1. And yet in the NT, the word crown is used to describe God s precious promise of eternal life. THE VICTORY CROWN

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1 THE VICTORY CROWN A. In the early morning hours before Jesus was crucified the soldiers tore off His clothes & thrashed Him with a whip. 1. And yet in the NT, the word crown is used to describe God s precious promise of eternal life. 2. Jesus wore that painful crown of humiliation, so that we could wear a crown of eternal honor. 1. Next, they did something to Him they didn t have to do; they inflicted mental torture. Matt 27:28-31 They stripped Him & put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, & a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him & mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 Then they spat on Him, & took the reed & struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, & led Him away to be crucified. C. When we hear the word crown we think of a king. 1. But the Christian s crown is that of a victor; it is an award for winning a race (Heb 12:1-2; 2 Tim 2:5). 2. And what will we do with that crown? 2. The Majestic Creator was given a flimsy reed & a ring of weeds as symbols of His authority & royalty. B. His crown was a symbol of shame; it was a way of mocking Him. a. Awards are usually put in a place where they draw attention: mantel, wall, etc. b. But the Christian s victory crown is used as a token of his worship of God. 1

2 Rev 4:10-11 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne & worship Him who lives forever & ever, & cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory & honor & power; for You created all things, & by Your will they exist & were created. b. What greater effort would we make to worship God more often through the day, more sincerely, more thoroughly? [What more does the NT tell us about the victory crown?] I. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTORY CROWN A. An Imperishable Crown. c. How much more time would we take to grow spiritually, train our family & teach our neighbors? [Paul wanted us to consider the intensity of an athletes training; we should use that same intensity in training to obtain the imperishable crown.] 1 Cor 9:25 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. B. A Crown Of Rejoicing. 1. We are to apply the discipline of a professional athlete to our service to the Lord? a. And if we would we do that; what more could we do for Him? 1 Thess 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord JC at His coming? 20 For you are our glory & joy. Phil 4:1 Therefore, my beloved & longed-for brethren, my joy & crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. 2

3 1. Paul pictures himself (apostles) as receiving a crown in the presence of those he taught & with whom he served. a. It is a crown of rejoicing because he s not standing alone he brought others with him. [Our greatest joy will be to look into the faces of those whom we aided in their spiritual life.] C. A Crown Of Life. Jas 1:12 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. Rev 2:10 Do not fear any of those things that you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, & you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, & I will give you the crown of life. 2. It is a crown given out to those who endure persecution & even death to keep the faith. Mark 10:29-30 So Jesus answered & said, Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake & the gospel s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses & brothers & sisters & mothers & children & lands, with persecutions -- & in the age to come, eternal life. [It is a crown of life, because those who wear it have been given an endless life for the sacrifices they had to make to be obedient to the Lord.] D. A Crown Of Glory. 1 Pet 5:1-4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder & a witness of the sufferings of Christ, & also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 & when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1. The crown of life is for those who refuse the temptation to sin because of their love for Christ. 3

4 1. Being an elder is a very demanding work & so seldom appreciated; why would a man be willing to spend his life caring for souls? (See 5:4). 2. Most everything we do in this life is temporary. a. But when we help others spiritually, we are doing a work that will last forever. E. A Crown Of Righteousness. 2 Tim 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, & the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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, & not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 1. In ancient times crowns were given to those who won great battles: Paul I ve fought THE good fight Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory [Paul s so-called light afflictions 4:8-10 are only light by comparison to the far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory awaiting him in heaven] [People who want their glory in this life may or may not achieve it, but the crown of glory belongs to those who seek their glory in the world to come. #216: That Will Be Glory For Me ] 2. Crowns were given to those who won races: Paul I have finished THE race 3. Crowns were given to those who compete lawfully (2 Tim 2:5): Paul I have kept THE faith [Paul never agued in defense of worldly practices, he never justified malicious words. He never blamed his sins on others. He never adapted scripture to culture. He never instigated his own following. Therefore, the Lord the righteous judge gave to Paul a crown of righteousness (he was marked justified in the sight of God.). 4

5 CLOSING A. These crowns can also be ours; they are for those who have loved the Lord s appearing. 1. By Following Men (Acts 20:30; Gal 1:6-9) 2. By Supporting Error (2 John 9-11) 3. By Not Enduring Sound Doctrine (2 Tim 4:3-4) 4. By Self-Deception (Jas 1:22; Heb 2:1) Heb 9:28 Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. B. We ve really not been talking about many crowns, but only descriptions of the same crown THE VICTORY CROWN! 1. Where will that crown be worn? Heaven (Col 1:3-5; 1 Pet 1:3-5), the Father s House (John 14:1-3). D. A high price was paid to make that crown available! E. Jesus took off HIS crown in this world that WE might wear one in the world to come! For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). GOD S PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION: Hear or read the gospel of Jesus Christ: Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2; 3; 13; 17; Rom 10:17 C. The Savior s warning: Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (Rev 3:11). Believe Jesus to be Lord, Christ, Son of God and Savior: Acts 2:36; John 3:16; 8:24; 20:30-31; Acts 4:12; Heb 11:6 Repent and turn from sin: Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 1 John 3:4 Confess faith in Jesus Christ: Matt 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9-10 Be baptized for the forgiveness of sin and salvation: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:27; 1 Pet 3:21 5 Obey the word of Christ, He will be your Judge: Titus 2:11-12; Heb 5:9; 2 John 9; Rev 2:10; John 12:48