All Christians need to know what “the crown of life” means

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Oct 10, 2015
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The crown of life is eternal life … the opposite of eternal death
James 1:12-16 • “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been
approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those
who love Him … But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires
and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, brings forth (eternal) death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren”
Those who really love Jesus will be obedient and overcome sin!
Revelation 2:10-11 • “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
The second death refers to eternal death …
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
(Revelation 20:14)
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7-8)

The crown of life is also called the crown of righteousness
2 Timothy 4:7-8 • “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith. 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.”
In the great tribulation of the antichrist,
keeping the faith (until the end of one’s life) is necessary for salvation …

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures (in his faith)
to the end (of his life) shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13, Matthew 10:22)
“But he who endures (in his faith) to the end (of his life) shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13)
Also see 1 Cor 16:13, Gal 5:1, Phil 4:1, Col 1:22-23, Heb 10:35-36, James 5:7-8, 1 Pet 5:9
And one’s righteousness must be obediently practiced (maintained) to keep it …
“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7)
“… (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness” (Romans 6:16)

The crown of life is also called the imperishable crown
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 • “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached
to others, I myself should become disqualified (from salvation).”
More about running to win, without being disqualified …
“… lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.” (Galatians 2:2)
“… he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5)

The crown of life is also called the crown of glory
1 Peter 5:1-4 • “… and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you (the faithful elders)
will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

“The believer who perseveres will receive the crown of life. The “crown of life”
is the crown of victory over sin, or the crown of victory in our life’s race.
The main meaning of the crown of life is salvation, or eternal life.”
… The Applied New Testament Commentary (Thomas Hale)
Dr. Hale, a Spirit-filled believer, served as a medical missionary in Nepal.


Important …
Please notice that there are NO crowns (plural) mentioned anywhere above!
No different crowns of varying values … re: rewards.
When it comes to the crown of eternal life, there is only one!
One crown of eternal life to each successful “runner” who overcomes sin, and etc.

Regarding the necessity of being an overcomer …
please see Rev 2:10-11 and Rev 21:7-8 above (and also Rev 3:5).
And please note Jesus’ definition of who an overcomer is … in Rev 3:21.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#2
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 1 John 5:4

"Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5
 
Oct 10, 2015
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"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;
and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 1 John 5:4

"Who is the one who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5
You may think you're free, but I'm not so sure.

This is Jesus' definition of OVERCOMING ...
Revelation 3:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Did Jesus OVERCOME because He believed He was/is the Son of God?
Better go back to the drawing board.

Hint: there's more to OVERCOME than just the world.
 
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Nov 22, 2015
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How do we overcome? John gives us the answer:

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4)

Overcoming is not about jumping through hoops and satisfying the expectations of men. It’s about depending on The Overcomer who lives in you.

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 Jn 5:4-5)

Are you born of God? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? If yes, then the Overcomer lives in you and you can’t help but be an overcomer.

That’s why Jesus told the disciples to be encouraged during times of tribulation; because he – not they – had overcome the world and because they would carry his overcoming Spirit within them.

We are called to fight the good fight of faith! Believe in what Christ has done and His life will be manifested in every circumstance of our life while on this earth.
 
Oct 10, 2015
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How do we overcome? John gives us the answer:
How do we overcome? Jesus gives us the answer:
Revelation 3:21 --- we are to overcome as Jesus overcame.
Now, IF this means: overcome through God's Spirit who lives in us, so be it.
 
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Nov 22, 2015
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How do we overcome? Jesus gives us the answer:
Revelation 3:21 --- we are to overcome as Jesus overcame.
Now, IF this means: overcome through God's Spirit who lives in us, so be it.
Amen..Jesus is always the answer!

Here are some grace-based teachings on Revelation 3 and what the Lord had to say to the people living back then.

I like to use this site for those interested in the grace of Christ as it has comments at the bottom where people can ask questions. I find I learn more in the questions people ask.

https://escapetoreality.org/?s=Laodicea
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#7
1COR. 15:31.
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Christ lives in us, we die daily, that is, that we must 'over-come' the habits and thoughts and actions
of the Adam creature, the 'old-man'...we must submit and obey and learn how to live the Christ creature,
for we are to become a 'new-creation' in our Saviour,,,if we stay in the carnal minded state,
and serve our flesh, then we 'insult' and 'trample under foot 'The Spirit of Grace'...
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#8
There is no such thing as "dying daily"..I know we have heard that in our religious upbringing but it is not in the scriptures..I can see where some may think we die daily but it is not the truth. The truth is we have died with Christ on the cross. If we die daily - so is Christ dying daily.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
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#9
There is no such thing as "dying daily"..I know we have heard that in our religious upbringing but it is not in the scriptures..I can see where some may think we die daily but it is not the truth. The truth is we have died with Christ on the cross. If we die daily - so is Christ dying daily.

While the phrase "die daily" is not in the Bible, there is a strong connect of the words in Luke 9.

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:23-24

So we are told to take up our cross daily, and what is a cross? It is an instrument of death and torture! So if we take up our cross daily, are we not inviting death, daily?? Jesus continues in this passage that we need to be willing to lose this earthly life, in order to save our future hopes for eternity in him, sometimes.

Matt. 16:24 also echoes this, although Matthew does not say, "daily." But still the implication that death is part of serving God.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt 16:24-25
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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#10
It would great if people were taught more and understood who they truly were in Christ in the spirit. Its important to overcome and continue in the faith obviously, but if we just leave people at that telling them stop sinning and obey, if we just leave it at that we done nothing for anyone.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#11
While the phrase "die daily" is not in the Bible, there is a strong connect of the words in Luke 9.

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:23-24

So we are told to take up our cross daily, and what is a cross? It is an instrument of death and torture! So if we take up our cross daily, are we not inviting death, daily?? Jesus continues in this passage that we need to be willing to lose this earthly life, in order to save our future hopes for eternity in him, sometimes.

Matt. 16:24 also echoes this, although Matthew does not say, "daily." But still the implication that death is part of serving God.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt 16:24-25
I can see where one could think that and I have heard that said all my Christian life and I just didn't have the witness in my spirit about this. There was just something about this that was "off" to me but I never gave it much thought until the last 4 years or so.

I noticed that Mark's account of this passage doesn't have the word "daily" in it either just like Matthew's account.

I suppose we could use the term "die to self". If we mean -
“Die to self” means “ Trust Jesus instead of the flesh.” It means live each and every day out of the glorious relationship you have with the Lord. It means, don’t fall back to the inferior ways of the flesh that you walked in when you were a sinner or religious, but stand firm in the freedom of Christ.

The reason some of us Christians struggle to live the Christian life is that we do not know we have died with Christ.

I view take up our cross daily and to follow Jesus in this way - we are dead and have died on the cross with Jesus just as Jesus died. We died with Christ on the cross and we need to recognize this reality every day. Why would we continue to "die to ourselves" when we are already dead?

I would think that "knowing" we have died with Christ would help us to live the true Christian life as Romans 6:5-8 talks about.

I believe that realizing that we are in fact dead but alive to God now in the spirit is what we should be focusing on. The truth is we don't have a life apart from the Lord. It doesn't exist.

Knowing our true self in Christ will release His life in us and it is an abundant life which is not depended on our personal circumstances and this causes us to sing praises to God after we had our backs beaten and while being in a prison - like Paul and Silas showed us.

Colossians 3:2-3 (NASB)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

[SUP]3 [/SUP] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:5-8 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

[SUP]6 [/SUP] knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

[SUP]7 [/SUP] for he who has died is freed from sin.


[SUP]8 [/SUP] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,


Just some of my thoughts on the subject....sorry for the long post....:)
 
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breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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#12
I can see where one could think that and I have heard that said all my Christian life and I just didn't have the witness in my spirit about this.

I noticed that Mark's account of this passage doesn't have the word "daily" in it either just like Matthew's account.

I suppose we could use the term "die to self". If we mean -
“Die to self” means “ Trust Jesus instead of the flesh.” It means live each and every day out of the glorious relationship you have with the Lord. It means, don’t fall back to the inferior ways of the flesh that you walked in when you were a sinner or religious, but stand firm in the freedom of Christ.

The reason some of us Christians struggle to live the Christian life is that we do not know we have died with Christ.

I view take up our cross daily and to follow Jesus in this way - we are dead and have died on the cross with Jesus just as Jesus died. We died with Christ on the cross and we need to recognize this reality every day. Why would we continue to "die to ourselves" when we are already dead?

I would think that "knowing" we have died with Christ would help us to live the true Christian life as Romans 6:5-8 talks about.

I believe that realizing that we are in fact dead but alive to God now in the spirit is what we should be focusing on. The truth is we don't have a life apart from the Lord. It doesn't exist. Knowing our true self in Christ will release His life in us and it is an abundant life which is not depended on our personal circumstances and this causes us to sing praises to God after we had our backs beaten and while being in a prison - like Paul and Silas showed us.

Colossians 3:2-3 (NASB)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

[SUP]3 [/SUP] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:5-8 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

[SUP]6 [/SUP] knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

[SUP]7 [/SUP] for he who has died is freed from sin.


[SUP]8 [/SUP] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,


Just some of my thoughts on the subject....sorry for the long post....:)
I need to spread more rep to rep you..oh yes, yes! Keep going brother!
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#13
I need to spread more rep to rep you..oh yes, yes! Keep going brother!
Thank you but you know it could be a combination of what Angela wrote and what I had written too.....we only know in part and Paul said - he who thinks he knows anything - he doesn't know as he ought....so there is much to learn about this subject.....:)

Revelation 12:11 (NASB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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#14
Thank you but you know it could be a combination of what Angela wrote and what I had written too.....we only know in part and Paul said - he who thinks he knows anything - he doesn't know as he ought....so there is much to learn about this subject.....:)
Yes you're certainly right, I believe it is a combination..I'm just in this place of learning to live out if who and what God has done in us :D
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#15
Yes you're certainly right, I believe it is a combination..I'm just in this place of learning to live out if who and what God has done in us :D
I am too my brother. Learning how to life out of our true identity in Christ - as a child of God created in righteousness and holiness is paramount to growing up in Christ. I like how Paul said "Awake to righteousness and sin not"...Awake - come to your senses of who you are - it is a term used for sobering up.
 
Oct 10, 2015
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#16
1COR. 15:31.
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Christ lives in us, we die daily, that is, that we must 'over-come' the habits and thoughts and actions
of the Adam creature, the 'old-man'...we must submit and obey and learn how to live the Christ creature,
for we are to become a 'new-creation' in our Saviour,,,if we stay in the carnal minded state,
and serve our flesh, then we 'insult' and 'trample under foot 'The Spirit of Grace'...
Yes, of course, but the point is ...
Is this required to keep your salvation?

How do you view the many warnings re: losing salvation?
Blessings!
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
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#17
there is a tension in the Bible. there's tension between what God in Christ has done for the believer, and what the believer is now enabled and expected to do.

as always, i say, let the tension stand. :)
 
P

popeye

Guest
#18
There is no such thing as "dying daily"..I know we have heard that in our religious upbringing but it is not in the scriptures..I can see where some may think we die daily but it is not the truth. The truth is we have died with Christ on the cross. If we die daily - so is Christ dying daily.
Paul said I pick up my cross daily. Daily dying is putting to death the deeds of the body,and the obcessiins of the mind.

There is also daily infilling and refilling.

A "one-two" punch.

We put to death daily our will,desires,ambitions,and false notions that hinder and paralyze,and DAILY put in the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
P

popeye

Guest
#19
There is no such thing as "dying daily"..I know we have heard that in our religious upbringing but it is not in the scriptures..I can see where some may think we die daily but it is not the truth. The truth is we have died with Christ on the cross. If we die daily - so is Christ dying daily.
Also.....daily dying does not mean we never identified,or "died" at baptism.

Baptism is an outward expression,or confirmation of an inward work.

So dying,does not mean we never died before,just as daily infilling does not suggest we never were filled
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#20
Also.....daily dying does not mean we never identified,or "died" at baptism.

Baptism is an outward expression,or confirmation of an inward work.

So dying,does not mean we never died before,just as daily infilling does not suggest we never were filled
I'm not sure what you are saying. Are you saying that we can be dead and then continue to die even though we are dead? Or is it that we are in fact dead and to reckon that we are dead is a form of acknowledging it?

I completely agree with the water baptism being a symbol of an inward happening. I also agree that there are many fillings too as the book of Acts shows with the believers..,