No 36

(The Believer’s Crowns)

Salvation is a free gift but rewards for those who are saved are earned and the quality of our service in God’s work is the criterion. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:13, 14 “13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” These words say that if our deeds are of the right sort (for God’s glory), we will be rewarded; the Bible often calls these rewards crowns. Here is a list of these crowns or rewards:

V The incorruptible crown (for all believers) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”( 1 Cor 9:25).

V The crown of rejoicing (for soul winners) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thess 2:19).

V The crown of righteousness (for those who are just) “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8).

V The crown of life (for those who are persecuted) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12). The same crown is found in Rev 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

V The crown of glory (for those who shepherd or pastor a flock) “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4).

V The crown of gold (for the 24 elders) “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Rev 4:4). Also in Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne” Some scolars say that these 24 elders represent Christians of all the ages because the Bible mentions no angelic beings having crowns.

Some believers will suffer loss of reward but never, ever loss of salvation “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Cor 3:15).