen.  The faithfulness of God has been demonstrated continually through His word, covenants and promises kept.  All the promises of God are affirmed by Jesus Christ the Son of God and in Him Amen--all to the glory of God through us.

Someone who receives a good price offered for a limited time realises others may miss out on the bargain.  But Christians can have complete assurance everyone who repents from their sin and believes on the LORD Jesus Christ shall be saved.  We have no need to look for miraculous confirmation of God's promise or wait for a warm feeling to know the prayers of humble sinners are heard and answered by God in the affirmative.  When born again Christians ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have all confidence we will receive based on God's word that reveals God's will as spoken by Peter on Pentecost in Acts 2:39:  "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."  Jesus Himself said in Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  All the promises of God in Christ are Yes and in Him Amen, and what confidence we can have to ask God believing His word in accord with His revealed will.

The blessings, feasts and promises contained in the Law merely hinted and alluded to the substance we have fulfilled in Person in Jesus Christ.  The Law of Moses gave no promise of eternal life, but Jesus made this promise plain to all who received Him.  Jesus said in John 10:27-28:  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."  How glorious is our Good Shepherd and Saviour forever, for all the promises of God in Jesus are Yes and Amen.  In Christ we find rest for our souls all can experience today regardless of circumstances, weather, bad news, feelings and failures.  The LORD has spoken truth and still speaks.  Blessed be the LORD whose mercies are new every morning, for great is His faithfulness.

Losing Battle Won

Many people assume they have more time on earth than they do, for death often comes unexpectedly.  There were likely many young ANZACs who grew up assuming they would live to old age and see their children's children who perished on the Gallipoli peninsula 110 years ago.  In war, winning battles is never assured:  having fighters wounded and losing their lives is almost guaranteed.  It takes great courage to bravely fight in what seems to be a "losing battle," and ANZAC Day is a reminder of the sacrifice made by willing Diggers who embraced their duty at the cost of their lives.

While Christians are not guaranteed a long life on earth, we are given assurances of eternal life by faith in Christ.  The psalmist struck a contrast between those who assume their lives will continue perpetually and those who place their faith in God in Psalm 49:14-15:  "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. ¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah"  See how the psalmist knew for certain God would redeem his soul from the power of the grave, and God would receive him.  What peace, joy and rest this provides us in a world where death and taxes are more expected than eternal life.

The psalmist spoke prophetically of what Jesus would bring to light through the Gospel.  Our recent observance of Easter shows the redemptive power of God by Jesus Christ defeating death by His resurrection after being crucified.  The night before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples in John 14:3-6, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know." ⁵ Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Father received Him up into heaven as He ascended in view of His disciples.  Based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ, His victory over sin and death, and the promises of God's word, believers have full assurance of being redeemed and received by God after our bodies go the way of the earth.

Those who receive Christ will be received by Him and born again as God's children as we read in John 1:10-13:  "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  In a world where might makes right, God gives the right to become children of God by faith in Jesus.  It is not by fighting but by humbling ourselves and having simple faith in God we are granted victory over death no army or champion can obtain, having peace with God today and eternal life forever by His grace.