There are two lines of truth very clearly distinguished in Scripture which are often confounded by those who do not read discriminatingly and who are not given to "rightly dividing the Word of Truth." I refer to the subjects, "Salvation by Grace" and "Reward for Service." To the casual reader of the New Testament it sometimes seems as though there is apparent contradiction, when in one place we are distinctly told that we are saved by grace alone, apart from works, whereas, in another, we are just as clearly told that we are to be rewarded according to our works. It is only as we learn the mind of the Spirit in regard to these two very different lines of teaching that the soul is set free from self-occupation and given to know the blessedness of peace with God, on the ground of pure grace, thus leaving one free to serve in the happy knowledge that the sin question is forever settled, but that service is the outflow of a grateful heart to the One who has redeemed us, and yet that He, in His wondrous loving-kindness, take's note of everything we do for Him, and will reward accordingly.

At the very outset it may be well to link together a number of scriptures which present these various phases of truth. In Romans 4:3-5 we read:

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Here we learn that, just as Abraham was accounted righteous before God on the ground of faith alone, so to-day we who believe are justified from all our ungodliness the moment we trust in Christ. Were it otherwise, were it necessary that we should prove ourselves worthy in order to be saved, our salvation would not be of grace, for we would be putting God in our debt. If salvation is a reward for service, then, clearly, God would owe it to the one who faithfully performed whatever service He demanded, to save that soul in exchange for the good deeds done. This, of course, would not be grace. How different is the principle on which we are justified! It is "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly." Nothing can be clearer than this, and yet how many have stumbled over it. Now let us link with this Ephesians 2:8-10:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God:not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Here again we have the precious truth manifested, that salvation is altogether of grace through faith; that is, through believing the testimony that God has given. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Therefore even the faith by which we are saved is in no sense of ourselves; it is God's gift, for it is not until He gives a testimony that we can believe; but when that testimony comes home to us in the power of the Holy Spirit and we put our trust in it, we are saved. This leaves no place whatever for works as a procuring cause of salvation. Were it otherwise, there would be ground for boasting. If I could obtain a place in Heaven because of my devotion to Christ down here, I would have good reason to congratulate myself for all Eternity upon that very devotion which had led to so blessed a result. But no saint in Heaven will ever give himself credit for anything he has ever done. The song of all the redeemed will be, "Unto Him that loveth us and hath washed us from our sins in His own blood, be glory and honor, dominion, and power and might forever and ever." And yet, in the tenth verse of our passage, we are just as distinctly told that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works; that is, we did not enter the new creation through good works, but having been brought into this new creation by faith, it is now incumbent upon us, as obedient children, to walk in righteousness before God, living in good works which God has pre-appointed to characterize those who are saved.

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, the apostle tells us of the testing which evidently takes place at the judgment-seat of Christ. Notice verses 11 to 15:

"For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man's work shall be made manifest:for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

According to this passage, every believer is a workman building upon the foundation already laid, which is Jesus Christ. His work may be according to the Spirit, likened unto gold, silver and costly stones, or according to the flesh, and likened unto wood, hay, stubble. The day of manifestation will reveal what is of God and what is not. For that work which abides reward will "be given, but that which does not abide will disappear in the cleansing fires of judgment, and for the wasted time the believer will suffer loss. His salvation, however, is not in question. He would not appear at this scene of testing if he were not already saved. The destruction of his works does not touch this question. Though everything should be burned up, he, himself, shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

Another helpful passage in this connection is found in Hebrews 10:35,36:

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

It is to persons already saved that the exhortation comes:"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." This same principle was true in olden times, for we read in chapter 11, of Israel's great leader, that,

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."

There can be no question but that Moses was already a quickened soul, a child of God, in whom justifying faith dwelt, when he made his great renunciation and gave up a throne for a wilderness tent, for his eye discerned and his heart was set upon the reward in eternal ages, reserved for the one who put the testimony of God before personal comfort and convenience.

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

No believer can lose his salvation, for that is not in his keeping. We are told this distinctly in John 10:27-29:

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand."

But we may lose at least a portion of our reward.

There are two verses in the Book of Revelation which fit together beautifully in this connection. In chapter 3:11 the Lord announces His near return, saying:

"Behold, I come quickly:hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take 'thy crown."

In chapter 22:12 He says:

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

These two verses make one thing very clear, which forms the basis of a most interesting and helpful study for our encouragement and warning. The reward spoken of in the latter passage is evidently synonymous with the crown of the other.

In our next paper we will examine the use of the word here translated "crown" in the New Testament. H. A. Ironside

(To be continued, D.V.)