Hello Aleicia. I think that you were looking at and referring to Revelation chapters 2 and 3, where Jesus speaks concerning those seven Church congregations in Asia Minor (now modern Turkey). To each of them, Jesus says, "I know thy works" and then goes on in praise and condemnation of most of them. And later in the Book ( Revelation 20:11-13) we see God's Judgement pronounced upon those who rejected God and His Son, revealed in "the books" that declared "their works", which of course were works that resulted from their sinful condition, of no eternal value - only harsh judgement.
But in Revelation chapters 2 & 3, when Jesus speaks about those Churches, these of course are Christians who have truly repented and followed Jesus in their lives and the works they produced were the acts resulting from their faith. So, they were in the most part commended (except the Laodiceans) in their faith & works therefrom, but failed in some other areas. And what this means to us is, what we do in our new lives that God has given us through His Son, must be acts that are produced from a new, active, vibrant faith in God. And this faith can only come from Him, by His Spirit in us. If anything that is done apart from this, however good & useful that might be, are not the result of 'faith in action', or to say it in another way, 'our acts have been done from motives other than Holy Spirit inspired and generated'. Jesus was looking for such works in them (led by the Spirit) and in us as well and we need to be alert and careful that we allow God's Spirit to govern every area of our lives. At the Bema Seat (the judgement of believers' works: 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15) is the only judgement that believers will face - and this judgement is not whether we're saved or not (our sins were judged at the Cross), but how we have lived our lives & the works produced from it.
Our works are judged whether we are saved or unsaved but it determines levels of either reward (heaven) or punishment (hell).
There is a lot to be said here; but to start with in Revelation I assume you are referring to the end or final resurrection at the end of the Millennium but you could be referring to Revelation 2 and 3 involving the different churches and things God specifically called out given churches and WITHIN them individuals that stood out. We see that God's children cannot save themselves by works either at salvation or as they progress in their walk. The works given are those predestined by God (I won't take the time now to look up the scriptures). With the Ephesian church; for instance they were doing everything right but they had left or lost their first love (I always get that one mixed up as to which it is).
We see also in the Gospels I think around Matthew 25 as I quoted yesterday in the Parable of the 10 virgins that there were workers of iniquity; in general anyone who tries to enter in another way; so to speak is attempting to do stuff in the presence of true believers but the Lord must be the one whose strength enables us to do His works. There are of course sins of commission and omission. In Matthew 24 discussing those who visit Him in prison and those who don't in the sheep and goat judgment in one sense describes practical works but also specifically is very likely how those in the Tribulation are judged as at that time (as we see in Revelation 6) everyone knows who God and Christ is; therefore we prove ourselves in helping the saints; who are in jail and end up being martyred. If we love Him we will obey His commandments; but of course it is the motives behind our actions that determine much of our reward or lack thereof.
Every word will be taken into account as stated by Christ ( Matt. 12:36).
Of course we all fail daily; we have to desire to seek Him with all our heart and move on growing in maturity and move on.
[Comment Removed]
But in Revelation chapters 2 & 3, when Jesus speaks about those Churches, these of course are Christians who have truly repented and followed Jesus in their lives and the works they produced were the acts resulting from their faith. So, they were in the most part commended (except the Laodiceans) in their faith & works therefrom, but failed in some other areas. And what this means to us is, what we do in our new lives that God has given us through His Son, must be acts that are produced from a new, active, vibrant faith in God. And this faith can only come from Him, by His Spirit in us. If anything that is done apart from this, however good & useful that might be, are not the result of 'faith in action', or to say it in another way, 'our acts have been done from motives other than Holy Spirit inspired and generated'. Jesus was looking for such works in them (led by the Spirit) and in us as well and we need to be alert and careful that we allow God's Spirit to govern every area of our lives. At the Bema Seat (the judgement of believers' works: 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15) is the only judgement that believers will face - and this judgement is not whether we're saved or not (our sins were judged at the Cross), but how we have lived our lives & the works produced from it.
There is a lot to be said here; but to start with in Revelation I assume you are referring to the end or final resurrection at the end of the Millennium but you could be referring to Revelation 2 and 3 involving the different churches and things God specifically called out given churches and WITHIN them individuals that stood out. We see that God's children cannot save themselves by works either at salvation or as they progress in their walk. The works given are those predestined by God (I won't take the time now to look up the scriptures). With the Ephesian church; for instance they were doing everything right but they had left or lost their first love (I always get that one mixed up as to which it is).
We see also in the Gospels I think around Matthew 25 as I quoted yesterday in the Parable of the 10 virgins that there were workers of iniquity; in general anyone who tries to enter in another way; so to speak is attempting to do stuff in the presence of true believers but the Lord must be the one whose strength enables us to do His works. There are of course sins of commission and omission. In Matthew 24 discussing those who visit Him in prison and those who don't in the sheep and goat judgment in one sense describes practical works but also specifically is very likely how those in the Tribulation are judged as at that time (as we see in Revelation 6) everyone knows who God and Christ is; therefore we prove ourselves in helping the saints; who are in jail and end up being martyred. If we love Him we will obey His commandments; but of course it is the motives behind our actions that determine much of our reward or lack thereof.
Every word will be taken into account as stated by Christ ( Matt. 12:36).
Of course we all fail daily; we have to desire to seek Him with all our heart and move on growing in maturity and move on.
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