It is very important to understand what “the crown of life” is

[Osterloh]

An appetizer ...

From The Applied New Testament Commentary (Thomas Hale):

“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 (see Mark 13:13).”

 

James 1:12-15 • “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.”
We all know that sin results in both physical and spiritual death

(Romans 5:12-20, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, etc.)

Please note the 2 opposites above:

No sinning results in the crown of life …  sinning results in eternal death!

 

Rev 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.”

He who is faithful until death will receive the crown of life.

Mark 13:13, etc. (below) promises eternal life to him who endures with his faith until death.

The second death is eternal death (Rev 20:14, Rev 21:8).

If one overcomes by being faithful until the end, he does not experience eternal death,

but instead he receives the crown of life … he experiences eternal life (salvation).

 

Mark 13:13 • “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.”

Confirmations: 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

 

2 Tim 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.”

So, why is not the crown of righteousness the same as the crown of life?

 

Our imputed righteousness must be practiced (i.e. continued)

in order to maintain (keep) that righteousness …

“… whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:35)

“… you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether (slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death, 
OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness” (Romans 6:16)

“… the kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who

serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Rom 14:16-18)

“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7)

 

Scripture teaches us that “the crown of life” means salvation (eternal life).

 

[Willa]

So what is your doctrinal question?

[Hippie333]

Shalom Osterloh!

 

     I am curious to what you clearly mean in your post. What is it you are saying?

 

your post -

 

Our imputed righteousness must be practiced (i.e. continued)

in order to maintain (keep) that righteousness …

 

Are you saying we must do things after being saved to keep our salvation?

 

 

Just wanting to be clear what it is you are trying to say, and am curious to what question it is you are asking being that this is the "Doctrinal Questions" forum.

 

 

God Bless,

Hip

[Guest]

Believe It~!

 

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 

~

 

Our imputed righteousness must be practiced (i.e. continued)

in order to maintain (keep) that righteousness …

 

~

 

The

 

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

 

Crown Of Life

 

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. Revelation 2:10

 

Is Salvation

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-8

 

See

 

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:2-4

[Osterloh]

I am curious to what you clearly mean in your post. What is it you are saying?

Our imputed righteousness must be practiced (i.e. continued)

in order to maintain (keep) that righteousness …

Are you saying we must do things after being saved to keep our salvation?

Just wanting to be clear what it is you are trying to say, and am curious to what question

it is you are asking being that this is the "Doctrinal Questions" forum.

 

I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that all threads must contain a question.

Perhaps in my case the question implied is: "Do you agree with the OP, or not?"

 

Re: the verses at the end of the OP ...

Continued righteous living is necessary to keep one's righteousness (eternal life).

There are multitudes of warnings that one can choose to fall away from the faith

and thus lose their salvation.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Osterloh

[Trinitron]

Crown of life is martyrs.  Reign with Christ for thousand years, exempt from final judgment.

[Osterloh]

Crown of life is martyrs.  Reign with Christ for thousand years, exempt from final judgment.

 

James 1:12-15 • “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.”

 

So, the ones who endure the temptations to sin are martyrs?

They can't be martyrs for any other reasons? 

[Trinitron]

The sin is holding on to this life.

[Osterloh]

The sin is holding on to this life.

 

Okay, has Sony officially spoken, or just you?