We Have Some Deeds To Do!

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. [Revelation 22.12]

This is Jesus speaking at the end of the ages. Of course, we are happy to hear Him say, "I am coming soon" and we are likewise comforted by the "bringing my reward with me" part too.

However, what follows the "bringing my reward with me" part is "to repay all people according to their deeds."

Uh, what?

I am 'saved by grace through faith, not of works!' (Ephesians 2.8-9) Then, why is Jesus going to repay all people according to their deeds????????????????

Perhaps we can understand Ephesians 2.8-9 better if we include and read verse 10...

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [Ephesians 2.8-10]

Look at the last sentence found in verse 10: He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

It was not our good works that got us saved. But it will be our good works that prove we are saved. And it is those good works that prove we are saved for which Jesus will repay His reward according to Revelation 22.12.

Yes, salvation is free. Redemption is a gift from God. All are called to salvation (for God so loved the world), but few (those whose deeds prove they are saved) are chosen to reign forever with Him.

Is the Church today proving it is saved? Does the Church today look like Jesus?

Do the people sitting in church each weekend look and act any differently than all others during the week?

THERE ARE DEEDS TO BE DONE! 

How will our deeds be qualified as good or bad? Good deeds will be those that look just like Jesus' deeds. All other deeds will not look like what Jesus modeled for us. 

The reward Jesus brings will be for those whose deeds made them look and act just like Him on earth.

We have some deeds to do!

Father, once again, I am compelled to look and act like Jesus here on earth. Nothing else matters one bit. My only goal is to seek Your Kingdom as Jesus sought (and brought) Your Kingdom to every circumstance in which He found Himself.