Judgments and Rewards, Part 2

Yesterday I began addressing this subject of the nature of "Judgments and Rewards".  This is part of a summer long series of teachings called "Potpourri" - a series based on questions people in our fellowship posed to me that they wanted to hear teaching on.

If you haven't read the previous post, I'd recommend that you go back and read that one first before diving into this one.  The subject is "Judgment and Rewards" - what is it that happens in heaven in relation to God's assessment of our lives?  Here's part 2. 

How Do We Obtain Rewards?

One of the clearer representations of the rewards Christians will receive, is given to us in the image of the crown.

The Greek word stephanos  refers to a garland of leaves, flowers or, occasionally, gold –

These were awarded in the Greek Olympic Games for those who won their contests and that’s part of the Key behind the idea of Reward.

The Reward is based on the idea of excellence - it is that we care.  We are not comparing ourselves to others, instead we are doing what we do in a manner that can best be described as excellent - with all that we have, all that we are.  An example is that we look at living for Christ like we would being on a basketball court.

We won’t be LeBron James, but do we try with all that we have?  That’s what Paul has in mind with his statement in this sense of doing all we can with all that we have for the sake of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)
²⁴  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
²⁵  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
²⁶  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
²⁷  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

What’s interesting in Paul’s letters is that sometimes he makes the people who have become believers and formed local churches his crown.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (ESV)
¹⁹  For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

This is the word Paul uses to describe his future reward. 

What Rewards Are For Us?

Scripture identifies three distinct crowns, or rewards that represent something here in life.  I'll just cover the first one today.

1.  The Crown of Righteousness:  

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV)
⁶  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
⁷  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
⁸  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

The crown of righteousness is awarded to all believers who grow up to maturity in Jesus Christ and maintain that spiritual status solidly until the end.

The crown that awaits Paul is "the crown of righteousness."

Again, the key is to realize that this has nothing to do with earning salvation.

Jesus himself, is our righteousness…

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
³⁰  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Philippians 3:9 (NIV)
⁹  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

So The Issue is This:  "We receive the crown of righteousness because one has already received the righteousness of Christ."

Why a "crown of righteousness" instead of, say, another crown?

Because righteousness is the greatest need we sinful humans have. It is the singular thing we cannot do for ourselves. And it is from "the crown of righteousness" that all other crowns will come.

The Crown of Righteousness comes to us because our Righteousness is in Christ.

Tomorrow, the final part of this teaching,  

Peace