There are multiple crowns mentioned in Scripture. An imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25); the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12), the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:9) and upon the head of Jesus are said to be many crowns (Revelation 19:12). Paul mentions "prize" in 1 Corinthians 9:24. Regardless, Paul is talking about being disqualified for the prize, not losing salvation. A prize is not a gift.
My analogy fits. Paul said - "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." Believers are not running to obtain the gift of eternal life, but to receive the prize.
Paul mentions reward, prize and crown in the context of 1 Corinthians 9. Regardless of how you view them, reward, prize and crown are not simply defined as salvation.
So does crown and salvation.
To abide is to remain and is not some extremely, difficult burden that most Christians will fail to do as if God will so easily allow us to slip through His fingers.
Stop with the tulip/Calvinistic labels. It's getting old. Whether you call it perseverance of the saints or preservation of the saints, it's a Biblical concept.
Believers are new creations in Christ and God preserves His saints forever. You seem to believe the change is irrelevant and God is unable to preserve ALL of His saints. How many who are justified will be glorified? See Romans 8:30.
Yes we will and yes it does, yet no one is able to snatch believers from the hand of the Lord (John 10:27-29).
Genuine believers have chosen eternal life, not death (John 3:18).
Following God is not forced or legalistic for genuine believers.
God is omniscient and was not surprised by the perseverance of Job. Do you think that just maybe there was a lesson in it for the rest of us? That is not pointless.
