The class yesterday seemed to fly by for me. We no sooner got started and it was time to close. At least we did get through the last three crowns / rewards.
When John was instructed to encourage the church at Smyrna to be “faithful unto death” because a crown of life was waiting for them, it opened the door of discussion and study concerning all the crowns that are mentioned as reward for faithful teaching & leadership (1 Peter 5:1-4), faithful witness of the gospel (1 Thess 2:19-20, Luke 15:7, Phil. 4:1), faithful anticipation of the 2nd coming by being doctrinally sound (2 Timothy 4:1-8), faithful temperance of the physical appetites so as not to be a stumbling block to the gospel (1 Cor. 9:24-27, 1 Cor 6:12), and the reward for being a faithful witness in the face of death (Rev 2:10, James 1:2-12, 2 Cor 4:7-18).
We summed up the rewards in this — God’s goal for us is that we abide in Christ (John 15:1-14, 1 John 2:28), seeking to be conformed to His image (Rom 8:29) by maturing in Christ. The proper fruit of a mature life in Christ will result in a by-product of crowns being the reward of a faithful life! Remember the admonition of Romans 14:10 and 2 Cor 5:10 — we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ!