Believer's Eternal Rewards in Heaven According to Scripture

Believers' eternal rewards in heaven are consistently presented in Scripture as a future reality, encompassing a transformed existence in the presence of God and Christ, characterized by rest, glory, and an inheritance that is both promised and guaranteed ^{[1, 5, 17]}. This concept of "eternal life" appears in the Old Testament in Daniel 12:2 and frequently throughout the New Testament, signifying the complete future of the redeemed ^[1].

The foundation of this reward is rooted in God's grace and is received through faith ^[5]. It is not earned by human merit, as Romans 4:4-5 indicates, but is a result of God's good pleasure ^[5]. Christ himself prepares this reward for believers ^[5].

The Nature of Eternal Life and Heaven

Eternal life is understood as a newness of life derived from Christ ^[1]. It is given by God and Christ, found in Christ, and comes through Christ ^[8]. To know God and Christ is considered eternal life ^[8]. This life is promised to those who believe in God and Christ ^{[4, 8]}. The concept of eternal life is revealed in the Scriptures ^[8].

Heaven, the dwelling place of God, is described as everlasting, immeasurable, high, and holy ^[7]. It is where God's throne is located, and He reigns there ^[7]. The New Testament further elaborates on the nature of heaven, particularly in the book of Revelation, which depicts a "new heaven and new earth" ^{[10, 14]}. This vision, described in Revelation 21:1-22:9, portrays a new community and home for God's people, fashioned and given by God ^[14]. Adam Clarke notes that this new heaven and new earth signify a renewed state of things, where God dwells with humanity ^[12]. Precious and luxurious earthly items are depicted as common building materials in this heavenly realm, suggesting a radical revaluation of worth ^[11].

Key Aspects of Believers' Rewards

Several key aspects characterize the eternal rewards for believers:

Being with Christ: A central element of the reward is being with Christ ^[5]. Jesus himself promised, "Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life" (John 6:47) ^[2]. This includes beholding the glory of Christ and being glorified with Him ^[5].
Beholding God's Face: Believers are promised the reward of seeing God's face ^[5]. Matthew 5:8 states, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Rest: The eternal reward is often described as a "Sabbath of rest" ^{[1, 16]}. This rest is not merely an absence of labor but a spiritual blessing, a peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Spirit, which believers begin to experience in this life and which culminates in eternal glory ^[16].
Inheritance: Believers receive an inheritance ^[17]. The Spirit serves as an "earnest," or a down payment, guaranteeing this future inheritance ^{[9, 17]}. This inheritance includes everything God has promised ^[17]. The righteous are said to "inherit the land, and live in it forever" (Psalm 37:29) ^[3].
Glorified Bodies: Believers' bodies will be changed into glorious bodies, as indicated in Philippians 3:21 ^[13]. This transformation is a part of the ultimate redemption and glorification with Christ ^{[5, 13]}.
Sharing in Christ's Reign: The reward for victorious and obedient faith is to "sit with Christ on his throne" ^[15]. While Christians do not become divine, they share in Christ's victorious reign ^[15].

Assurance and Perseverance

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints affirms that once justified and regenerated, believers will certainly continue in grace and attain everlasting life ^[6]. This is supported by passages such as John 10:28-29 and Philippians 1:6 ^[6]. This perseverance is rooted in the immutability of divine decrees, the provisions of the covenant of grace, and the atoning work of Christ ^[6]. The Holy Spirit acts as a guarantee of future blessings and a foretaste of eternal life and power, ensuring the believer's destined inheritance ^{[9, 17]}.

The New Jerusalem

The vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22 provides a detailed picture of the ultimate eternal reward ^[14]. This city is described as the "site of holy perfection" and the "ultimate Garden of Eden" ^[14]. It is a place where God dwells with humanity, and there is no need for a temple because God and the Lamb are its temple and light ^[12]. The gates of this city will never be shut, and no defilement will enter it ^[12]. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it ^[12]. This imagery emphasizes the complete restoration and sanctification of creation, where God's presence is immediate and pervasive ^[14].

The concept of eternal rewards is not merely about a distant future but also has implications for the present life of the believer. The "earnest" of the Spirit provides a foretaste of eternal life and power, connecting the present experience of grace with the future hope ^{[9, 17]}. This perspective encourages perseverance and obedience, knowing that the ultimate reward is secure in Christ ^[15].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Eternal life — This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Dan. 12:2 (R.V., "everlasting life"). It occurs frequently in the New Testament (Matt. 7:14; 18:8, 9; Luke 10:28; comp. 18:18). It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9), and is opposed to "eternal punishment" (Matt. 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:8; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Heb. 4:9; comp. 12:22). The newness of life which the believer derives from Christ (Rom. 6:4) is the ”
John “Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. -- John 6:47”
Psalms “The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. -- Psalms 37:29”
John “John 3:15 (ASV) — that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reward of Saints, The — Is from God -- Ro 2:7; Col 3:24; Heb 11:6. Is of grace, through faith alone -- Ro 4:4,5,16; 11:6. Is of God's good pleasure -- Mt 20:14,15; Lu 12:32. Prepared by God -- Heb 11:16. Prepared by Christ -- Joh 14:2. As servants of Christ -- Col 3:24. Not on account of their merits -- Ro 4:4,5. Described as Being with Christ. -- Joh 12:26; 14:3; Php 1:23; 1Th 4:17. Beholding the face of God. -- Ps 17:15; Mt 5:8; Re 22:4. Beholding the glory of Christ. -- Joh 17:24. Being glorified with Christ. -- Ro 8:17,18; Col 3:4; Php 3:21; 1Jo 3:2. Sitting in j”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Perseverance of the saints — Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life. This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, 29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jer. 31:3; Matt. 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jer. 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the ato”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Earnest — The Spirit is the earnest of the believer's destined inheritance (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14). The word thus rendered is the same as that rendered "pledge" in Gen. 38:17-20; "indeed, the Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin languages, probably through commercial dealings with the Phoenicians, the great trading people of ancient days. Originally it meant no more than a pledge; but in common usage it came to denote that particular kind of pledge which is a part of the full price of an article paid in advance; and as it is joined with the fi”
2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 3:21: 3:21 change them into glorious bodies: See 1 Cor 15:42-54; cp. Rom 8:23. • he will bring everything under his control: See 1 Cor 15:24-27.”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 3:21: 3:21 The reward for victorious and obedient faith is to sit with Christ on his throne. Christians do not become divine, but they share in Christ’s victorious reign (20:4, 6; 22:5; Col 3:1-4; 2 Tim 2:12).”
Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 4:3: For we which have believed do enter into rest - The great spiritual blessings, the forerunners of eternal glory, which were all typified by that earthly rest or felicity promised to the ancient Israelites, we Christians do, by believing in Christ Jesus, actually possess. We have peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost; are saved from the guilt and power of sin; and thus enjoy an inward rest. But this is a rest differing from the seventh day's rest, or Sabbath, which was the original type of Canaan, the blessings of the Gospel, and eternal glory; seeing God sa”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:14: 1:14 The Spirit is both God’s guarantee of future blessings and a foretaste of eternal life and power. The believer’s eternal inheritance includes everything he promised (see also 1:18; Rom 8:17; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Gal 3:29; 4:7; Col 1:12; 3:24; Titus 3:7).”

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