Will My Works Survive The Judgment？
Tim Conway teaches that while salvation is secure in Christ, believers must ensure the quality of their works will endure God's judgment and receive reward.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of the quality of our actions in God's eyes, comparing them to gold or hay that will be tested by fire on judgment day. It highlights the need for believers to focus on building with valuable materials like gold, silver, and precious stones, representing wise and fruitful works, rather than wood, hay, or straw, which symbolize superficial or misguided efforts. The speaker urges listeners to consider their motives and strive for works that bring glory to God, as rewards based on the quality of our labor await believers on judgment day.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The metaphor of planting and watering in ministry
- God alone gives the growth and increase
- Believers are co-laborers with God
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II
- The foundation laid is Jesus Christ
- Building materials represent the quality of works
- Gold, silver, precious stones endure; wood, hay, straw do not
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III
- Judgment day will reveal the quality of each person's works
- Believers can suffer loss though still be saved
- Motives affect the value of works
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IV
- All believers are builders of the church
- The body builds itself up in love
- Strive to excel in building up the church
Key Quotes
“We all are living lives where what we do is going to be tested in the end.” — Tim Conway
“No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — Tim Conway
“If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” — Tim Conway
Application Points
- Evaluate the quality and motives behind your works to ensure they will endure God's judgment.
- Engage actively in building up the church and fellow believers in love.
- Strive for faithfulness and fruitfulness in all areas of your Christian life to receive God's reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will all Christians receive rewards at the judgment seat of Christ?
Yes, but the rewards vary based on the quality of their works, with some works enduring the fire and others being burned up.
Can a Christian lose their salvation if their works are burned up?
No, the sermon teaches that a Christian can suffer loss of reward but still be saved, though 'as through fire.'
What determines the quality of a believer's works?
The quality is determined by the building materials used, symbolizing motives, faithfulness, and alignment with Christ's teachings.
How does God use believers in building His church?
God works through human instrumentality, making believers fellow workers who plant, water, and build upon the foundation of Christ.
Why is it important to care about rewards if salvation is secure?
Because rewards reflect God's pleasure and the fruitfulness of a believer's life, motivating believers to live purposefully and faithfully.