Spurgeon On Idle Christians

1834-1892

Spurgeon in his sermon "A VOICE FROM HEAVEN" (see here) said (emphasis mine):

"Those, who thus entered into rest, exercised themselves in labors for Christ, for it is said, “They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” The idle Christian can have little hope of a reward. He who serves not his Master can scarcely expect that his Master will, at the last, gird Himself and serve him! If I address any here who are not bringing forth fruit unto God, I can say no less than this, “Every tree that brings not forth fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.” “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatever a man sows that shall he also reap.” The rule is invariable. It must be so. If there are no works and no labors for Christ, no suffering or patient endurance, we lack the main evidence of being the people of God at all!"

That deserves a hearty amen!

Continued Spurgeon:

"Good works follow Christians and they will be rewarded. The rewards of heaven will be all of grace, but there will be rewards. You cannot read the Scripture without perceiving that the Lord, first, gives us good works, and then, in His grace, rewards us for them! There is a, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and there is a proportionate allotment of reward to the man who was faithful with five talents and the man who was faithful with two. You, who live for Jesus, may be quite certain that your life will be recompensed in the world to come. I repeat it, the reward will not be of debt, but of grace—but a reward there will be."

Do not the scriptures teach this? Such as Isaiah 26:12 - "LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."