Conclusion: The reward is a resurrection to the divine nature.
Discussion: 1 Corinthians 3:12-14 (NKJV), 12 “Now if anyone builds on this foundation (Jesus) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear;…fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”
Once a person accepts Jesus as his Savior, gives his life in consecration to God, and is begotten of the holy Spirit, that one begins the work of character development. It is God’s will that we should become character copies of Jesus. We do this by obeying God’s will in every aspect of our lives. Our fallen flesh, the world, and the devil strongly oppose the new will and these experiences become purifying, fiery tests. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…” (1 Peter 4:12).
God mightily helps us with constant encouragements. 2 Peter 1:4-7, 11 (RSV), 4 “…He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. 5…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. … 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
God will only grant the reward of His nature to a thoroughly tried character. God must prove each one trustworthy to be rewarded with divine life. The resurrected Church must always use its new nature in total obedience to God’s holy, loving, just, and wise will.
What will the reward of a divine resurrection be like? The Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, …it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (RSV) We know the new conditions will be so different from present conditions as to be beyond our comprehension, no matter how particular the description given. However, the whole question is settled when we learn that the Church shall be like her Lord. We shall see him – not as he was in the days of his humiliation, the man Christ Jesus, nor as he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, robed in flesh in various forms – but see him “as he is,” behold his glory, and be like him, sharing his glory. This is sufficient.