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

[ZacharyB]

Yes, if I open my mouth, I'll be banned from this thread also.

So, I might just as well be.

[Ezra]

On 6/15/2016 at 6:25 AM, ZacharyB said:

The crown of life is eternal life … the opposite of eternal death

Sorry, but you are way off base.

ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT [undeserved]

THE CROWN OF LIFE IS A REWARD [deserved]

We have a separate thread on why eternal life is a gift. Kindly study that.

[missmuffet]

2 hours ago, inchrist said:

Thanks for this, interested read.

I would just like to add to this

The Jewish priests followed a special ceremony of casting lots involving two stones which involved two goats.

God required one goat as a sin offering that was killed with its blood being placed on the altar.

The other goat was sent away into the wilderness

The priests would mark two different stones to be placed in an urn. One was white, marked "Ladonai" to indicate the slain sacrifice. The other stone that was black, marked "Azazel" to identify the scapegoat.

Whichever stone was cast into the right hand of the priest would be the fate of the goat at his right side.

God will give us a white stone with a new name. Revelation 2:17

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, inchrist said:

Yes im aware of that, I was adding to your list...use it, dont use it.

You have just one of the interpretations of what that white stone is.

[ZacharyB]

Eileen, I'm glad to see that you are carefully considering these things!

Please refer to the new thread, "Are you still sinning like one of the sons of disobedience?"

[Ezra]

13 hours ago, eileenhat said:

Does then mean there are two types of Christians?

No. It simply means that some Christians will suffer much more than others, and the greater the suffering on earth, the greater the rewards in eternity.

13 hours ago, eileenhat said:

Ordinary Christians being those who do not earn this crown of life?

We really don't understand what "the crown of life" entails. But as you have noted, it is for those who have been martyred for their faith and their faithfulness.

13 hours ago, eileenhat said:

What does it mean? Life?

Life means life on earth.  Eternal life means a perfect eternal life in the very presence of God and Christ, with all the saints being perfected and purified first.

13 hours ago, eileenhat said:

My idea is that it is a "yes", eternal life has to be earned by a follower of Jesus, but that there is no eternal damnation involved for a follower.

Then it would no longer be a gift.  No one can earn eternal life, but many will received the reward of of the crown of life.

[Sister]

On 15/09/2016 at 11:31 PM, Ezra said:

Sorry, but you are way off base.

ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT [undeserved]

THE CROWN OF LIFE IS A REWARD [deserved]

We have a separate thread on why eternal life is a gift. Kindly study that.

I see nothing wrong with that statement ZacharyB made.

On 15/06/2016 at 8:25 PM, ZacharyB said:

The crown of life is eternal life … the opposite of eternal death

 

ZaccharyB

Your whole post was good brother, nothing wrong with what you said.

[Ezra]

2 hours ago, eileenhat said:

No, not martyred.

There have been Christian martyrs from the first century. Please note (Rev 2:10):   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.

What does "be thou faithful unto death" mean if not martyrdom?  Note the connection between the crown of life and martyrdom.  The Tribulation saints will also be martyrs, but that is not the issue.

[LeavesSeeds]

Ever since I became a martyr for the sake of the Gospel,  I thought everyone who wanted to be a disciple of Jesus, born again, set apart had to be (joyously , willingly, totally, and without reservation / without hesitation),

or was to be a martyr.    Otherwise it seemed to me, and still seems like,   they are not whole-heartedly worshiping only the one true God.   This also separates the living body of believers from just having the form of religion but denying(not living in; not acknowledging; not showing in life; not being healed or joyful in all things; not having peace that passes understanding; being depressed instead of overflowing with life) the power there-of.

[Guest Robert]

On 9/18/2016 at 2:35 PM, eileenhat said:

The section prior to "death" in Rev 2:10 states "tribulation for 10 days".

So you are alive and being tried (by Satan) for your faith.

Are you being tried to such a level in your life?

I havn't met any Christians with that level of trouble (where they honestly feel they are in that state of tribulation).

There is the belief that daily troubles are the same deal.

But does that make any sense to you Ezra?

I see this as more a metaphor (examples, ideas) for your level of spiritual awareness of God, that imply that eventually you have to enter God's awareness via the guidance of the Holy spirit in order to spiritually evolve into 'tribulation saint' material.

You can't just continue doing the same thing and succeed.  Not that I would ever tell anyone that, because I still see all Christians (the 99.9%) being helped by Church structures.

There is just the final phase where 'a leap of faith' is necessary.

Most people rather visiualize an easy 'rapture' type experience rather than a 'full of trials' affair at the end.

1) You haven't met those kinds of Christians? Where are you looking? There are people in China, N. Korea, the Middle East and elsewhere in the world who are going through hell on earth and suffering brutally for their faith.

2) "Easy rapture type"? Say that after you've been beaten to a pulp (and worse) like the people previously mentioned have been.

 

Edited September 20, 2016 by RobertS