The Crowns of Success (Part One & Two)

The Crowns of Success (Part One) In the New Testament, the Bible speaks of five crowns God promises to faithful Christians that He will give them after Christ's return as King of kings. Some who advocate for this idea view these as five different rewards—the crowns of glory, incorruption, life, rejoicing, and righteousness—for five separate Christian actions. Is this so? As seekers of truth, we must determine if these crowns are figurative or literal and if they are several crowns or different aspects of the same crown. We also need to know whether all Christians receive them. We can begin by examining the two Greek words translated as "crown" in the New Testament, stephanos and diadema. In a Forerunner article, "TheCrown of Life," Martin Collins writes: "Today, the terms ‘diadem' and ‘crown' are used synonymously. However, it is important to understand that there is a difference between them. The difference has spiritual connotations to the future glorified sonsof God." Strong's Concordance describes diadema as "the kingly ornament for the head." Martin writes, "The New Testament writers used diadema when they wanted to symbolize royal power, authority, or dignity." In contrast: Stephanos describes the victor's crown, the symbol of triumph in the public games or a contest. It can also be the reward or prize given to honor a person. Though the word can denote a crown of royalty, its more usual sense is the laurelwreath awarded to a victor, or a festive garland worn when rejoicing. The Oxford English Dictionary comments that stephanos refers to "the foliage of the bay tree woven into a wreath or crown and worn on the head as an emblem of victory or mark of honor in classical times." The Symbols Project, a website that provides information on symbols associated with burials, comments, "Laurel leaves are above all a symbol of eternal glory, of special achievement, success, and triumph. It has long been a symbol of victory." The five crowns promised to Christians in the New Testament are all from the Greek word, stephanos, which, as we saw, are symbols of honor for accomplishment, success, and victory. Of course, we cannot earn salvation, but our God is a God of blessings and rewards. The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-10 (New Living Translation): God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has createdus anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Our salvation is by God's grace, but He will reward us based on how we use it. First, consider the crown of glory, mentioned in I Peter 5:2-4: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but by being examples to the flock; and when the ChiefShepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. "Glory" translates the Greek word doxa, which means "magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace." Although Peter's exhortations seem to apply just to the ministry, God has given us all spiritual responsibilities, and He expectsus to mature into teachers and leaders whom others will follow. Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew5:16). The apostle John saw our Savior's glory, which he tried to describe in Revelation 1:13-16. Along with His spectacular garments, John saw that Christ's face "was like the sun shining in its strength" (Revelation1:16). Perhaps more stunning to us, in an earlier epistle, John writes, "When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (IJohn 3:2). Together, Peter and John show us how we can succeed and receive the reward of this crown of glory. Paul, in Colossians 3:4, confirms, "When Christ, who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory." He writes similarly in Philippians 3:21, "[Christ] will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body." Second, consider the crown of rejoicing, mentioned in I Thessalonians 2:19: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" Paul's crown of rejoicing, he says, was his Christian brethren. Again, recall that a stephanos is not a crown of rulership but of victory, appreciation, and success. Hebrews6:10 reads, "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints." Considering all of Paul's work for others, all the countless people he helped, hisreward will be great. The same applies to us and what we do for others to help them toward salvation. David writes in Psalm 16:11, "In [God's] presence is fullness of joy; at [His] right hand are pleasures forevermore." We may not all do the same job, but we all have one purpose, and God will reward each of us with true joy according to his or her labors. God allows eachof us the opportunity and the privilege to join with Him in the salvation process, and we rejoice in His salvation, the ultimate triumph of those who have rejoiced in hope, looked for deliverance, and patiently endured tribulation (Romans12:12). Third, consider the crown of righteousness, mentioned in II Timothy 4:8: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." Paul had earlier written to Timothy: "Fleealso youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (IITimothy 2:22). Psalm119:172 states that all of God's commandments are righteousness. Paul explains in II Corinthians 5:21 that God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God" (emphasis ours). Through Christ's shed blood, we are justified, that is, brought into alignment with the standards of God and declared righteous. But as Paul told Timothy, we are also to seek righteousness through godly living. Struggling against the pressures to sin is hard work, but with Christ's help, we can all obey God's commandments, achieve victory, and be awarded the crown ofrighteousness when our Lord and Savior returns. Next time, we will continue examining the rewards promised to faithful Christians at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - John Reiss Live Sabbath Services Church of the Great God Sabbath services can be heard every Sabbath at 2:30 PM (Eastern Time). Connect to our live stream at www.cgg.org by clicking the CGG Live link at the top of the page Church News & Special Announcements Andrew and Regina Ulmer are pleased to announce the birth of their second child, Timothy Levi Ulmer, at 4:50 AM on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. He weighed 9 lbs., 13 oz., and was 23 inches long. Mother and baby are doing fine. Timothy is the second grandchild of Rex and Ginger Ulmer. Congratulations! 29-Dec-20 New Transcripts 1233B:Israel's Immigration Problem Given by John W. 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Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." The prize Paul refers to is the victory in the Panhellenic Games, which were four separate sports festivals held in ancient Greece. The Olympic games were the oldest and most venerable, and the others were the Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian games.Wikipedia notes: The games are also known as the stephanitic games, because winners received only a garland for victory. (Stephanitic derives from stephanos, the Attic Greek word for crown.) No financial or material prizes were awarded . . .. The Olympic games awarded a garland of olive leaves; the Pythian games, a garland of laurel leaves; the Nemean games, a crown of wild celery, and the Isthmiangames, a garland of pine leaves in the archaic period, [and later] one of dried celery . . .. Thus, Paul describes the athletic rewards as "perishable." The apostle Peter explains, however, that God has called us to "an inheritance incorruptible" (IPeter 1:4; emphasis ours), the same Greek word Paul uses in I Corinthians 9:25 for "imperishable." Our reward, our symbolic laurel for victory, will never rot, tarnish, or vanish. Paul characterizes our spiritual contest a battle (Ephesians6:12), and to the victor�the overcomer�goes the spoils, the rewards, which he affirms Christ will give us at His return: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.(ICorinthians 15:52-53) Fifth, consider the crown of life, mentioned in Revelation 2:10: Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crownof life. The crown of life is also called the "martyr's crown." In Greek, Stephen's name is Stephanos, meaning "crown." By his faithfulness until death, Stephen brought glory to God, making him the first Christian martyr or witness. In Isaiah 44:8, God tells us not to fear or be afraid, for we are His witnesses to His unique position in all the universe. We may not be martyred, but we are dead to sin, and we are to crucify our flesh with its desires. Paul exhorts us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, given in any way that God sees fit (Romans12:1). In John 12:25, Jesus uses two different words for "life": "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Life in this world is the Greek word psyche (Strong's #5590), the seat of feelings, desires, and affections. His second word for "life" is zōē (Strong's #2222), "the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God." In his Forerunner article on this crown, Martin Collins writes: The crown of life consists of eternal, imperishable living! It represents victory over our earlier, perishable life of sin. In the Millennium and for all eternity, we will wear our crown of life as an emblem of victory, righteousness, and honoras befits those who have been obedient and faithful to Christ. Before we close, we should consider Isaiah 62:1-3: For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which themouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of yourGod. Each victorious Christian in this age will be given immortality and crowned at the return of Jesus Christ. Although each will receive special and specific rewards, the New Testament's five crowns of victory are all part of one encompassing and greater symbolic, triumphant crown. In Revelation 3:12, the overcomers are described as pillars forever in the temple of God. In this verse, "overcomes" can also be translated as "conquers," "prevails," or "achieves victory." In the previous verse, Revelation 3:11, Jesus urges Christians to "hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (stephanos), a singular laurel of victory. An additional New Testament crown is not a crown of reward: the crown of thorns that Jesus wore during His crucifixion. In a way, though, the crown of thorns that Roman soldiers forced onto His head was an ironic stephanos, but one that we can understand to symbolize His victory over sin, becoming the Redeemer. His victory assures us that most of humanity will ultimately be saved (Romans11:26-29). He assures us in John 16:33 that He has overcome�conquered, prevailed, achieved victory over�theworld. The apostle John writes that, through this victory, Jesus is the appeasing sacrifice, not only for the sins of the elect, but also for the entirety of repentant humanity (IJohn 2:2). Even so, the five crowns mentioned in the New Testament are specifically for those called now. God's elect have the opportunity for special responsibilities in God's Kingdom (John14:2), and when Jesus returns, we will indeed reign as kings with Him (Revelation11:15, 18). He Himself will wear many crowns�diadems, this time�and will bring His rewards for us with Him: "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to His work" (Revelation22:12). - John Reiss VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM