What should Christians expect when Scripture talks about “rewards,” “crowns,” and being judged according to our works?
In this second episode on rewards in heaven, Krisan Marotta revisits 1 Corinthians 3 and then walks through a range of key passages to argue that many popular teachings about heavenly reward rest on blurred categories and verses taken out of context. Instead of painting the Christian life as a race for extra prizes, she shows how these texts consistently call us back to grace, genuine faith, and faithful perseverance.
In this week’s episode, we explore:
- Why 1 Corinthians 3 is not about believers earning higher levels of reward, but about how teachers like Paul and Apollos build on the foundation of the gospel
- Two central biblical themes: that we are saved by grace apart from works, and that real faith necessarily changes how we live
- How a confusion of these two themes fuels much “rewards theology,” turning fruit-of-faith passages into merit systems
- Why the “runner’s crown” (1 Corinthians 9), the “crown of life” (James 1), and the “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4) are better understood as different images for the one gift of eternal life
- How judgment texts like the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) and the great white throne (Revelation 20) reveal the reality of faith through works, rather than describing a second-level judgment for extra blessings
- What Revelation 22 means when Jesus says he will “render to each one according to what he has done,” and how this fits with salvation by grace
- How the parables of the minas (Luke 19) and the talents (Matthew 25) highlight the basic contrast between faithful and unfaithful servants, not a graded chart of heavenly bonuses
- A more thoughtful way to read “rewards” language that resists treating the Bible as a catalog of spiritual perks and instead asks: Do I truly want God, his kingdom, and the life he offers?
After listening, you’ll have a clearer framework for thinking about faith, works, judgment, and reward without losing sight of the gospel’s center. You’ll be encouraged to let go of anxiety about “missing out” on special heavenly honors and to focus instead on what Scripture emphasizes: trusting Christ, growing in genuine repentance and obedience, and seeing your changed life as evidence of God’s gracious work—not as currency for a better spot in eternity.
Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church
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