Several years ago, a beauty queen lost her crown because her past behavior had come to the attention of the judges, thought injurious to the untarnished image of the Miss America Pagent, and subsequently, she was stripped of her title and all priveleges attached to it. Sounds kinda like how many of us were treated in another ministry! But is this the way our Heavenly Father deals with sin? Will we forfeit all our reward once we walk away from The Way International?

Will we lose reward because men have judged us unworthy, unfit and too tarnished to stand for their organization?

The foundation for this study is what was laid by Jesus Christ. No one can lay another foundation for us to build upon other than this. We will look at what Jesus Christ did for us, what we can do for Him as a result, and the rewards we are promised regardless of how man judges us.

ROMANS 5:8-10 BUT GOD COMMENDED (exhibited) HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. MUCH MORE THEN, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM. FOR IF, WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD BY THE DEATH OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, BEING RECONCILED, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.

When we were without God, and hope, when we were children of the god of this world, God showed us His immense love, by saving us through the blood of Jesus Christ,by grace we were saved.

ROMANS 4:4-8 NOW TO HIM THAT WORKS IS THE REWARD RECKONED NOT OF GRACE,BUT OF DEBT. BUT TO HIM THAT WORKS NOT, BUT BELIEVES ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. EVEN AS DAVID ALSO DESCRIBES THE MAN ONTO WHOM GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS, SAYING, BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED (concealed). BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT IMPUTE(take an inventory, estimate, conclude) SIN.

The Amplified Bible translates 1 Corinthians 1:8, AND HE WILL ESTABLISH YOU TO THE END-KEEP YOU STEADFAST GIVE YOU STRENGTH, AND GUARANTEE YOUR VINDICATION ( exhonerate,forgive, justify), THAT IS, BE YOUR WARRANT AGAINST ALL ACCUSATION OR INDICTMENT- [SO THAT YOU WILL BE] GUILTLESS AND IRREPROACHABLE IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH.

The Williams Version translates 2 Corinthians 1:21: BUT IT IS GOD WHO MAKES US AS WELL AS YOU SECURE THROUGH UNION WITH CHRIST, AND HAS ANOINTED US, AND PUT HIS SEAL UPON US, AND GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A FIRST INSTALLMENT OF FUTURE REWARDS.

Do any of these verses indicate that we are anything but righteous, justified, and forgiven? We are made worthy and fit for the kingdom of God. If God be for us, who can be against us?? Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? No. So what will happen when Jesus Christ comes back? Will we be judged unfit? Will we get any rewards?

HEBREWS 6:10 FOR GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND YOUR LABOR OF LOVE, WHICH YE HAVE SHEWED TOWARD HIS NAME, IN THAT YE HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS AND DO MINISTER.

Every one will be rewarded according to their works, not according to which group of Christians they fellowship with.

MATTHEW 16:27 FOR THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS; AND THEN HE SHALL REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:8, 10-15 NOW HE THAT PLANTS AND HE THAT WATERS ARE ONE: EVERY MAN SHALL RECEIVE HIS OWN REWARD ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LABOUR.

ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME, AS A WISE MASTER BUILDER, I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, AND ANOTHER BUILDS THEREUPON.BUT LET EVERY MAN TAKE HEED HOW HE BUILDS THEREUPON.

FOR NO OTHER FOUNDATION CAN ANY MAN LAY THAN WHAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.

NOW IF ANY MAN BUILD UPON THIS FOUNDATION GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE;

EVERY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE MADE MANIFEST: FOR THE DAY SHALL DECLARE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL BE REVEALED BY FIRE; AND THE FIRE SHALL TRY EVERY MAN'S WORK OF WHAT SORT IT IS.

IF ANY MAN'S WORK ABIDE WHICH HE HATH BUILT THEREUPON, HE HE SHALL RECEIVE A REWARD.

IF ANY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE BURNED, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED: YET SO BY FIRE.

Any man whose works remain will receive a reward. No distinction is made of any category of people, whether in The Way or in another church group. Any man whose works are burned will suffer loss, but he will be saved. He just won't receive reward for those burned up works that didn't pass the test.

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.

We will not receive full reward if some of our works are burned up. We will only receive rewards for those things which remain built upon the foundation Jesus laid.

2JOHN 1:8 LOOK TO YOURSELVES, THAT WE LOSE NOT THOSE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE WROUGHT, BUT THAT WE RECEIVE FULL REWARD.

There are people who would like us to believe that their mandates supercede what God has very clearly promised us in these verses.

COLOSSIANS 2:18A LET NO MAN BEGUILE (defraud) YOU OF YOUR REWARD...

AMPLIFIED BIBLE COLOSSIANS 2:18 LET NO ONE DEFRAUD YOU BY ACTING AS AN UMPIRE AND DECLARING YOU UNWORTHY AND DISQUALIFYING YOU FOR THE PRIZE, INSISTING ON SELF-ABASEMENT AND WORSHIP OF ANGELS (ceremonial observances), TAKING HIS STAND ON VISIONS [HE CLAIMS ] HE HAS SEEN, VAINLY PUFFED UP BY HIS SENSUOUS NOTIONS AND INFLATED BY HIS UNSPIRITUAL THOUGHTS AND FLESHLY CONCEIT,

AND NOT HOLDING FAST TO THE HEAD, FROM WHOM THE ENTIRE BODY, SUPPLIED AND KNIT TOGETHER BY MEANS OF ITS JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS,GROWS WITH A GROWTH THAT IS FROM GOD.

IF THEN YOU HAVE DIED WITH CHRIST TO MATERIAL WAYS OF LOOKING AT THINGS AND HAVE ESCAPED FROM THE WORLD'S CRUDE AND ELEMENTAL NOTIONS AND TEACHINGS OF EXTERNALISM, WHY DO YOU LIVE AS IF YOU STILL BELONG TO THE WORLD? WHY DO YOU SUBMIT TO RULES AND REGULATIONS[SUCH AS]

DO NOT HANDLE [THIS], DO NOT TASTE [THAT], DO NOT EVEN TOUCH THEM, REFERRING TO THINGS ALL OF WHICH PERISH WITH BEING USED. TO DO THIS IS TO FOLLOW HUMAN PRECEPTS AND DOCTRINES.

SUCH [PRACTICES] HAVE INDEED THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE [THAT POPULARLY PASSES] FOR WISDOM, IN PROMOTING SELF-IMPOSED RIGOR OF DEVOTION AND DELIGHT IN SELF- HUMILIATION AND SEVERITY OF DISIPLINE OF THE BODY, BUT THEY ARE OF NO VALUE IN CHECKING THE INDULGENCE OF THE FLESH-THE LOWER NATURE.[INSTEAD, THEY DO NOT HONOR GOD] BUT SERVE ONLY TO INDULGE THE FLESH.

Sound familiar? Let's set our affection on things above, and quit obsessing over our fleshly nature. Has someone judged you unworthy? Rejoice, don't condemn yourself. God didn't condemn you.

MATTHEW 5:12 REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD, FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN, FOR SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS BEFORE YOU.

5:11 BLESSED ARE YE WHEN MEN REVILE (defame, rail at, chide,taunt) YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FOR MY SAKE.

LUKE 6:22 BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL SEPARATE YOU FROM THEIR COMPANY AND SHALL REPROACH YOU, AND CAST OUT YOUR NAME AS EVIL, FOR THE SON OF MAN'S SAKE.

REJOICE IN THAT DAY, AND LEAP FOR JOY: FOR BEHOLD, YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN: FOR IN LIKE MANNER DID THEIR FATHERS UNTO THE PROPHETS.

We have clearly seen who we aare in Christ and that rewards are promised us.What kinds of rewards are available to all born again people and what works do we need to do to receive them? The crowns we will receive at the BEMA (judgment seat or awards arena)are the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, and the crown of glory.

The crown of righteousness is given to believers who fight a good fight, keep the faith and so love the Lord's appearing.

2 TIMOTHY 4:8,9

I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH:

HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, SHALL GIVE ME IN THAT DAY: AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT UNTO ALL THEM ALS0 THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING.

The crown of life is given to believers who endure temptation. Believers who love him are promised one too.

JAMES 1:12

BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURES TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.

Remember, those who love God will keep His commandments. (1 John 5:3) The greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor like yourself. (Matthew 22:37,38)

The crown of glory is promised to leaders who are not lords over people, but lead by example.

1 PETER 5:1-4 THE ELDERS WHICH ARE AMONG YOU I EXHORT, WHO AM AN ELDER, AND A WITNESS OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, AND ALSO A PARTAKER OF THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE REVEALED: FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU, TAKING THE OVERSIGHT THEREOF, NOT BY CONSTRAINT, BUT WILLINGLY; NOT FOR FILTHY LUCRE, BUT OF A READY MIND; NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD'S HERITAGE, BUT BEING ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK. AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR, YE SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY THAT FADES NOT AWAY.

The people that the apostle Paul won to the Lord are his crown of rejoicing.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:19 FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE, OR JOY, OR CROWN OF REJOICING? ARE NOT EVEN YE IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AT HIS COMING?

Now we labor for an incorruptible crown. (1 Corinthians 9:25) It is one that will not fade or rot away. No matter what men may say, you are righteous, and will receive reward for your good works which you do. God will not forget your labor of love. Continue to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and stand for God. Will we receive a full reward for our labor? Let the Lord judge. Focus on things above, not on the things of this world. Build on that foundation, love His appearing, endure temptation, love Him, lead God's people,live your life as an example to God's people, and you shall receive the rewards that are promised to you.

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