Why the Spirit of Truth Teaches Redeeming Love: Part 2 - My Reward is With Me

From an essay on why all those who are led by the Comforter are led to teach redeeming love. [pdf copy]

My Reward is With Me to Give Every Man According as His Work Shall Be

In the closing verses of the Bible, we read of the culmination of Jesus’ work of salvation for mankind and of the several rewards He is prepared to give us on an individual basis [1]

Revelation 22:11,12 – He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.[2]

Unjust, filthy, righteous, and holy. These four terms are descriptive of the four possible conditions in which each one of us may leave this earthly life and enter into eternity. Every person who has been or will yet be born into the human family – from our first parents onward – will live eternally in one of these four conditions as their everlasting reward.[3]

As discussed in the opening section, had Jesus not interceded for us, a single judgment would have rested upon us forever – the same judgment that was originally pronounced upon Adam for his disobedience.[4] However, with these four rewards now awaiting us, each of us will be awarded a certain measure of glory based upon our individual response to Jesus Christ.[5]

The words let and still express both our Lord’s love and justice by summing up the plan of restoration, which is requisite with the justice of God.[6] At the conclusion of His work of redemption and intercession for mankind, Jesus allows each of us to remain as we are by pronouncing what our eternal estate will be, given our reply to His labor of love among us.

After all that He has done and could have done for us, the time will finally come for Jesus to usher us on into eternity according to our desires. Because of His love for us, He does not force us to be something we do not want to be. Sadly, some individuals will limit or reject Jesus’ ministry to them even though He has been tremendously gracious and good to them.

When Jesus returns in glory,[7] He will reveal the four rewards identified in Revelation 22 by the measure of glory each person is willing and prepared to abide in forever.[8] Those who are holy will receive a measure of His glory like unto that of the sun; those who are righteous, like unto that of the moon; and those who are unjust, like unto that of the stars.

I Corinthians 15:41-44 – There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

God reveals these measures of glory by revealing Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. To those willing to be one with Him, God grants the fullness of His light and love, even like that of the light of the sun.[9] To those willing to only reflect His light and love (like the moon reflects sunlight), God grants the presence of His Son, His Word, Jesus Christ.[10]

To the rest that He saves, God gives a smaller portion of His glory by the Holy Ghost.[11] Like stars in the night sky, they shine with only a portion of His glory. Because they are not willing to receive God’s fullness or to reflect His glory directly, they abide in eternity outside the presence of the Father and the Son.[12] Nonetheless, they share in God’s glory as His servants.

What about the fourth reward that is reserved for those who are filthy? They remain filthy because they are not prepared or willing to inherit any place or portion of glory; thus, their reward is to remain free of God’s light and love.[13]

I Nephi 4:55-60 – And if their works have been filthiness, they must needs be filthy: And if they be filthy, it must needs be that they can not dwell in the kingdom of God: If so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also. But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there can not any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; Wherefore, there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy. And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the foundation of it.

These four rewards are available to us now based on Jesus’ finished work of atonement on the cross.[14] Out of love, He bore our infirmities[15] and redeemed us all by paying the full debt of the sins of the whole world.[16] Likewise, He is willing and prepared to intercede for us, especially if we repent and come to Him to be washed of our sins and become one with Him.[17]

By interceding for us, Jesus opens the way for us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.[18] In His intercession, Jesus gives Himself to us as the Way by which we may come unto God and live in His light and love.[19] He not only delivers us from the punishment for sin, which is death,[20] but He also restores us to God’s grace by His intercession born of redeeming love.[21]

All of us, as it is written, have sinned and come short of the glory of God.[22] The cross of Christ’s sufferings boldly declares this truth.[23] Thus, to hear someone has sinned is not news.[24] More important to us is the truth that the cross declares the debt for every sin is paid in full.[25] Both of these truths lie at the heart of the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ and of His kingdom.[26]

None of us, then, should fixate or focus on news of how someone has sinned. Rather, our focus should be on how Jesus now lives so everyone who is willing may live free from sin and from the bondage thereof.[27] Our focus should be on encouraging sinners to repent and come to our Lord to be saved out of sin. For repentance is the news that gets heaven excited![28]

By keeping these truths in mind, we may more readily comprehend the true beauty and joy of the everlasting covenant: “that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy.”[29] This is why God renewed the call for repentance in these latter days.

As our Lord and Savior, Jesus not only atoned for our sins justly,[30] He now stands ready to help us overcome sin by our faith in Him to live in the newness of His life.[31]

Hebrews 4:14-16 – Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was on all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Come, then, and be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God.[32] Come by faith and receive the reward of eternal life.[33] Come and partake of the tree of life and live forever.

Alma 3:57-60 – Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men; for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith, Repent, and I will receive you; Yea, he saith, Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire; For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.

Come and bring honor to Jesus Christ and His name. For the sake of His work of glory and grace, come like the disciples of old and receive His full reward, even the fullness of His glory.

John 1:14,16 – And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father. And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fullness. And of his fullness have all we received, even immortality and eternal life, through his grace.

I John 1:1-4 – Brethren, this is the testimony which we give of that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.