Heavenly Spiritual Rewards

Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and our belief that He is the only intermediary between mankind and God, is what results in the gift of everlasting life from God to mankind, if they are believer's in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the redeemer of mankind.

However, spiritual rewards are achieved by the believer in addition to the gift of God of everlasting life in paradise, if we believe in Jesus Christ as savior.  Heavenly spiritual rewards are not the same as everlasting life in paradise.

Demonstrating sincere belief entails more than just attending church every Sunday.  It means having faith that Jesus Christ will intervene with God on our behalf, absolving us of all sin before God the Father. God the Father has promised: 

"He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the West (Psalm 103:12).

"I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT)."

As believers, we're commanded by Jesus Christ to follow the commandments He stated in the bible. It's widely accepted by most that following Jesus' commandments, just as following the ten commandments in ancient times, for most people, is just not possible. Why Not? Because sin is part of mankind's DNA.  That having been said, asking forgiveness through Jesus Christ, as our intermediary to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, absolves us of all sin, making the believer sinless before God.  

Following Jesus' commandments, (ie: following Him), is not going to be easy, or even achievable without direct intervention by the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers. The Holy Spirit was sent to believers after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit still exists today, as a spiritual guide, through which Jesus' commandments can be achieved by a believer. 

Remember that we have free will, and we must demonstrate as believers our desire to give up our free will, and to submit to Jesus Christ and God the Father. Everlasting Life is a gift of God, not achieved through works, but a gift of God.  Heavenly spiritual rewards are the "icing on the cake," achieved through our works, and should not be misconstrued as a gift of God such as everlasting life, but more as a reward from God for our faithfulness during our physical life (ie: following the commandments of Jesus Christ and God the Father).

But, it's a constant battle, and believers will follow these commandments only to the extent that their sinful nature is conquered through the Holy Spirit's influence upon them. Since mankind has free will, following these commandments will be achievable by different degrees according to a believer's commitment of faith and obedience.

The best of heavenly spiritual rewards are potentially available to believers that can follow Jesus commandments one hundred percent.  Most believers will never achieve that degree of compliance with Jesus commandments.  But, our heavenly spiritual rewards will be predicated on the extent to which we can follow Jesus' commandments.  

Since mankind is constricted by sin, the only Man capable of achieving all of Jesus commandments is Jesus Christ himself.  But, to some degree, we all should aspire to following Jesus' commandments as closely as possible so that the potential of receiving the best of heavenly spiritual rewards can be achieved by a believer.  Those who are saved will all receive varying degrees of heavenly spiritual rewards according to their ability to conform to Jesus' standards in accordance with his commandments. 

Jesus' Commandments:

1. Repent
   1. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” (Matthew 4:17).
2. Follow Him
   1. “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19).
3. Let your light shine
   1. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).
4. Be reconciled
   1. “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matthew 5:23–24).
5. Don’t Lust
   1. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’, 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
      (Matthew 5:27–30).
6. Make no oaths
   1. “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God . . . 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” (Matthew 5:34, 37).
7. Don’t resist evil with evil
   1. “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:39-42)
8. Love and pray for your enemies
   1. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:44–46)
9. Be perfect (in love)
   1. “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48).
10. Seek God’s Kingdom first
    1. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).
11. Don’t Judge
    1. “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1).
12. Don’t give what is holy to dogs
    1. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6).
13. Treat people as you want to be treated
    1. “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12).
14. Enter (heaven) through the narrow gate
    1.  “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
       14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
15. Beware of false prophets
    1. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15–16).
16. Follow Jesus
    1. “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.” (Matt. 8:22).
17. Ask God to send out workers
    1. ” Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37–38).
18. Don’t fear those who can kill the body
    1. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”(Matthew 10:28).
19. Come to Jesus for rest
    1. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
20. Confront brothers in private first
    1. “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” (Matthew 18:15–17).
21. Forgive Seven times Seventy
    1. “Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'” (Matthew 18:21–22).
22. Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s
    1. “They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21).
23. Love God
    1. “And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'” (Matthew 22:37–38).
24. Love your Neighbor
    1. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'” (Matthew 22:39).
25. Partake of Communion
    1. While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body. 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” (Matthew 26:26–27).
26. Keep guard against sin
    1. “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41).
27. Make Disciples
    1. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
28. Preach the Gospel
    1. “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15).
29. Be on guard against greed
    1. “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
30. Invite the poor
    1. “And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12–14).
31. Love one another
    1. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34).
    2. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).
    3. “This I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:17).

Following Jesus' commandments will not be easy. But, to the extent that a believer can follow Jesus' commandments consistently will determine the extent to which heavenly spiritual rewards will be awarded to a believer, according to God's determination and will.