Recompense Of Reward
God’s Way Bible Study
Recompense of Reward (for Good Works)
Tuesday July 28, 2026
The Bible tells us of two judgments…
The White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
A good way of remembering this is to see it as the throne where a sentence is passed.
2. The Bema Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ESV So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
A good way of remembering this is to see it as the throne where rewards are given… an Awards Night, with pomp and circumstance.
The scriptures have a lot to say about reward.
Revelation 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me to give to every one according to his work.
A reward is not a gift. Our salvation is a gift, but our rewards will be earned.
You cannot work for your salvation but you must work for your rewards.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved, through faith, but not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God loves to give rewards
When we receive gifts, we feel loved. When we receive rewards, we feel valued because we are useful.
God gives gifts generously, because He is Love, but He also loves to give rewards, because He is a maker.
The Lord knows the joy of seeing the fruit of His own labor and He wants to share that experience with His loved ones.
There are many rewards promised to us in both testaments.
Reward for giving
Mark 9:41 NKJV For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Luke 6:35 NKJV But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Reward for service
Ruth 2:11-12 ESV But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. [12] The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Matthew 10:42 NKJV 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.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
1 Corinthians 3: 6-9 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. [7] So then, neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. [8] Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. [9] For we are God’s fellow workers, you are God's field, you are God's building.
Reward for suffering for Christ
Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, and when they revile you and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. [23] Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed, your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner, their fathers did to the prophets.
Philippians 1:29-30 NLT For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. [30] We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
Philippians 3:10-11 NLT I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, [11] so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Acts 5:40-42 NLT The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. [41] The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. [42] And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."
Reward for seeking God
This is the greatest of all rewards and in fact is the foundation on which every other reward is established.
If we have faith in the knowledge that God is and that He is a rewarder, then we can trust Him for every other promised reward.
Hebrew 11:6 NKJV But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Genesis 15:1 After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “ Do not be afraid , Abram. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.
Reward Cancellers
Impure Motives: Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons will not be pleasing to God.
1. Good deeds as seed with expectation of reward from man
Matthew 5:46-48 NLT If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. [47] If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. [48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
2. Hypocrisy/Eye Service
Matthew 6:1-5,16-18 NKJV "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. [5] "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
[16] "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
3. Godliness as a means for financial gain
1 Timothy 6:5 NLT These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. [25] And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. [26] Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. [27] But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Reward Robbers
Since the enemy knows he can’t touch your salvation, he will do his best to rob you of your rewards. He will bring discouragement, disappointment, betrayal and distractions of all sorts. His goal is to deter you from continuing in your work for the Lord. Since God rewards us for our works, little work means little reward.
Discouragement (eg. when our service is not appreciated.)
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
2. Disappointment (eg. when when our giving is misused)
Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
3. Betrayals
4. Distraction (eg. when other things become our focus)
Mark 4:18-19 Now these are the ones sown among thorns, they are the ones who hear the word, [19] and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things entering in choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.
