Heavenly Crowns

Today message title is “The Heavenly Crowns” however before we just dive right into that vast topic let me first if I can lay some ground work leading up today's topic.

1 Corinthians 3:11–12 NKJV

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1 Corinthians 3:13–14 NKJV

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:15–17 NKJV

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

So what rewards will God give to His children in heaven?

What should we expect?

Are rewards merely a good feeling?

Are they tangible?

Are they crowns? If so, what is a crown?

Although the full nature of eternal rewards is something we will never fully understand here on Earth, we can discern a few basic elements of these rewards based on what we read in Scripture.

PRAISE - COMMENDATION

The first heavenly reward we will receive from the Lord is His praise. Here are a few verses that speak of our future commendation.

1 Corinthians 4:5 NKJV

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose

In His parable of the talents, the Master said to his first two servants, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

We all know how great it is to be praised by a parent, spouse, or boss for a job well done. Think of what it will be like to stand before the Lord and hear Him say, “Well done.”

The Creator of heaven and Earth—our Maker—will praise you and me for good works done with acceptable motives.

POSITION -CO-RULING

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight (Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose)

A second reward will be reigning or co-ruling with Christ.

Faithful service for Christ here on Earth will bring positions of rule and authority in the coming kingdom and on into the eternal state.

Ruling with and for Christ will be the culmination of God’s original creation. The creation account in Genesis 1–2 reveals that God created Adam and Eve in His image and placed them in paradise (the Garden of Eden) to enjoy intimate fellowship with their Creator and to rule on His behalf.

Genesis 1:26–28 NKJV

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Adam and Eve were created to serve as co-rulers with the Triune God over the newly created planet.

Tragically, human rulership over Earth was forfeited through open treason against the Creator when the man and woman ate of the forbidden fruit.

Satan, the great antagonist and deceiver, then assumed authority over Earth.

He became the ruler (John 12:31) and god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose

God’s solution to this crisis was to promise a redeemer who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). The rest of the Bible, from that point onward, looks to the coming of this promised one. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies and promises of His coming, and the Gospels tell us about the arrival of the promised One, Jesus Christ, and His death and resurrection to atone for sin and redeem fallen people and creation.

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose

The Bible is clear—a man will rule over the earth as God intended from the beginning. God is determined to fulfill His purpose for this world and mankind. What was lost will be gloriously regained when Jesus comes to defeat Satan and his final imposter, the Antichrist, at Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21).

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose

When Jesus takes the inheritance and establishes His reign over the earth for 1,000 years (phase 1 of the kingdom), then continues to rule forever in the eternal kingdom (phase 2), we will reign with Him.

•  “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).

•  “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

•  “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

•  “There will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

The positions of authority we are given in the future are being determined now by how we live. Our stewardship of our time, opportunities, and resources will determine the degree of our authority. Jesus said that some will rule over ten cities, and others will rule over five (Luke 19:17-19).

Our lives today are training time for reigning time.

In his excellent book Heaven, Randy Alcorn says,

Notice that the Master rewards his faithful servants not by taking away responsibilities but by giving them greater ones.

Randy Alcorn

Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight Chapter Six: Gaining What You Can’t Lose

Should we be excited that God will reward us by making us ruler in his Kingdom? Absolutely. Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12).

PRIVILEGE - CROWNS

The third kind of reward the Lord will give at the judgment seat is privileges and honors. These privileges come in two forms, with the first being crowns.

A bit of background here is helpful. As we’ve already seen, the city of Corinth, in Greece, was the apostle Paul’s headquarters during his second missionary journey. He spent eighteen months there preaching and teaching God’s Word (Acts 18:11).

Not far from Corinth were the Isthmian Games. As New Testament scholar Gordon Fee notes,

These games, held every two years under the patronage of Corinth and second only to the Olympics, were extravagant festivals of religion, athletics, and the arts, attracting thousands of competitors and visitors from all over the empire… Paul would have been in Corinth during the games of A.D. 51 (in the spring).

Crowns were awarded at these games. Now, when we hear of a crown, usually we think of beautiful, glistening, golden royal crowns with jewels. But the crowns given to the victors at the ancient games were not the diadema or royal crown, but the stephanos crown. which was like a wreath or garland made from twisted leaves, pine shoots, parsley, or olive branches. In spite of its humble appearance, the stephanos was the gold medal of its day and brought great honor and benefits to the victor—in the same way that a gold medal does for today’s Olympic athletes.

The New Testament outlines five different crowns that the Lord will bestow on the faithful at the bema judgment.

1. The Incorruptible / Imperishable Crown

Also known as the crown of mastery or discipline, this reward is for those who consistently practice self-control and master the temptations of the sins of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NKJV

24 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. 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. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

The Lord greatly values self-discipline and self-control over the temptations related to our physical bodies.

2. The Crown of Righteousness

At the moment of salvation, every believer receives the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Without His righteousness, we cannot be saved and enter heaven. The crown of righteousness is a special capacity to enjoy righteousness given to those who eagerly look for the Lord’s coming and live a righteous life in view of this fact. This crown is sometimes called “the watcher’s crown.”

This reward “refers to the crown awarded for finishing the race of life righteously, with our eyes on Jesus, especially anticipating His return.”

The apostle Paul spoke of this crown in the waning days of his life on Earth and looked forward to securing it for himself. He said,

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

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, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Looking eagerly for the coming of Christ is a powerful incentive to godly living. An awareness of the Lord’s coming exerts a cleansing, purifying effect on our lives.

1 John 3:2–3 NKJV

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

“Holy Living is a Sure Sign of Heavenly Longing”

Are you yearning for Christ’s coming, or yawning? Do you long for His appearing? Are you ready for the rapture? Is the anticipation of His coming motivating you to live a righteous life?

3. The Crown of Life

Every Christian receives eternal life. The crown of life is the sufferer’s or martyr’s crown given to those who faithfully endure, persevere, and hang in there under the trials and tests of life, including the greatest test, which is martyrdom.

The recipients of this crown will enjoy life to its fullest. This crown is mentioned in two New Testament passages:

James 1:12 NKJV

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.

Revelation 2:10 NKJV

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Every Christian can receive this reward because we all face suffering, trials, and troubles in life. May the Lord strengthen us all to remain steadfast in the face of affliction and receive the crown of life.

4. The Crown of Rejoicing

The soul-winner’s crown will be given to those who win people for Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

Philippians 4:1 NKJV

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

This crown symbolizes people to whom we’ve ministered and pointed to Christ.… when we stand in the presence of Jesus at His royal coming, our hearts will overflow with pride, joy, and exultation because of those who stand with us at that time—those we have had a share in bringing to the Savior.

What a thrill! For all eternity we will have “walking wreath-crowns” living and enjoying with us the glorious presence and unspeakable delights of life in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace.Not every believer has the gift of evangelism, but we’re all called to be witnesses to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. How long has it been since you shared the good news of the gospel with a friend or coworker?

There’s no thrill in life like that of leading another person to Christ. This crown is aptly named “the crown of rejoicing” because heaven will be filled with rejoicing when we stand before the Lord with those who have come to Christ through our witness.

5. The Crown of Glory

The shepherd’s crown will be given to those pastors, elders, and church leaders who lovingly, graciously, and faithfully feed, lead, guide, and oversee God’s people.

1 Peter 5:1–4 NKJV

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and 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 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Every Christian is eligible to receive the rewards mentioned above, except the crown of glory, which is reserved for pastors and elders.

CONCLUSION

We are told in Revelation 4:10-11 what will happen after we receive these rewards:

Revelation 4:10–11 NKJV

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Casting our crowns at the feet of the One who sits on the throne will be an act of supreme worship as well as an acknowledgement that everything we are and have accomplished is ultimately due to His grace and goodness.

This will be our way of giving Him unreserved glory and praise.

The casting of crowns before the Lord does not mean that rewards will be surrendered to Christ and will play no future part in our lives in heaven.

After this event, believers will return with Christ to the earth and enjoy different positions of rule and authority during His millennial reign (Matthew 25:31-46).

The rewards we gain will carry on for all eternity.

Think of what it will be like to receive a crown from the nail-pierced hands of Jesus. He will give the reward personally.

“Awards aren’t given a nation at a time, a church at a time, or a generation at a time. The crowns are given one at a time.”

Then we will have the privilege of casting them at the feet of Him who sits on the throne.