To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
God will in righteous judgment without partiality give everlasting life to every person who keeps on doing good in patient endurance while seeking glory and honor and undying life. That glory and undying life must be sought because no one possesses natural immortality, since it was promised on obedience, was lost through transgression and could not be passed on, but has been brought back within reach through the sacrifice of Christ to all who meet its conditions by faith and faithful doing. It is obtained only through Christ, His blood and righteousness received by faith and lived out, requiring obedience to the moral law, keeping the commandments, and thorough conversion in which character is purified and made new. Patient continuance means steady persevering goodness to the end of the race, not an occasional impulse, shown in humble service and self-denial, in overcoming sin and self, in sharing Christ's sufferings now to share His glory, and in daily consecration, prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. The reward is bestowed when Christ comes in glory with His angels in resurrection, reunion and endless happiness in the renewed earth, while those who disobey truth and do evil receive indignation, anguish and at last the second death, with every destiny fixed daily during probation and unchangeable when mercy ends.
Judgment According to Deeds
The verse belongs to the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, in which He will render to every person according to deeds, giving eternal life to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. That eternal life held out to be sought is a life that runs parallel with the life of Jehovah, so vast that the human mind finds it hard to reach out and lay hold of it and appreciate it as it is. God deals with each person individually, counting person by person, and this possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality is brought within the reach of each person through faith in Christ.
That judgment is with no respect of persons, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, with glory, honour and peace to every worker of good and indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that does evil, upon the contentious who do not obey truth but obey unrighteousness. It is not decided according to outward nearness to Him, position, possessions, or color, and no trampling of His law escapes divine wrath, nor is it according to poverty, for God judges without partiality for position, color, or poverty. Selfish ambitious striving to be first or greatest and contention about places, position and self-exaltation stand condemned beside steady goodness, usefulness, honour, service and self-denial that esteems others better and seeks to be a strength and blessing to others.
Its setting contrasts the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, which leads to repentance, with hardness and impenitent heart that despises them and treasures up wrath against the day of wrath. Whoever judges another for doing what he himself does condemns himself and will not escape the judgment of God, for His righteous judgment is according to truth against them which commit such things. In the same context not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers of the law shall be justified, so that those who sinned without law perish without law and those who sinned in the law are judged by the law. Even those favored as the chosen nation and repository and keepers of the holy oracles, if by transgressing the law and breaking the covenant they despise His goodness instead of appreciating the pearl of great price, treasure up wrath rather than escape it.
Judgment according to works is according to formed character, and the case of each one is decided on this basis, with punishment proportionate to the light and opportunity rejected and to the good that might have been done but was not. Each person is accountable for abilities and opportunities entrusted, for received great light and peculiar advantages and gifts, for misused opportunities, for leading others astray and dishonoring God by contending against truth, turning from God's way to their own way, turning truth into a lie, and walking contrary to its principles, showing God to be a God of justice whose ways are equal. Human conduct in this world decides eternal destiny, as a man sows so he reaps, receiving good or evil according to deeds even in this life with cause followed by effect, and at the great day every case is forever decided as written in the books of heaven, with the justice of heaven's laws vindicated against false theories and with God honoring those who honor Him by faithful obedience to His definite requirements, including the holy Sabbath day. The judgment at the near end will give every soul exactly the tone of character and morals cultivated in this life, for each will stand with just the spirit and character cherished and indulged in home life, with neighbors and with family members, according as they appreciated and obeyed the words of Christ, and each must answer for the consequences of personal choice without excuse in another's neglect.
Judgment has been given only to Christ, because He lived humanity and alone understands human weakness and human striving to attain Christian perfection. Therefore no one has the right to measure the characters of fellow church members and condemn them for their faults. Counterfeit Christians are in every church, but the tares and the wheat must grow together until the harvest, for the church militant today is not yet the church triumphant and the work of judgment has not been committed into human hands.
Immortality Sought, Not Innate
Eternal life is given to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. Glory and honour and immortality leading to eternal life are to be sought, which proves people do not already possess natural immortality by nature of soul. If they already had immortality there would be no need to seek for it, for God alone has immortality and the dead await the resurrection to receive immortal life.
Immortality was promised to Adam on condition of obedience. By transgression and disobedience Adam forfeited that promised immortality. Having lost it he could not transmit to his posterity what he no longer possessed, leaving all under death and extinction, with nothing naturally possessed or passed down.
By the sacrifice of His Son God brought immortality within reach of fallen humanity. It is not obtained through human beings, but only through Christ, who renders to every man according to his deeds. This possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality, a life that measures with the life of God, is brought within the reach of each person. Every person may receive this priceless gift and blessing, which is God's gift through Jesus Christ and not an inherent possession of every soul, by complying with its conditions through faith in Christ and a life of faithful well-doing in obedience.
Eternal Life Described
The eternal life promised to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality is a life that runs parallel with the life of Jehovah and measures with the life of God, living as long as God lives. It is so vast that the human mind finds it hard to reach out and lay hold of it and appreciate it as it is. It is to be enjoyed in seeing Christ as He is and enjoying His presence through the ceaseless ages of eternity, while taking all eternity to comprehend the science of redemption. That seeking means aiming for a life that measures with the life of God, learning what is worth being perpetuated and cultivating attributes that will not perish when every evil purpose, thought, and action ends. It is done by entertaining thoughts profitable to soul and body that flow forth from God, refusing excuse for unbelief or feeble, dwarfed spirituality, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge, and intelligence, and pressing forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling, with unlimited resources because in giving Christ God gave all the treasures of heaven and both begins and completes the good work so that believers need not falter, fail, or be discouraged.
To be made capable of that immortality is to use God-given endowments as reasoning sons and daughters of Adam to make progress, to be elevated and ennobled and sanctified, to hold converse with God, and to develop the moral image of God in man. It means drawing nigh to Christ and opening the heart to receive Him, becoming one with Him through faith by taking hold upon His nature, becoming partakers of His divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and becoming members of the royal family as sons and daughters of the heavenly King and a child of God, an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Through faithful continuance in well doing all may delight their souls in Him and grow in grace and wisdom and love, becoming like Christ through step-by-step growth in personal acquaintance with the Saviour, putting away strife and contention, and making the most careful preparation to meet the King of kings. It is given on condition of obedience, for people are not their own to do as they please with themselves because they belong to the Lord by creation and redemption, and He paid the redemption price to save every soul of great value from eternal ruin, and obedience is possible because each individual has heavenly resources at command by faith laying hold on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. When the soul is lost through sin, the most valuable object in the world is lost.
Glory, honour, peace, immortality and eternal life are the crown, white robes, unfading inheritance reserved in heaven, and eternal world of glory for overcomers and conquerors. Everyone who enters God's city enters as a conqueror and as a son of God, not as a condemned criminal, and at the final judgment the redeemed are shown with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, while the wicked recognize what they have lost. If those of wealth and those honored by the world accept Christ they receive the very highest honor, which the world can neither give nor take away, even a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, laying up treasure beside the throne of God, and in keeping the commandments they find exceeding great reward, in contrast to earthly honors that perish and possessions that are lost. Eternal life is the reward decided by what is done on earth, especially the way humanity and God's people are treated, whether feeding the hungry, giving drink, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, or failing to do so. It belongs to those who overcome perverted appetite and hurtful lust and do good willingly and gladly with Christ abiding in them, meeting around the great white throne to join in praise, honor, and glory to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.
That reward includes resurrection when mortality is swallowed up of life, coming forth from graves crowned with glory and honor and immortality. Those who love and fear God receive His special favor, are supported by Him as they enter the dark valley of death, and rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness with joy beaming from every face. It includes reunion with loved ones never more to be separated, for the grave holds the dead only a little while and the bereaved who endure affliction well and hold fast truth will at the appearing of Jesus be crowned together with the faithful companion and meet again and need not sorrow as those who have no hope. While probation remains, a person may turn back and, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life in a life of faithful service to God, keeping the face and steps always directed heavenward.
Received Through Christ
Eternal life is given to those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek glory and honor and immortality, with God dealing with each person individually and rendering to every one according to deeds. That possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality is brought within reach through faith in Christ, and is not obtained through human beings but through Him. Well-doing belongs with Christ's righteousness received by faith, becoming part of life and producing Christian virtues and works, while Christ works within to make the person new and complete. It may be sought through His merits, blood and ransom price, by taking hold upon His nature and trusting Him as personal Saviour under the Spirit's work, and Jesus values the effort of every tried and tempted soul who perseveres. His righteousness does not cover cherished sin, so those who receive it must pursue holiness, follow His example, use lent means to relieve suffering and carry the gospel forward rather than hoarding or consuming on self, for refusal destroys the soul.
The moral law was ordained to life, promising eternal life as the reward of the faithful to the obedient who walk in harmony with its claims, while to those under its condemnation it is bondage and death. Obedience is the condition of gaining eternal life, given on condition of obedience to an immortal life and imperishable treasure, and it can be kept only through Jesus Christ. Practice must be in harmony with profession, for one professing Christianity yet living as a sinner will not gain the reward but suffer with transgressors, and God must be sought with the whole heart without trifling. This requires keeping the commandments including the Sabbath, overcoming perverted appetite, and strict obedience with no vindication for continuing in transgression, since disobedience places a person on Satan's side and calls for repentance. It is possible because people belong to the Lord by creation and redemption at great price to save from eternal ruin, with heavenly resources at command by faith laying hold on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, whose righteousness is imparted to those consenting for Him to take away sins and whose grace makes believers complete to meet the condition.
Gaining it requires thorough reformation, transformation of life and thorough conversion, with Christ formed within as the hope of glory. Every defect of character is to be remedied and refined as gold purified, with jealous conscientious watch over self in recognition that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Character for heaven is formed by decided perseverance in righteousness and daily disciplining of mind through religious practice to love devotional things, not by human power alone but by firm reliance on God and strong active faith working inward transformation to subdue passions, appetites, will and self. Drawing near to Christ and opening the heart to receive Him makes one partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, becoming sons and daughters of the heavenly King and members of the royal family through love revealed at Calvary, growing in grace, wisdom and love as God draws near to all who draw near to Him. This is attained by becoming like Christ through step-by-step growth in personal acquaintance with the Saviour, putting away strife and contention, replacing self-sufficiency with humility and dependence, and making most careful preparation to meet the King of kings.
Eternal life is held out on the same terms to all without partiality, with all under the same law judged according to deeds. Distinctions of society fade at the cross, so believing sinners of every grade and nationality, black and white, are accepted and forgiven alike, received as sons and daughters, raised from ignorance and degradation, and given the same hope of the higher life and place in the redeemed family when Christ comes in the clouds and the righteous dead rise to meet Him. God distinguishes the righteous from the wicked in His church on earth, giving the obedient commandment-keeping people controlled by the Spirit peace and comfort in this life even amid trial, and glory, honor, peace and immortality in the life to come, while to the wicked He gives confusion and unrest now and shame everlasting hereafter. Unselfish labor for the uplifting, educating and self-support of the most needy, poor, neglected and ignorant keeps their essential good in view and is accepted by God.
Patient Continuance Defined
Patient continuance is persevering step by step until the race is finished and victory is gained at last. It is steady purpose and untiring effort that endures to the end, not an occasional impulse and not a work of salvation as child's play to be taken up at will and left at pleasure. It requires decision of character, fortitude, firmness and steadiness that is not swerved to the right or left by circumstances or by the influence of unbelievers. Without reform from vacillation and indecision a person is easily ensnared, taken captive at will, overcome and loses the soul, while wavering and giving up lead to defeat and steadfast continuance secures eternal life and enables a saving influence over the family. The Christian life so understood is a lifelong struggle for continual advancement, yet progress on the heavenly path can be hopeful for those who hold the beginning of confidence firm to the end, endure testing as gold in the fire, and reject carnal security, boasting in self and living at ease.
It means steady goodness, usefulness, honour, service and self-denial that esteems others better and seeks to be a strength and blessing to others. Its opposite is selfish ambitious striving to be first or greatest, contention about places, position and self-exaltation, and being contentious and not obeying truth but obeying unrighteousness. In positive form it is faithful work in service as co-workers with Christ, devoting lent gifts to Him instead of crippling or abusing them, doing best in God's sight, employing ability in doing good to others, practicing economy and self-denial to sustain God's cause, and forming character after the divine pattern instead of criticizing others, making others' faults an excuse, or fretting over evils that cannot be helped. It is shown in humble character, trust, sympathy and care for the needy, in patient toil and dependence on God by rich and poor alike to point others to Jesus, and in self-denying labor for the fatherless and widows as genuine fruit of good character and true worship more acceptable than zealous worship without such works. Eating and drinking and all else done to God's glory belongs to this same faithful well-doing, with each soul's value measured by the price paid for it.
Such continuance forms a character fit for heaven by decided perseverance in righteousness and by daily disciplining the mind through religious practice to love devotional and heavenly things and find happiness in them. It overcomes defects of character by resisting self-indulgence amid temptation and walking humbly and loyally toward God. Patient persevering obedience builds capacity to withstand tests of faith and remain faithful to God's law, directing desire toward willing service and heavenly pursuits of lasting value rather than earthly things that divert attention. This standard is not reached by human power alone but by firm reliance on God and strong active faith that works inward transformation, subduing passions, appetites, will and self. Character so obtained comes only through Christ, is not transferred as an estate nor bought or sold, but is won by personal merit, persevering industry and faithful toil in accord with Bible principles, procuring what is worthy and pure and exalted.
It joins sharing Christ's sufferings now to sharing His glory, through enduring trials, overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil, suffering for His sake, cheerfully suffering and crucifying self daily. Following Christ in humble service even when it brings reproach, dealing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God, belongs to patiently doing what is right rather than seeking popularity or worldly rank. Living for future immortal life rather than present pleasure is its pattern after Christ's example, for neglect of duty forfeits the eternal reward and leaves a person counted unfaithful. The prospect of blissful immortality held out to those who endure to the end gives elevating power and strength to resist evil, so that with God within and God overhead fear is removed, the Bible lights darkness, and steadfastness in trial gains at last a crown that never fades.
It is sustained by laying hold upon God with all strength and loving Him with undivided heart, as copartner and laborer together with God and partaker of the divine nature. Attainment comes through daily consecration of self to God to help others with cheerful kind words and heart-to-heart oneness, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, and through following Christ who was tempted in all points yet without sin to succor the tempted. Strong faith and much prayer bring heavenly angels to the side of those who persist as channels of light while God tests motives and principles. Such persistence requires being emptied of self, denying self and lifting the cross, walking before God in faith and trust with willing devotion of heart and mind, gaining God's desired victories by the Spirit's help, with wisdom and strength rewarding energy and perseverance as God's gifts to the diligent humble worker and fitting the consecrated for usefulness, honor and perilous service despite lack of education and obstacles. This striving calls for faith, sobriety, watchful prayer, firm decision, pure integrity and cheerful thankfulness rather than mourning, for without watching unto prayer a person will fail at last, while humility and dependence replace self-sufficiency as Christ works within to make the person new and complete.
Reward and Warning
The reward is laid up in heaven and is rendered when the Son of man comes in the glory of His Father with His angels to give to every person according to deeds and works. Those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality then receive eternal life, and gaining it is worth a lifelong effort. Those who waited for and loved His appearing, who endured affliction and held fast the truth, are crowned by Christ with glory and honor and immortality, to dwell in His presence where there is never sorrow or sighing. Those who do little or nothing for the salvation of souls or to benefit others, who are too slothful to invest in the truth and in saving others, who seek their own ease and pleasure and shun burdens and crosses and responsibilities, will be disappointed to find they have no reward. That well-doing is sincere, faithful, God-given work done in union and consecration to Christ, going where His providence leads and speaking His words, persisting in spite of obstacles, difficulties, trials and opposition, which are His discipline and conditions of progress, so that character is formed after the divine pattern and fitted for the glorious mansions He has gone to prepare.
Receiving the crown requires being pure in heart and perfect in character through His grace and righteousness, living now in heaven's sinless atmosphere in order to behold His glory, sanctified by His word and prepared to see the King in His beauty when probation closes. It requires not being taken up with pleasure and amusement, unlike the perishing honors of the world, but earnestly seeking God, obeying His will, relying on His strength, and seeking to bless others, with everlasting life centered in Jesus. The opposite portion belongs to the contentious who do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness and do evil. Upon every soul that does evil come indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, while glory, honor and peace come to every one that works good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, for there is no respect of persons.
That righteous judgment is according to truth and by law, so that those who sinned without law perish without law and those who sinned in the law are judged by the law, for not the hearers of the law are just but the doers shall be justified, and no one who judges another while doing the same things will escape. It stands in the setting of the riches of goodness and forbearance and long-suffering leading to repentance, which hardness and impenitent heart despise, treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment. Men and women are daily deciding their own destiny by whether they serve God or serve Him not, walking softly before His Word, honoring Him by faithful obedience to His definite requirements including the holy Sabbath, sowing and reaping good or evil according to deeds even in this life. When sides have been taken for or against the law of Jehovah and the season of mercy and probation is ended, God moves in the straight line of justice to give to every one as his works have been, and at the great day every case is forever decided for happiness and eternal life or for destruction.
Those who continue in well-doing, laying hold of truth by repentance and faith in Jesus and using lent means to relieve suffering humanity and carry the gospel forward instead of hoarding or consuming on self, are lifted from human woe and degradation to eternal life. Those who refuse this well-doing and disobey and make void His law destroy themselves and receive the uncompromising reward of evil deeds, which is the second death, death without hope of a resurrection, inflicted for the good of the universe and for the good of the sinner, showing love and justice combined. Each person is judged individually according to light and privileges and opportunities as written in the books of heaven, those who receive Christ and keep the commandments being blessed with everlasting life while those who serve sin face judgment and final loss, and the destiny fixed when probation closes is not changed by later opportunity. The gospel dispensation is the last probation, with abundance of evidence of God's desire to save all to condemn those who refuse heaven's gift, and there is no second trial for the disloyal when the cross of Calvary stands plainly before them to show that obedience would have brought life and health and prosperity and eternal good. The crown of glory and immortality belongs to the future life and is received with acceptance only then, for the church militant today is not yet the church triumphant.
The church on earth now is not perfect, because earth is not heaven and judgment has not been committed to human hands but only to Christ, who lived humanity and alone understands human weakness and striving for perfection. It is composed of erring men and women, with counterfeit Christians among them, yet tares and wheat must grow together until the harvest and no one has the right to measure and condemn fellow members for faults. They need patient, painstaking effort to be educated, trained and disciplined by precept and example until fitted for that crowning.
Daily Life Application
The verse calls for earnest persevering work in highways as well as byways, giving the gospel invitation to both rich and poor, and especially seeking out wealthy and honored men rather than passing by those to whom much has been entrusted. Those men are to be wisely educated to seek the eternal weight of glory, to lay up treasure beside the throne by employing their talents to open ways for perishing souls, and to receive in Christ the highest honor the world can neither give nor take away, even a life that measures with the life of God. Laborers together with God carry appointed responsibility to help those they reach secure immortality by precept and example, and education must fit students for that usefulness. Such perseverance in well-doing makes believers channels of light, tested in motives and principles, emptied of self, denying self and lifting the cross, gaining victories through the Holy Spirit, with strong faith and much prayer bringing heavenly angels to the side and with wisdom and strength rewarding energy and perseverance as gifts to the diligent humble worker. Christ by giving His life as ransom has placed before all the privilege of winning the life to come by perseverance in well-doing.
Temporal possessions are entrusted during probation to test whether people can be trusted with eternal riches, and faithful stewardship prepares them to receive the purchased possession of glory, honor and immortality. That well-doing includes using lent money to relieve suffering humanity and to carry the gospel forward instead of hoarding it or consuming it on self, for those who refuse destroy themselves and in the day when every case is decided for happiness and eternal life or for destruction they will be destroyed.
In family life parents cooperate with God in a most sacred sense to teach children from infancy to know God, whom to know aright is life eternal, and to reject evil and choose good. Patient continuance in doing good is essential to parental duty, requiring avoidance of overbearing mastery and of a criticizing fault-finding spirit, because words and tones teach children for good or ill, cross words teach them to speak the same way, and make the refining influence of the Holy Spirit of no effect. It means submitting to correction, subduing a strong jealous passionate spirit, and keeping face and steps directed heavenward under double responsibility in guiding little ones in the nurture of the Lord. Seeking glory, honor, immortality and eternal life means choosing Christ as master and obeying Him, which is inconsistent with joining life and interests to one who rejects Christ since the two may follow opposed paths toward life and death, yet while probation remains a person may turn back by patient continuance in well-doing, serve faithfully, and hope for resurrection when mortality is swallowed up of life, with the whole family including a faithful mother resting from labors joyously reunited in the home above never more to be separated.
In daily work patient continuance means faithful attention to duty, accepting any position given and working upward with fidelity, toiling and battling against self until victory gained is sweet. It makes a whole man by using God-given ability to think and act instead of being a mere shadow or machine run by another mind, resolutely overcoming cowardice and ignorance and inefficiency with thoughtful energy and zeal, cultivating powers of thought day by day until growing in capacity and judgment, becoming self-reliant and able to bear individual responsibility and accountability. God's servants must not strive, exalt self to rule, censure and condemn others, or let disaffection leaven words and spread, since human praise is of little value where men err and flatter where they should admonish, but are to keep words pure, consent to be worked by the Holy Spirit rather than trying to work Him, and strive constantly for unity in judgment and spirit with fellow workers, and then much more will be done through human agencies with unfolding precious truth. The same perseverance is developed in nurses placed in right relation to properly conducted sanitarium work, with self-forgetfulness and thoughtfulness whose earnest desire to help others carries healing sympathy, and it leaves others free while converting sinners.
Seeking is to be made the first business with intense energy proportionate to its worth, aiming for a life that measures with the life of God, learning what is worth being perpetuated and cultivating attributes that will not perish when every evil purpose, thought and action ends. It requires bringing mind into harmony with God, developing pure holy character fit for His presence and the society of angels, entertaining thoughts profitable to soul and body flowing forth from God, refusing excuse for unbelief or feeble dwarfed spirituality, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge and intelligence, and pressing forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling with unlimited resources since in giving Christ all treasures of heaven were given and the good work both begun and completed so believers need not falter, fail or be discouraged. Patient faithful service in dependence on God belongs to this seeking, including humble character, trust, sympathy and care for the needy, with the poor also seeking the reward through patient toil and dependence, using humility, virtue, trust and sympathy to point others to Jesus. Patient continuing well-doing involves self-denying labor, for caring for the needy, fatherless and widows is genuine fruit of good character and true worship, and faithful work with Christ is more acceptable than zealous worship without such works. Glory, honor, immortality and eternal life are the goal and glorious hope to be sought with earnestness, as spiritual life to enjoy and necessary for glorifying God, by striving for immortality rather than trivial ceremonies and worldly pleasure, sweeping away the fanciful, toiling and sacrificing as for earthly gain, adding grace to grace in fulfilment of baptismal vows, and reflecting steady light in good works.
Reading the passage was meant to impress responsibility and address levity and things that had separated people from God. Those who faithfully use the greater light and trust given through the gospel will, like holy people of old faithful in little, be counted profitable servants and receive glory, honor and immortality.
God will in righteous judgment without partiality give everlasting life to every person who keeps on doing good in patient endurance while seeking glory and honor and undying life. That glory and undying life must be sought because no one possesses natural immortality, since it was promised on obedience, was lost through transgression and could not be passed on, but has been brought back within reach through the sacrifice of Christ to all who meet its conditions by faith and faithful doing. It is obtained only through Christ, His blood and righteousness received by faith and lived out, requiring obedience to the moral law, keeping the commandments, and thorough conversion in which character is purified and made new. Patient continuance means steady persevering goodness to the end of the race, not an occasional impulse, shown in humble service and self-denial, in overcoming sin and self, in sharing Christ's sufferings now to share His glory, and in daily consecration, prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. The reward is bestowed when Christ comes in glory with His angels in resurrection, reunion and endless happiness in the renewed earth, while those who disobey truth and do evil receive indignation, anguish and at last the second death, with every destiny fixed daily during probation and unchangeable when mercy ends.
Judgment According to Deeds
The verse belongs to the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, in which He will render to every person according to deeds, giving eternal life to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. That eternal life held out to be sought is a life that runs parallel with the life of Jehovah, so vast that the human mind finds it hard to reach out and lay hold of it and appreciate it as it is. God deals with each person individually, counting person by person, and this possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality is brought within the reach of each person through faith in Christ.
That judgment is with no respect of persons, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, with glory, honour and peace to every worker of good and indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that does evil, upon the contentious who do not obey truth but obey unrighteousness. It is not decided according to outward nearness to Him, position, possessions, or color, and no trampling of His law escapes divine wrath, nor is it according to poverty, for God judges without partiality for position, color, or poverty. Selfish ambitious striving to be first or greatest and contention about places, position and self-exaltation stand condemned beside steady goodness, usefulness, honour, service and self-denial that esteems others better and seeks to be a strength and blessing to others.
Its setting contrasts the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, which leads to repentance, with hardness and impenitent heart that despises them and treasures up wrath against the day of wrath. Whoever judges another for doing what he himself does condemns himself and will not escape the judgment of God, for His righteous judgment is according to truth against them which commit such things. In the same context not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers of the law shall be justified, so that those who sinned without law perish without law and those who sinned in the law are judged by the law. Even those favored as the chosen nation and repository and keepers of the holy oracles, if by transgressing the law and breaking the covenant they despise His goodness instead of appreciating the pearl of great price, treasure up wrath rather than escape it.
Judgment according to works is according to formed character, and the case of each one is decided on this basis, with punishment proportionate to the light and opportunity rejected and to the good that might have been done but was not. Each person is accountable for abilities and opportunities entrusted, for received great light and peculiar advantages and gifts, for misused opportunities, for leading others astray and dishonoring God by contending against truth, turning from God's way to their own way, turning truth into a lie, and walking contrary to its principles, showing God to be a God of justice whose ways are equal. Human conduct in this world decides eternal destiny, as a man sows so he reaps, receiving good or evil according to deeds even in this life with cause followed by effect, and at the great day every case is forever decided as written in the books of heaven, with the justice of heaven's laws vindicated against false theories and with God honoring those who honor Him by faithful obedience to His definite requirements, including the holy Sabbath day. The judgment at the near end will give every soul exactly the tone of character and morals cultivated in this life, for each will stand with just the spirit and character cherished and indulged in home life, with neighbors and with family members, according as they appreciated and obeyed the words of Christ, and each must answer for the consequences of personal choice without excuse in another's neglect.
Judgment has been given only to Christ, because He lived humanity and alone understands human weakness and human striving to attain Christian perfection. Therefore no one has the right to measure the characters of fellow church members and condemn them for their faults. Counterfeit Christians are in every church, but the tares and the wheat must grow together until the harvest, for the church militant today is not yet the church triumphant and the work of judgment has not been committed into human hands.
Immortality Sought, Not Innate
Eternal life is given to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality. Glory and honour and immortality leading to eternal life are to be sought, which proves people do not already possess natural immortality by nature of soul. If they already had immortality there would be no need to seek for it, for God alone has immortality and the dead await the resurrection to receive immortal life.
Immortality was promised to Adam on condition of obedience. By transgression and disobedience Adam forfeited that promised immortality. Having lost it he could not transmit to his posterity what he no longer possessed, leaving all under death and extinction, with nothing naturally possessed or passed down.
By the sacrifice of His Son God brought immortality within reach of fallen humanity. It is not obtained through human beings, but only through Christ, who renders to every man according to his deeds. This possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality, a life that measures with the life of God, is brought within the reach of each person. Every person may receive this priceless gift and blessing, which is God's gift through Jesus Christ and not an inherent possession of every soul, by complying with its conditions through faith in Christ and a life of faithful well-doing in obedience.
Eternal Life Described
The eternal life promised to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality is a life that runs parallel with the life of Jehovah and measures with the life of God, living as long as God lives. It is so vast that the human mind finds it hard to reach out and lay hold of it and appreciate it as it is. It is to be enjoyed in seeing Christ as He is and enjoying His presence through the ceaseless ages of eternity, while taking all eternity to comprehend the science of redemption. That seeking means aiming for a life that measures with the life of God, learning what is worth being perpetuated and cultivating attributes that will not perish when every evil purpose, thought, and action ends. It is done by entertaining thoughts profitable to soul and body that flow forth from God, refusing excuse for unbelief or feeble, dwarfed spirituality, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge, and intelligence, and pressing forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling, with unlimited resources because in giving Christ God gave all the treasures of heaven and both begins and completes the good work so that believers need not falter, fail, or be discouraged.
To be made capable of that immortality is to use God-given endowments as reasoning sons and daughters of Adam to make progress, to be elevated and ennobled and sanctified, to hold converse with God, and to develop the moral image of God in man. It means drawing nigh to Christ and opening the heart to receive Him, becoming one with Him through faith by taking hold upon His nature, becoming partakers of His divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and becoming members of the royal family as sons and daughters of the heavenly King and a child of God, an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Through faithful continuance in well doing all may delight their souls in Him and grow in grace and wisdom and love, becoming like Christ through step-by-step growth in personal acquaintance with the Saviour, putting away strife and contention, and making the most careful preparation to meet the King of kings. It is given on condition of obedience, for people are not their own to do as they please with themselves because they belong to the Lord by creation and redemption, and He paid the redemption price to save every soul of great value from eternal ruin, and obedience is possible because each individual has heavenly resources at command by faith laying hold on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. When the soul is lost through sin, the most valuable object in the world is lost.
Glory, honour, peace, immortality and eternal life are the crown, white robes, unfading inheritance reserved in heaven, and eternal world of glory for overcomers and conquerors. Everyone who enters God's city enters as a conqueror and as a son of God, not as a condemned criminal, and at the final judgment the redeemed are shown with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, while the wicked recognize what they have lost. If those of wealth and those honored by the world accept Christ they receive the very highest honor, which the world can neither give nor take away, even a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, laying up treasure beside the throne of God, and in keeping the commandments they find exceeding great reward, in contrast to earthly honors that perish and possessions that are lost. Eternal life is the reward decided by what is done on earth, especially the way humanity and God's people are treated, whether feeding the hungry, giving drink, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, or failing to do so. It belongs to those who overcome perverted appetite and hurtful lust and do good willingly and gladly with Christ abiding in them, meeting around the great white throne to join in praise, honor, and glory to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.
That reward includes resurrection when mortality is swallowed up of life, coming forth from graves crowned with glory and honor and immortality. Those who love and fear God receive His special favor, are supported by Him as they enter the dark valley of death, and rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness with joy beaming from every face. It includes reunion with loved ones never more to be separated, for the grave holds the dead only a little while and the bereaved who endure affliction well and hold fast truth will at the appearing of Jesus be crowned together with the faithful companion and meet again and need not sorrow as those who have no hope. While probation remains, a person may turn back and, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life in a life of faithful service to God, keeping the face and steps always directed heavenward.
Received Through Christ
Eternal life is given to those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek glory and honor and immortality, with God dealing with each person individually and rendering to every one according to deeds. That possibility of being one with God and gaining immortality is brought within reach through faith in Christ, and is not obtained through human beings but through Him. Well-doing belongs with Christ's righteousness received by faith, becoming part of life and producing Christian virtues and works, while Christ works within to make the person new and complete. It may be sought through His merits, blood and ransom price, by taking hold upon His nature and trusting Him as personal Saviour under the Spirit's work, and Jesus values the effort of every tried and tempted soul who perseveres. His righteousness does not cover cherished sin, so those who receive it must pursue holiness, follow His example, use lent means to relieve suffering and carry the gospel forward rather than hoarding or consuming on self, for refusal destroys the soul.
The moral law was ordained to life, promising eternal life as the reward of the faithful to the obedient who walk in harmony with its claims, while to those under its condemnation it is bondage and death. Obedience is the condition of gaining eternal life, given on condition of obedience to an immortal life and imperishable treasure, and it can be kept only through Jesus Christ. Practice must be in harmony with profession, for one professing Christianity yet living as a sinner will not gain the reward but suffer with transgressors, and God must be sought with the whole heart without trifling. This requires keeping the commandments including the Sabbath, overcoming perverted appetite, and strict obedience with no vindication for continuing in transgression, since disobedience places a person on Satan's side and calls for repentance. It is possible because people belong to the Lord by creation and redemption at great price to save from eternal ruin, with heavenly resources at command by faith laying hold on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, whose righteousness is imparted to those consenting for Him to take away sins and whose grace makes believers complete to meet the condition.
Gaining it requires thorough reformation, transformation of life and thorough conversion, with Christ formed within as the hope of glory. Every defect of character is to be remedied and refined as gold purified, with jealous conscientious watch over self in recognition that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Character for heaven is formed by decided perseverance in righteousness and daily disciplining of mind through religious practice to love devotional things, not by human power alone but by firm reliance on God and strong active faith working inward transformation to subdue passions, appetites, will and self. Drawing near to Christ and opening the heart to receive Him makes one partaker of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, becoming sons and daughters of the heavenly King and members of the royal family through love revealed at Calvary, growing in grace, wisdom and love as God draws near to all who draw near to Him. This is attained by becoming like Christ through step-by-step growth in personal acquaintance with the Saviour, putting away strife and contention, replacing self-sufficiency with humility and dependence, and making most careful preparation to meet the King of kings.
Eternal life is held out on the same terms to all without partiality, with all under the same law judged according to deeds. Distinctions of society fade at the cross, so believing sinners of every grade and nationality, black and white, are accepted and forgiven alike, received as sons and daughters, raised from ignorance and degradation, and given the same hope of the higher life and place in the redeemed family when Christ comes in the clouds and the righteous dead rise to meet Him. God distinguishes the righteous from the wicked in His church on earth, giving the obedient commandment-keeping people controlled by the Spirit peace and comfort in this life even amid trial, and glory, honor, peace and immortality in the life to come, while to the wicked He gives confusion and unrest now and shame everlasting hereafter. Unselfish labor for the uplifting, educating and self-support of the most needy, poor, neglected and ignorant keeps their essential good in view and is accepted by God.
Patient Continuance Defined
Patient continuance is persevering step by step until the race is finished and victory is gained at last. It is steady purpose and untiring effort that endures to the end, not an occasional impulse and not a work of salvation as child's play to be taken up at will and left at pleasure. It requires decision of character, fortitude, firmness and steadiness that is not swerved to the right or left by circumstances or by the influence of unbelievers. Without reform from vacillation and indecision a person is easily ensnared, taken captive at will, overcome and loses the soul, while wavering and giving up lead to defeat and steadfast continuance secures eternal life and enables a saving influence over the family. The Christian life so understood is a lifelong struggle for continual advancement, yet progress on the heavenly path can be hopeful for those who hold the beginning of confidence firm to the end, endure testing as gold in the fire, and reject carnal security, boasting in self and living at ease.
It means steady goodness, usefulness, honour, service and self-denial that esteems others better and seeks to be a strength and blessing to others. Its opposite is selfish ambitious striving to be first or greatest, contention about places, position and self-exaltation, and being contentious and not obeying truth but obeying unrighteousness. In positive form it is faithful work in service as co-workers with Christ, devoting lent gifts to Him instead of crippling or abusing them, doing best in God's sight, employing ability in doing good to others, practicing economy and self-denial to sustain God's cause, and forming character after the divine pattern instead of criticizing others, making others' faults an excuse, or fretting over evils that cannot be helped. It is shown in humble character, trust, sympathy and care for the needy, in patient toil and dependence on God by rich and poor alike to point others to Jesus, and in self-denying labor for the fatherless and widows as genuine fruit of good character and true worship more acceptable than zealous worship without such works. Eating and drinking and all else done to God's glory belongs to this same faithful well-doing, with each soul's value measured by the price paid for it.
Such continuance forms a character fit for heaven by decided perseverance in righteousness and by daily disciplining the mind through religious practice to love devotional and heavenly things and find happiness in them. It overcomes defects of character by resisting self-indulgence amid temptation and walking humbly and loyally toward God. Patient persevering obedience builds capacity to withstand tests of faith and remain faithful to God's law, directing desire toward willing service and heavenly pursuits of lasting value rather than earthly things that divert attention. This standard is not reached by human power alone but by firm reliance on God and strong active faith that works inward transformation, subduing passions, appetites, will and self. Character so obtained comes only through Christ, is not transferred as an estate nor bought or sold, but is won by personal merit, persevering industry and faithful toil in accord with Bible principles, procuring what is worthy and pure and exalted.
It joins sharing Christ's sufferings now to sharing His glory, through enduring trials, overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil, suffering for His sake, cheerfully suffering and crucifying self daily. Following Christ in humble service even when it brings reproach, dealing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God, belongs to patiently doing what is right rather than seeking popularity or worldly rank. Living for future immortal life rather than present pleasure is its pattern after Christ's example, for neglect of duty forfeits the eternal reward and leaves a person counted unfaithful. The prospect of blissful immortality held out to those who endure to the end gives elevating power and strength to resist evil, so that with God within and God overhead fear is removed, the Bible lights darkness, and steadfastness in trial gains at last a crown that never fades.
It is sustained by laying hold upon God with all strength and loving Him with undivided heart, as copartner and laborer together with God and partaker of the divine nature. Attainment comes through daily consecration of self to God to help others with cheerful kind words and heart-to-heart oneness, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, and through following Christ who was tempted in all points yet without sin to succor the tempted. Strong faith and much prayer bring heavenly angels to the side of those who persist as channels of light while God tests motives and principles. Such persistence requires being emptied of self, denying self and lifting the cross, walking before God in faith and trust with willing devotion of heart and mind, gaining God's desired victories by the Spirit's help, with wisdom and strength rewarding energy and perseverance as God's gifts to the diligent humble worker and fitting the consecrated for usefulness, honor and perilous service despite lack of education and obstacles. This striving calls for faith, sobriety, watchful prayer, firm decision, pure integrity and cheerful thankfulness rather than mourning, for without watching unto prayer a person will fail at last, while humility and dependence replace self-sufficiency as Christ works within to make the person new and complete.
Reward and Warning
The reward is laid up in heaven and is rendered when the Son of man comes in the glory of His Father with His angels to give to every person according to deeds and works. Those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality then receive eternal life, and gaining it is worth a lifelong effort. Those who waited for and loved His appearing, who endured affliction and held fast the truth, are crowned by Christ with glory and honor and immortality, to dwell in His presence where there is never sorrow or sighing. Those who do little or nothing for the salvation of souls or to benefit others, who are too slothful to invest in the truth and in saving others, who seek their own ease and pleasure and shun burdens and crosses and responsibilities, will be disappointed to find they have no reward. That well-doing is sincere, faithful, God-given work done in union and consecration to Christ, going where His providence leads and speaking His words, persisting in spite of obstacles, difficulties, trials and opposition, which are His discipline and conditions of progress, so that character is formed after the divine pattern and fitted for the glorious mansions He has gone to prepare.
Receiving the crown requires being pure in heart and perfect in character through His grace and righteousness, living now in heaven's sinless atmosphere in order to behold His glory, sanctified by His word and prepared to see the King in His beauty when probation closes. It requires not being taken up with pleasure and amusement, unlike the perishing honors of the world, but earnestly seeking God, obeying His will, relying on His strength, and seeking to bless others, with everlasting life centered in Jesus. The opposite portion belongs to the contentious who do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness and do evil. Upon every soul that does evil come indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, while glory, honor and peace come to every one that works good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, for there is no respect of persons.
That righteous judgment is according to truth and by law, so that those who sinned without law perish without law and those who sinned in the law are judged by the law, for not the hearers of the law are just but the doers shall be justified, and no one who judges another while doing the same things will escape. It stands in the setting of the riches of goodness and forbearance and long-suffering leading to repentance, which hardness and impenitent heart despise, treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment. Men and women are daily deciding their own destiny by whether they serve God or serve Him not, walking softly before His Word, honoring Him by faithful obedience to His definite requirements including the holy Sabbath, sowing and reaping good or evil according to deeds even in this life. When sides have been taken for or against the law of Jehovah and the season of mercy and probation is ended, God moves in the straight line of justice to give to every one as his works have been, and at the great day every case is forever decided for happiness and eternal life or for destruction.
Those who continue in well-doing, laying hold of truth by repentance and faith in Jesus and using lent means to relieve suffering humanity and carry the gospel forward instead of hoarding or consuming on self, are lifted from human woe and degradation to eternal life. Those who refuse this well-doing and disobey and make void His law destroy themselves and receive the uncompromising reward of evil deeds, which is the second death, death without hope of a resurrection, inflicted for the good of the universe and for the good of the sinner, showing love and justice combined. Each person is judged individually according to light and privileges and opportunities as written in the books of heaven, those who receive Christ and keep the commandments being blessed with everlasting life while those who serve sin face judgment and final loss, and the destiny fixed when probation closes is not changed by later opportunity. The gospel dispensation is the last probation, with abundance of evidence of God's desire to save all to condemn those who refuse heaven's gift, and there is no second trial for the disloyal when the cross of Calvary stands plainly before them to show that obedience would have brought life and health and prosperity and eternal good. The crown of glory and immortality belongs to the future life and is received with acceptance only then, for the church militant today is not yet the church triumphant.
The church on earth now is not perfect, because earth is not heaven and judgment has not been committed to human hands but only to Christ, who lived humanity and alone understands human weakness and striving for perfection. It is composed of erring men and women, with counterfeit Christians among them, yet tares and wheat must grow together until the harvest and no one has the right to measure and condemn fellow members for faults. They need patient, painstaking effort to be educated, trained and disciplined by precept and example until fitted for that crowning.
Daily Life Application
The verse calls for earnest persevering work in highways as well as byways, giving the gospel invitation to both rich and poor, and especially seeking out wealthy and honored men rather than passing by those to whom much has been entrusted. Those men are to be wisely educated to seek the eternal weight of glory, to lay up treasure beside the throne by employing their talents to open ways for perishing souls, and to receive in Christ the highest honor the world can neither give nor take away, even a life that measures with the life of God. Laborers together with God carry appointed responsibility to help those they reach secure immortality by precept and example, and education must fit students for that usefulness. Such perseverance in well-doing makes believers channels of light, tested in motives and principles, emptied of self, denying self and lifting the cross, gaining victories through the Holy Spirit, with strong faith and much prayer bringing heavenly angels to the side and with wisdom and strength rewarding energy and perseverance as gifts to the diligent humble worker. Christ by giving His life as ransom has placed before all the privilege of winning the life to come by perseverance in well-doing.
Temporal possessions are entrusted during probation to test whether people can be trusted with eternal riches, and faithful stewardship prepares them to receive the purchased possession of glory, honor and immortality. That well-doing includes using lent money to relieve suffering humanity and to carry the gospel forward instead of hoarding it or consuming it on self, for those who refuse destroy themselves and in the day when every case is decided for happiness and eternal life or for destruction they will be destroyed.
In family life parents cooperate with God in a most sacred sense to teach children from infancy to know God, whom to know aright is life eternal, and to reject evil and choose good. Patient continuance in doing good is essential to parental duty, requiring avoidance of overbearing mastery and of a criticizing fault-finding spirit, because words and tones teach children for good or ill, cross words teach them to speak the same way, and make the refining influence of the Holy Spirit of no effect. It means submitting to correction, subduing a strong jealous passionate spirit, and keeping face and steps directed heavenward under double responsibility in guiding little ones in the nurture of the Lord. Seeking glory, honor, immortality and eternal life means choosing Christ as master and obeying Him, which is inconsistent with joining life and interests to one who rejects Christ since the two may follow opposed paths toward life and death, yet while probation remains a person may turn back by patient continuance in well-doing, serve faithfully, and hope for resurrection when mortality is swallowed up of life, with the whole family including a faithful mother resting from labors joyously reunited in the home above never more to be separated.
In daily work patient continuance means faithful attention to duty, accepting any position given and working upward with fidelity, toiling and battling against self until victory gained is sweet. It makes a whole man by using God-given ability to think and act instead of being a mere shadow or machine run by another mind, resolutely overcoming cowardice and ignorance and inefficiency with thoughtful energy and zeal, cultivating powers of thought day by day until growing in capacity and judgment, becoming self-reliant and able to bear individual responsibility and accountability. God's servants must not strive, exalt self to rule, censure and condemn others, or let disaffection leaven words and spread, since human praise is of little value where men err and flatter where they should admonish, but are to keep words pure, consent to be worked by the Holy Spirit rather than trying to work Him, and strive constantly for unity in judgment and spirit with fellow workers, and then much more will be done through human agencies with unfolding precious truth. The same perseverance is developed in nurses placed in right relation to properly conducted sanitarium work, with self-forgetfulness and thoughtfulness whose earnest desire to help others carries healing sympathy, and it leaves others free while converting sinners.
Seeking is to be made the first business with intense energy proportionate to its worth, aiming for a life that measures with the life of God, learning what is worth being perpetuated and cultivating attributes that will not perish when every evil purpose, thought and action ends. It requires bringing mind into harmony with God, developing pure holy character fit for His presence and the society of angels, entertaining thoughts profitable to soul and body flowing forth from God, refusing excuse for unbelief or feeble dwarfed spirituality, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge and intelligence, and pressing forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling with unlimited resources since in giving Christ all treasures of heaven were given and the good work both begun and completed so believers need not falter, fail or be discouraged. Patient faithful service in dependence on God belongs to this seeking, including humble character, trust, sympathy and care for the needy, with the poor also seeking the reward through patient toil and dependence, using humility, virtue, trust and sympathy to point others to Jesus. Patient continuing well-doing involves self-denying labor, for caring for the needy, fatherless and widows is genuine fruit of good character and true worship, and faithful work with Christ is more acceptable than zealous worship without such works. Glory, honor, immortality and eternal life are the goal and glorious hope to be sought with earnestness, as spiritual life to enjoy and necessary for glorifying God, by striving for immortality rather than trivial ceremonies and worldly pleasure, sweeping away the fanciful, toiling and sacrificing as for earthly gain, adding grace to grace in fulfilment of baptismal vows, and reflecting steady light in good works.
Reading the passage was meant to impress responsibility and address levity and things that had separated people from God. Those who faithfully use the greater light and trust given through the gospel will, like holy people of old faithful in little, be counted profitable servants and receive glory, honor and immortality.