Those who are found perfectly righteous, righteous according to the records of God Himself, will enter into eternal life and inherit everlasting glory with Christ. Those who have done good, nothing but good, perfect good, without any spot of sin, wrinkle of iniquity, or trace of transgression, will enter into everlasting life (Revelation 22:11). Who are these perfectly righteous ones? They are all who are saved by God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ (1st Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:32-34).

Though there will be degrees of punishment for the wicked in hell, because there are degrees of wickedness, there will be no degrees of reward and glory among the saints in heaven, because there are no degrees of redemption and righteousness. Heaven was earned and purchased for all God’s elect by Christ. We were predestined to obtain our inheritance from eternity (Ephesians 1:11). Christ has taken possession of heaven’s glory as our forerunner (Hebrews 6:20). We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). Our Saviour gave all the glory He earned as our mediator to all His elect (John 17:5; John 17:20-22). And in Christ every believer is worthy of heaven’s glory (Colossians 1:12). Glorification is but the consummation of salvation, and salvation is by grace alone! That means that no part of heaven’s bliss and glory is the reward of our works, but all the reward of God’s free grace in Christ! All spiritual blessings are ours from eternity in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

D. Fortner