Gift and Reward 

(Eph 2:1-10; He 11:6) 



God is love(1Jn 4:8). 

For He loves He shows mercy(Eph 2:4), and 

Because He loves He rewards(Eph 2:6). 



Religion is the act of approaching the divine, if not seeking his attention, 

Through one's works, asceticism and self-sacrifice. 



Our faith, however, is receiving His grace, His gift, and 

The life of this faith is looking forward to the reward in heaven and putting effort to receive it. 



Though Adam was in the Garden of Eden where he could live without work(Ge 2:16), 

Because he was deceived by the devil, 

He became an object of wrath, losing everything(Ge 3:23; Eph 2:3). 



Noah found favor in the eyes of God(Ge 6:8). 

Once warned of the flood, he began building the ark for decades(Ge 5:32, Ge 6:6, Ge 6:13), 

Because of which he and his family were saved from being wiped away and 

His work was not in vain(Ge 7:23). 



To the Israelites who showed the blood of lamb 

Following God's revelation and were saved from the death of firstborns(Ex 12:13-14), 

God gave the Law, which had regulations for service, to be kept for generations(He 9:1). 



First, they had to shed the blood of the animal and 

Enter the sanctuary(Ex 25:1-30; He 9:2, He 9:12), 

Giving sacrifices to God with all their hearts, which was 

According to God's promise of meeting with them from the mercy-seat(Ex 30:6). 



Thus, the sanctuary was where 

The Israelites served God and where He showed mercy to them. 



Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because 

Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body, 

He would fulfill all sacrifices(He 10:14), for 

He is the incarnate Word, who was in the bosom of the Father, 

The Son of God, grace above grace(Jn 1:14-18). 



As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He: 

1. Gave an eternal sacrifice and entered by His own works to the throne of grace which the Father had prepared for him(He 4:16, He 9:24-26, He 10:12, He 12:2); 

2. Condemned the archangel who attempted to steal the throne(Is 14:12-15); and 

3. With His blood redeemed the sins of all men and by His works showed mercy to them, making a way for whosoever to gain the confidence through His blood and serve God for reward(Mt 20:28; He 9:11-14, He 10:19). 

He rose and ascended to the heavenly throne, the throne of grace(He 4:16). 



The Holy Spirit comes in the name Yeshua to 

Those who welcome and receive God's gift of the Son(Eph 2:14), that is, 

His grace, the forgiveness of sin, the salvation of soul and 

Being made alive - all by faith(Eph 2:8-10). 

And He lets them work for the reward. 



The man of the Spirit is he who 

Received this gift and is moved by the love of the Father. 

Therefore, he puts every effort to receive the reward that 

The Father prepared from the beginning(Rev 21:24). 



O Lord, 

Thank You for Your mercy. 

Thank You for this gift of life. 

Thank You for the promise of the reward! 

Let us never complain or be irritated with the work of giving to You! 

Amen.