Will some saints in heaven experience more joy than others do?

Today's question comes from Jordy, a new pastor in the Albertan Prairies of Canada. Dear Pastor John

I recently listened through the 2004 Desiring God Pastors Conference

money ministry and the magnificence of Christ and one of the topics that arose in the speaker panel

was the concept of varying rewards in heaven. You and Randy Alcorn quoting Edwards

both hold that the reward is increased capacity for joy in Christ. Could you expand some more on where you are getting this understanding

biblically?

Well, first of all, let me clarify that I don't mean to imply in talking that way that there are not other

ways in the age to come that our rewards are experienced as different. Jesus says that you're going to rain over

sin cities. I'm going to rain over five cities. And I think that means very concretely and specifically it may happen just

that way. You may be the mayor of 10 big cities and I may be the mayor of five little cities. And I don't mean to imply those

specificities lose all their concreteness. So don't take it that way. But what we find in the New Testament is that the greatness of

our rewards in the age to come are said or is said to correspond to the life of obedience that we've lived here. We don't earn the

rewards. They're graciously given by God. We don't deserve them. And they will be evidences that God looks with favor upon his own

work of grace in our lives working through us. So the rewards are intended, not as evidences of being earned, but rather as occasions for

happiness in heaven, not disappointment. But if they are occasions for happiness and some people have greater rewards than

others, will not some people be happier than others. But isn't the picture of heaven where every tear is dried up and every

sorrow will be removed. And in God's presence is fullness of joy for all believers, some 16 11. So on the one hand, you have every

saint promised fullness of joy. I think that's right. And on the other hand, we're promised differing rewards, which are occasions for greater or lesser joy.

So how does that work? That's that's the question. So let me simply read a few passages so you get real clear textual foundation for the issue here.

These are these are texts that get at the differentiation in rewards in the age to come to Corinthians 510 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

So that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

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