Why Rightly Divide? For Rewards in Heaven | Women's Bible Study

Once we are saved, we can then begin to earn rewards for heaven. But in order to do so, we need be properly edified in sound grace doctrine and to rightly divide the scriptures. We cannot serve God properly without rightly dividing, as discussed in previous studies and so without serving God properly we cannot earn rewards. 

2 Timothy 2:15-16

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings [false doctrines]: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We also earn rewards by choosing to live godly; sharing a clear gospel message with others; teach others sound grace doctrine; being kind, loving, charitable and encouraging to others; being thankful in all things; looking forward to Christ's glorious appearing.

Col 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Before we can live godly, we have to understand God's will today and to at least understand foundational doctrines. Godly living is thinking the way that God wants us to think, doing the things that God wants us to do, and labouring with God in the gospel of the grace of God. You cannot do any of this if you don't have sound grace doctrine built up in your inner man. We can think of God's word as being our curriculum. The book of Romans is foundational doctrine for the believer so you can think of it as "Grace 101". It is in the Pauline epistles that are written specifically to us today. We study the whole Bible but with an understanding of rightly dividing. 

When we learn to rightly divide the scriptures, we are building an edifice of sound grace doctrine in our inner man. Then, when we believe and obey it, we are living godly. So, in order to earn rewards for heaven, we MUST rightly divide the scriptures. 

2 Tim 2:20-21

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

We do not attempt to live godly from the energy of our flesh, but rather we read and study the scriptures rightly divided, meditate upon the word so that we properly digest it, and then believe it and obey it. This will lead to rewards in heaven. 

For women specifically, sharing the Gospel and teaching sound grace doctrine should begin with our children and families first. Then, as our children get older we can teach other women, especially younger women and those new to the faith.

Titus 2: 3-5

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Another important thing to understand is that living godly and even choosing to live godly is not easy. This is because our flesh doesn't want us to live godly. Our flesh wars against the Spirit. The spirit of God in us wants us to live godly but our flesh hates it. 

Gal 5:17

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The flesh doesn't want to suffer for the sake of the gospel. It doesn't want to feel uncomfortable by sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. It doesn't want to be a rightly dividing grace believer either because it prefers to fit in with other people who attend denominational or worldly evangelical churches. So part of our earning rewards has to do with us putting off the desires of the flesh and walking in the Spirit instead. We need to be renewing our minds with God's word regularly, even daily if possible. 

Romans 12:2 KJB 

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We also suffer persecution, from unbelievers and even from believers who are in apostasy, for our godly living. 

2 Timothy 3:12 KJB

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

All of our suffering though is not for nothing! We will earn rewards and hopefully more people that we know will choose to believe the gospel for themselves as they see Christ living in and through us as believers. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 - 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Romans 8:18 - For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

To earn rewards for heaven we should also be willing to share the gospel with unbelievers. We need to make sure that when we do so, it is the gospel of the grace of God and not some other gospel. This gospel is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 in the KJB. 

1 Cor 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

It is charitable to share the gospel of the grace of God with unbelievers. It's also charitable to teach sound grace doctrine to fellow believers with less understanding. Other acts of charity include loving and taking care of your family, encouraging fellow believers, being helpful at your local assembly if you have one, and being kind in general to all people, etc. This is allowing Christ and the sound grace doctrine to live in and through you. This too will earn rewards in heaven. 

1 Cor 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Since sharing the Gospel and teaching sound grace doctrine are charitable acts, you cannot do this if you are preaching the wrong gospel or if you don't understand God's word rightly divided for yourself. So again, rightly divided bible study is essential.

God also wants believers to be thankful in all things. We don't have to be thankful FOR everything but IN everything. We do also have many things to be thankful for, especially as believers. As we read and study God's word rightly divided however, we do become even more thankful because we understand God's amazing grace even more. So rightly divided bible study and thankfulness go hand in hand. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

As we rightly divide the scriptures we come to understand our blessed hope which includes the rapture and eternity in heaven. This will cause us to desire to see and be with the Lord on that glorious day. We not only desire it for ourselves, but for fellow believers as well. In fact, we will pray for his glorious appearing! We will at the same time be understanding that as we await that glorious day, we must be busy with the work of the ministry, and in getting more sound grace doctrine built up in our inner man. This work of the ministry for women includes caring for our families and teaching our children Gods word first. Also, looking forward to Christ's appearing, which is the rapture of the Church the Body of Christ, leads to receiving the "crown of righteousness". 

2 Timothy 4:8

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

What are rewards in heaven for?

You might be wondering, "what are rewards in heaven for and what does it matter to me?"

First of all, all believers WILL be judged at the believers judgment seat of Christ. This judgment is NOT for sin. It is based upon how much sound grace doctrine that we have built up in our inner man that we believed and obeyed. Our rewards will determine the "heavenly careers" that we will have. God can only give us a career in heaven that we are properly trained for. We are training here so that we can rule with Christ there.

1 Cor 3:12-15

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

13 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.

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

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

How we spend our time here on earth after we are saved is VERY important and we really only have so much time on this earth. We don't know when we will die or when the rapture will occur. 

Ephesians 5:16-17

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

All Glory goes to God. We are just CHOOSING to study, then allowing Christ to live in and through us. That's the "earned rewards" part, the choosing to study and the allowing. But everything done through us that brings glory to God is because of His word and His spirit living in and through us. 

Ephesians 1: 17-18

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

So if you haven't yet learned to rightly divide the scriptures, why not start learning today!

Video