Blomberg and Reward part 2

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 reinforces this observation. Here if ever appears a clear distinction between believers whose works endure their fiery purgation and those whose flimsy construction projects are consumed. Paul makes plain that both categories of Christians "will be saved" (v. 15), but one only as "escaping through flames" since such a person "will suffer loss." Still, two caveats must be registered. First, while there is absolutely no disputing the uniqueness of every believer's personal encounter with Christ on judgment day, nothing in the text says anything about these distinctions among believers' experiences persisting for all time. In like fashion, 1 John 2:28 anticipates that some Christians may experience more shame than others when Christ returns,29 but no Scripture ever suggests that shame remains a component of heavenly life beyond the immediate context of the parousia. From DEGREES OF REWARD IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? by CRAIG L. BLOMBERG 

     I wish Blomberg spent more than two paragraphs on this passage because it is the most important to me with regard to the question of eternal rewards.

1Co 3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

     What is the point of this passage if not to motivate people toward building something that will last for eternity?

1Co 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

     Who is building? The elect is building. What is the result? His reward is the result. What happens if one doesn't build properly? He will be as one who barely escapes the flames(contrasted with, he will receive his reward).

So reward is attached to building properly, and loss is attached to not building properly. Both the loss and the reward are for those who ARE in Christ.

Reply to DEGREES OF REWARD IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

 http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/35/35-2/JETS_35-2_159-172_Blomberg.pdf
Blomberg makes some good points about whether there are distinctions in eternal reward. However, I am trying to make the point that the rewards ought to motivate us. Perhaps later I'll deal with how the rewards could motivate us if there are no eternal distinctions, but that's not what I'm dealing with now.

First, I think the parable of the workers in the vineyard ought to be taken at the same time as the discussion about the rich man who was turned away, directly before in Matthew 19. There it says:

Mt 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Mt 19:27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Mt 19:28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Mt 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

There are distinctions even in this passage that indicate Jesus connected what people did in this life with their reward in the next.
1. You who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
2. You who have left things will receive a hundred times as much.

So, Jesus clearly associates following Him and losing this life with a reward, commending then that we ought to follow Him and lose this life because of the reward. I think it's appropriate to say that Jesus understood that we are motivated by reward(so I use the word 'because'), and used that motivation to encourage us to give up our lives and follow Him.

But, many who are first (and I think he meant first in this life, as with the rich man) will be last when the Son of Man sits on his throne. And many who are last in this life (you who have given up your riches and your life) will be first when the Son of Man comes to sit on his glorious throne.

So this is my point, that at least in general, it is not wrong to be motivated by reward.

Heb 11:26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

So what is Olson saying? That our good works put God in our debt? That heavenly rewards are a matter of strict justice? That our good works merit heavenly rewards?
Olson is really attacking justification by faith. If good works are meritorious, then we’re not justified by the merits of Christ alone.

I'm not sure what Olson is saying, but I've been having similar questions recently.