What reward does the Bible say is offered to all mankind?

Answer 1

A "reward" is earned. A "gift" is free.

The Bible reveals a Day in the future [Judgment Day] at the conclusion of God's "time allotment" that He's given to mankind for man to prove to himself that he is utterly incapable of governing himself apart from his Creator. On this Day of Judgment, each and every person who has ever lived and died will have their "life's works JUDGED." And each and every person shall "receive a reward" based on his "works"... his "deeds"... the "things that he did in his life." Each person's "works" shall be measured against what has been written in the "books of the Bible."

"...I saw a Great White throne and One who was seated on it... And I saw the [resurrected] dead, the great and the small, standing in front of the throne. And BOOKS WERE OPENED... and the dead WERE JUDGED BY THE THINGS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS in accordance WITH WHAT THEIR CONDUCT HAD BEEN." (Rev.20:11-12 WEY Weymouth's New Testament)

This is the phase of God's "reward" upon all men -- Judgment upon the things they had done in and with their lives.

A reward is something we earn and deserve for something we do or have done. And a reward is not necessarily always a "positive" thing. As the Scripture says:

"For the wages [the REWARD we earn that's] paid by SIN [sin is transgressing, disobeying or breaking God's Commandments - see I John 3:4] are DEATH; but God's free Gift is the Life of the Ages [Eternal Life] bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our LORD." (Rom.6:23 WEY)

The LORD promises every person who shall have ever lived... a "reward" of one kind or other. That "reward" is NOT Eternal Life [Eternal Life is God's Gift]. The "reward" will be what we shall have "earned" for ourselves by the things we did in our lives. Jesus says:

"'Make no secret, ' He added, 'of the meaning of the predictions contained in this book; for the time for their fulfillment is now close at hand. LET THE DISHONEST MAN ACT DISHONESTLY STILL; let the filthy make himself filthy still; let the Righteous practice Righteousness still; and let the holy be made holy still.'

"'I AM coming quickly; and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, that I MAY REQUITE EVERY MAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HIS CONDUCT HAS BEEN.'" (Rev.22:10-12 WEY)

Every person who has ever lived... whether dishonest, filthy, Righteous or Holy... will each be rewarded in direct proportion to whatever Jesus sees fit -- again -- as measured against the Word's He inspired to be recorded in the books of the Bible: the Word's that "proceeded out of the mouth of God" -- by which "man shall Live."

"It is the Spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. THE WORDS I have spoken to you ARE SPIRIT and ARE LIFE." (John 6:63 WEY)

Many modern professing Christian denominations promote "FAITH, ONLY" in their preaching, teaching and beliefs... with "works" being of no importance whatsoever. But God's Word, the Bible, in James' book... reveals that a person's "faith" must manifest itself through his "works!" It is the means by which a person's faith is "measured."

"What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet HIS ACTIONS DO NOT CORRESPOND? Can such faith save him? ...faith, if it is unaccompanied by Obedience [to God's Commandments; the breaking of which is 'sin'], HAS NO LIFE IN IT - so long as it stands alone.

"Nay, some one will say, 'You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will PROVE MINE TO YOU BY MY ACTIONS [works].

"You believe that God is One, and you are quite right: evil spirits [demons] also believe this, and shudder. But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from Obedience IS WORTHLESS?

"Take the case of Abraham our forefather. Was it, or was it not, because of his actions [works] that he was declared to be Righteous as the result of his offering up his son Isaac upon the altar? You notice that his faith was co-operating with his actions, and that by his actions [works] HIS FAITH WAS PERFECTED; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and his Faith was placed to his credit as Righteousness,' and he received the name of 'God's Friend.'

"You all see that it is because of actions [works] that a man is pronounced Righteous, and not simply because of Faith." (James 2:14-24 WEY)

It's not a "reward" that is "offered" to each and every one of us who has ever lived and died throughout the generations of mankind since the beginning. It won't be a freewill "gift" or an "offering" from God. We shall have, each and every one of us, EARNED THE REWARD WE GET!

A reward: either through our hardhearted, selfish, rebellious disobedience to our Creator's Laws [His Commandments], which is embracing 'sin.' Or through our repenting of having disobeyed His Commandments that we might have our sins blotted out by Him... so that we might begin living, Obediently, "within the Law" [not above the Law; or under the penalty of the Law - DEATH]... but Obeying the Law.

The books that shall be opened on Judgment Day to Judge us; the Words of which will determine our ultimate "reward"... promote "Righteousness"... Obedience to God's Commandments. Those books are the measuring-stick by which each of us shall be Judged.

"'Teacher,' said one man, coming up to Him, 'what that is Good SHALL I DO in order to WIN the Life of the Ages[Eternal Life]?'

"'Why do you ask Me?' He replied, 'about what is Good? There is only One who is truly Good. But if you desire to enter into Life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.'" (Matt.19:16-17 WEY)

Answer 2

The free gift of eternal salvation - though conditional - is offered to all who repent, get baptized and follow Christ doing God's good works. Remaining strong to the end will have those changed into members of the God family - sons and daughters.