Romans 2:6, Every man according to his works. 

The Scriptures are clear: every person will be judged, both the wicked and the saints. The writer of Hebrew says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Yeshua said in Jn. 5:24 that Believers in him “have everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but have passed from death unto life.” The question is begged, therefore, what is the purpose of judgment of believers? It is for believers to receive their rewards in addition to eternal life (salvation). There are various levels of rewards or positions in the kingdom of Elohim. In the Sermon On the Mount Yeshua reveals at least two levels of reward: the least and the greatest. He says in Matthew 5:19,

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Torah-commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

What we see revealed here is that one’s level of reward will be commensurate to their obedience to his Torah (the righteous instructions, teachings, or precepts of YHVH Elohim as revealed to the nation of Israel through Moses). Revelation 20:12–13 speaks of this:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works (emphasis added).

What are the works of the saints that will gain them the highest position in Elohim’s kingdom? We have already seen from Yeshua’s words that Torah-obedience will gain one the highest position. Revelation 19:7–9 states the same thing:

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God (emphasis added).

Scripture defines righteousness as obedience to the Torah commandments of YHVH (Ps 119:172). Yeshua goes on to say elsewhere that, “he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matt 16:27). Paul says in Ephesians 2:8 thought we are saved by YHVH’s grace and not through any human effort the result of our salvation should be good works:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Elohim. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which Elohim hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James says that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:17, 20, 26) and that faith is made perfect through works (Jas 2:22). The works spoken of here are the fruits of the Spirit of Elohim (Gal 5:22–3) which is a summation and end result of the Torah-law’s outworking in the life of the Believer: to love Elohim with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18).

The concept of “good works” as related to the life of the saints is a theme that is echoed more than 30 times in the Testimony of Yeshua from the mouth of Yeshua in the Gospels to the end of the book of Revelation (e.g. Matt 5:16; 16:27; 1 Tim 5:10; 6:18; 2 Tim 3:17; Tit 2:7; 3:8; Heb 10:24; 1 Pet 2:12; Rev 2:5, 9, 13, 19, 23, 26; 3:1, 2, 8, 15; 20:12–13). The mainstream Christian church has down-played the role of “works” in the life of the saint, but it must be remembered what Yeshua said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments” and what John said in 1 John 2:7, “He that says, I know [YHVH] and does not keep his Torah commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” Obedience to YHVH’s commandments is “works” or otherwise stated, “good fruits” of a saint’s life. Such is pleasing to YHVH and will determine our position of service and honor in his kingdom.