1:8 Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we
receive a full reward.
This verse first of all commands that Christians watch
over one another, especially in terms of doctrinal deviance which results in
moral degeneration. Paul writes that we are to bear one another’s burdens and
so fulfill the law of Christ, Galatians 6:2. This is in regards to the
Christian ministering to a saint that has gone astray, Galatians 6:1. We are to
look after ourselves, but also have the interests of others in mind,
Philippians 2:20-21. The word “likeminded” in Philippians 2:20 is the Greek
“isopsuchos” and means “of equal soul.” This is the mindset that we have for
the brethren; the exact same mindset that Christ Jesus has.
Paul commends us the same before we enter into the Lord’s
Supper, lest we eat and drink wrath upon ourselves, 1st Corinthians 11:28-29. In
this instance Christians are to ensure that we treat the Lord’s Supper with the
due reverence that it deserves, being a memorial unto the Lord. We must treat
it as such, and not a common meal, which was the error of the early Corinthian
church. To this same church Paul writes “Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in
the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you?—unless you are disqualified,” 2nd Corinthians 13:5. This concept
of being disqualified involves running the race to receive a crown; a reward
for the Christian life diligently lived, 1st Corinthians 9:24-27. Paul pleads
with the Corinthians that they order their lives to do what is right by God,
even if that gave the appearance that Paul himself was disqualified; a
potential reality Paul was acutely aware of, 1st Corinthians 9:27.
The apostle John desires that we lose nothing which we
have worked for, but that instead we receive the full reward. The Bible is
painfully clear that salvation is not something received as reward or payment,
but something received as a gift of God’s grace, Romans 4:2-6, etc. The context
of this verse, along with the few cited above, demonstrate that John is
referring to a Christian’s loss of reward when his works are tried at the
judgment seat of Christ, Romans 14:10-12; 2nd Corinthians 5:9-10. The Christian
who builds with temporal material or for carnal reasons shall suffer loss, but
he himself shall be saved, 1st Corinthians 3:15; Galatians 6:9. The saint who
has built on the foundation of Christ with eternal materials, reaping the fruit
of the Spirit yields eternal results and receives a reward, 1st Corinthians
3:14; Galatians 6:9. God is concerned with building things that will endure
beyond this present universe which shall dissolve; the saints who hearken to
God’s side as fellow workers for the truth shall receive the reward and be
honored with various crowns for selfless service and steadfast faith, James 1:12;
Revelation 3:10, etc. Those who teach otherwise shall be called least in
Heaven’s kingdom, Matthew 5:19.
Every one of us are subject to falling for false teaching. we have a responsibility to watch out for each other, to help prevent it from becoming a problem and causing us to lose our rewards. We need to do so with the understanding that we may fall prey to a similar teaching ourselves and not get proud that we didn't mess up.
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