God's grace means that while we receive rewards according to our works, these works are enabled by His grace, making us worthy.
God's grace is intricately tied to the concept of rewards in that while we are indeed rewarded according to our works, it is through grace that we are enabled to perform good works at all. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. However, as a result of this saving grace, we are called to produce good works which are pleasing to God. The rewards we receive reflect His grace at work in us, allowing us to stand perfect and blameless before Him (Colossians 1:22). This understanding frees us from performance anxiety, knowing that our ultimate worthiness stems from Christ alone.
Scripture References:
Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 1:22, 1 Peter 5:10
Commentary