GOD CREATED US 2: WHAT CROWNS WILL BELIEVERS RECEIVE?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. God Created Us
a) If a person believes in evolution then there is no “why” in life. There is no purpose – there is no reason for anything except to eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we shall all die. There is however, a purpose for our existence. We are not blind accidents of nature. We are not cosmic collisions of chemicals. We are not blind chance circumstances where all the odds were perfectly aligned. No, we were created and since we were created there is by necessity a purpose for our lives. We were created by God for a reason that few people know. Even Christians often fail to grasp this purpose – but purpose there is.
2. What Crowns Will Believers Receive?
a) There are five crowns that believers are destined to earn at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. Many will have their works burned up due to having the wrong motivation (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). God has actually created us and appointed us, before the foundation of the world, for good works (Ephesians 2:9-10). We are not saved by works but saved for works.
b) For some, they will have earned crowns which they will receive one day. We were created to wear crowns, predestined to do good works, to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
c) There are five crowns that we know of:
i) The Crown of Righteousness is for those who have longed for His return and remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:8).
ii) The Crown of Glory is for those that are servants to the flock and are the local shepherds of God’s people (1 Peter 5:1-4).
iii) The Imperishable or Eternal Crown which is given to those who have overcome the pulls of the flesh, the sinful nature, and exercised self-control (1 Corinthians 9:25).
iv) The Crown of Rejoicing which is for those who evangelize and help to bring others to Christ or at least share the gospel with the lost (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
v) The Crown of Life will be given to those who endure much affliction, persecution, trials, and temptations and to those who love Him (James 1:12).
b) We can summarize why God created us in this sentence: We were created by God to worship Him, to glorify Him, predestined to do good works for Him, to share Jesus Christ‘s gospel with the lost, and to enjoy Him for eternity. This is the chief purpose of mankind.
c) If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then now you know your purpose in life. If you are not, perhaps today is the day of your salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you choose life, place your trust in Jesus, put your faith in His saving grace, and confess you are a sinner in need of a Savior, then you too have just found your purpose.
The End ...
1. God Created Us a) If a person believes in evolution then there is no “why” in life. There is no purpose – there is no reason for anything except to eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we shall all die. There is however, a purpose for our existence. We are not blind accidents of nature. We are not cosmic collisions of chemicals. We are not blind chance circumstances where all the odds were perfectly aligned. No, we were created and since we were created there is by necessity a purpose for our lives. We were created by God for a reason that few people know. Even Christians often fail to grasp this purpose – but purpose there is.
2. What Crowns Will Believers Receive?
a) There are five crowns that believers are destined to earn at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. Many will have their works burned up due to having the wrong motivation (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). God has actually created us and appointed us, before the foundation of the world, for good works (Ephesians 2:9-10). We are not saved by works but saved for works.
b) For some, they will have earned crowns which they will receive one day. We were created to wear crowns, predestined to do good works, to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
c) There are five crowns that we know of:
i) The Crown of Righteousness is for those who have longed for His return and remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:8).
ii) The Crown of Glory is for those that are servants to the flock and are the local shepherds of God’s people (1 Peter 5:1-4).
iii) The Imperishable or Eternal Crown which is given to those who have overcome the pulls of the flesh, the sinful nature, and exercised self-control (1 Corinthians 9:25).
iv) The Crown of Rejoicing which is for those who evangelize and help to bring others to Christ or at least share the gospel with the lost (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
v) The Crown of Life will be given to those who endure much affliction, persecution, trials, and temptations and to those who love Him (James 1:12).
b) We can summarize why God created us in this sentence: We were created by God to worship Him, to glorify Him, predestined to do good works for Him, to share Jesus Christ‘s gospel with the lost, and to enjoy Him for eternity. This is the chief purpose of mankind.
c) If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then now you know your purpose in life. If you are not, perhaps today is the day of your salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you choose life, place your trust in Jesus, put your faith in His saving grace, and confess you are a sinner in need of a Savior, then you too have just found your purpose.
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