Someone asked me about the Crown of Righteousness. Here is my response.
Yes, the crowns are those that we receive for our efforts for Christ. It is a mutual admiration event. Jesus honors us with crowns for our efforts. This is his thank you to us. We, like the 24 elders, return our crowns to Jesus in a celebration. That is our acknowledgement to him that his power and grace made our efforts for him both possible and effective. This is our thank you to him.
Revelation 4:10KJV - The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne...
2 Timothy 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The text gives the meaning. The crown of righteousness is for the believer who lives in a manner that when Jesus appears the believer "loves" seeing him. When we are in fellowship with Jesus, we want his return and the sooner the better. When a believer is living in sin or the shadows of willful sin, he wants Jesus to delay because that believer will be ashamed of himself if Jesus suddenly showed up.
This crown is for the believer who lives in fellowship with Jesus which is synonymous with living "right" or "righteous". I call this the "crown of fellowship". Beyond everything, God created us for fellowship with him. God came to the Garden to fellowship with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8. God called Abraham "friend". James 2:23.
There are five possible Crowns. The Crown of Righteousness signifies a life lived in a right relationship with God.
There are five possible Crowns. The Crown of Righteousness signifies a life lived in a right relationship with God.
Rev. Joda Collins
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with my opinions.
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