A question about Heaven

[Emmylouwho]

Does everyone who winds up in Heaven get the same reward? Let's say a Christian who truly believes, but hasn't managed to help lead another soul to Christ. Would their reward be the same as one who led thousands of souls to Christ?

 

[Albion]

Does everyone who winds up in Heaven get the same reward?

According to the Bible...no.

Heaven is the reward we all think about, but those who are saved will come in for different levels of reward aside from simply being admitted to heaven .

 

[Emmylouwho]

According to the Bible...no.

Heaven is the reward we all think about, but those who are saved will come in for different levels of reward aside from simply being admitted to heaven .

What could be better than just being there in the first place?

 

[Albion]

What could be better than just being there in the first place?

Well, we aren't given to know awfully much about the specifics of heaven, are we? But the question you asked is definitely answered in scripture.

 

[Bro. Dave Gardner]

What could be better than just being there in the first place?

Working to make sure others get there. Like Christ does.

 

[Emmylouwho]

Working to make sure others get there. Like Christ does.

That would suggest that life on Earth is better than life in Heaven. No souls to save in Heaven.

 

[Halbhh]

What could be better than just being there in the first place?

That's my own attitude...and...we do know we must "bear fruit" (from Him, doing as He says) -- that those who do not bear fruit will be "cut off" and look: "thrown into the fire" (!) --

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes a so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
---------
John 15 NIV

As you can see, the key fruit is to love each other. That includes a lot of different ways, all of them valuable.

 

[Rescued One]

Does everyone who winds up in Heaven get the same reward? Let's say a Christian who truly believes, but hasn't managed to help lead another soul to Christ. Would their reward be the same as one who led thousands of souls to Christ?

All Christians have the imputed righteousness of Christ. The gift of God is eternal life.

http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/bible/do_christians_receive_rewards_in_heaven.shtml

 

[renniks]

What could be better than just being there in the first place?

First of all there's a lot of popular misconceptions about heaven. Heaven isn't ultimately going to a endless worship service in the sky. The New Jerusalem comes down to the remade Earth, so that heaven and earth become one. I believe we will be able to go to all the places you love on this earth now, and see them in their perfect form, as they will be remade without any of the effects of the curse. But there are indications that there are different degrees of reward. Personally just getting there at all is enough for me.

 

[public hermit]

Does everyone who winds up in Heaven get the same reward? Let's say a Christian who truly believes, but hasn't managed to help lead another soul to Christ. Would their reward be the same as one who led thousands of souls to Christ?

I read somewhere (years ago) that the rewards do differ, but no one will feel slighted or that theirs is any less than another's. I take it we will all just be overjoyed to be there!

 

[Rescued One]

That's my own attitude...and...we do know we must "bear fruit" (from Him, doing as He says) -- that those who do not bear fruit will be "cut off" and look: "thrown into the fire" (!) --

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes a so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
---------
John 15 NIV

As you can see, the key fruit is to love each other. That includes a lot of different ways, all of them valuable.

Hypocrites don't bear fruit.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

[Halbhh]

Hypocrites don't bear fruit.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Yes, and we can remember He said: John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

 

[Dave-W]

Hypocrites don't bear fruit.

Not sure they make it to heaven at all.

 

[Rescued One]

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

1 Thessalonians 4:9
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Hebrews 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.

Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

 

[Bro. Dave Gardner]

That would suggest that life on Earth is better than life in Heaven. No souls to save in Heaven.

That's very clever. What was I thinking? Self-serving must be a better way.

 

[Emmylouwho]

That's very clever. What was I thinking? Self-serving must be a better way.

“self-serving must be a better way”

What does that mean?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Does everyone who winds up in Heaven get the same reward? Let's say a Christian who truly believes, but hasn't managed to help lead another soul to Christ. Would their reward be the same as one who led thousands of souls to Christ?

That is entirely up to the Sovereign Creator, and His Judgment.

There are from Scripture different crowns awarded, by the Father or by Jesus,
so that indicates possibly different rewards, but not based on man's understanding - rather fully based on the Perfect Understanding, Wisdom and Plan of the Father.

Remember the worker who works for the last hour only, may be paid as much as the worker who works for a full day, as illustrated in Jesus' Parable. It is not based on merit nor on man's accomplishments as seen by men, but on God's Perfect Choice - He Does as He Pleases.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Not sure they make it to heaven at all.

Good timing - I just noted this/ copied from search/ a few minutes ago for something else, (or for God's Purpose here?)

Weymouth New Testament
"Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow gate," He answered; "for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour to find a way in and will not succeed.

World English Bible
"Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

Young's Literal Translation
'Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

That would suggest that life on Earth is better than life in Heaven. No souls to save in Heaven.

How is being surrounded by lost souls who won't be saved, better than finally being in the life to come, resurrected, with all the souls who are saved by Jesus ?

 

[Dave-W]

Young's Literal Translation
'Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;

Bishop Joseph Garlington (from Promise Keepers) said once a leader from his denomination growing up quipped that only 7 or 8 people from all of time and eternity would actually be saved and end up in heaven. So not even half of the biblical authors would make it.