1 Corinthians 3:9-15
For we are laborers together with God:
you are God's husbandry [garden or vineyard],
you are God's building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me,
as a wise master builder,
I have laid the foundation,
and another builds thereon.
But let every man [and woman] take heed
how he [or she] builds thereupon.
For other foundation can no man [or woman] lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man [or woman] build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble;
every person's work shall be made manifest [plainly known]:
for the Day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every person's work of what sort it is.
If any man's [or woman’s] work survives
which he [or she] has built thereupon,
he [or she] shall receive a reward.
If any man's [or woman’s] work shall be burned,
he [or she] shall suffer loss,
but he [or she] himself shall be saved,
yet so as by fire.
Note: I believe each true Christian will have a private time with Jesus Christ about the above and the
below.
Spiritual Crowns
(by David Ford and Bill Stevenson)
In 1 Corinthians 9:25, the Apostle Paul wrote the believers in Corinth: Everyone who competes in the
games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that
will last forever.
Between the great fire in Rome in A.D. 64 and the upside-down crucifixion of Peter in A.D. 68, the Apostle
Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:4 to the scattered Christians: And when the Chief Shepherd [Jesus Christ] appears,
you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. The Apostle James wrote in James 1:12:
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the
crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”
In 2 Timothy 4:8, the Apostle Paul informed one of his disciples, Timothy: “Now there is in store 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 longed for His appearing.”
According to Revelation 4:10, these crowns apparently will be laid down before the thrown of God in
Heaven by true Christians, because the other things of Heavenly living, especially the righteousness and
peace and joy always with no sicknesses are all that is needed for wonderful living.
Spiritual Crowns
a. Incorruptible Crown-- lasting forever
1
In 1 Corinthians 9:25, t he Apostle Paul wrote the believers in Corinth: “Everyone who competes in the
games goes into strict training. They do it to get a corruptible crown that will not last, but we do it to get a
incorruptible crown that will last forever.”
Much self-denial was done by the Olympic runners Paul mentioned to gain the glory and honor of being
crowned with a wreath of parsley, which faded and withered in a few hours. Christians should be
controlling their bodies for righteousness and pleasing God, so that they will be rewarded the only crown
that will last forever.
b. Crown of Glory
Between the great fire in Rome (A.D. 64) and his upside-down crucifixion (A.D. 68), the Apostle Peter
wrote in 1 Peter 5:4 to the scattered Christians: “And when the Chief Shepherd [Jesus Christ] appears, you
will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
c. Crown of Righteousness
In 2 Timothy 4:8, the Apostle Paul informed one of his disciples, Timothy: “Now there is in store 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 longed for His appearing.”
If you have this hope, you should be wanting to purify yourself as Jesus Christ is pure, living unselfish love
as He did when on Earth in human form. Later read 1 John 3-4 and Ephesians 5-6.
d. Crown of Life
The Apostle James wrote in James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he
has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”
How much do you love God? Are you willing to even die for Him? This crown of life is not for all
Christians. It is only for the ones who persevere through all the trials of faith, which will come to any who
really live what the New Testament commandments exhort.
1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God knows how much each of us can take and He will provide escapes
from the tests of faith if necessary. Are you a perseverer? Can you be patient and longsuffering? The
crown of life is a possibility for you if you can.
e. Crown of Rejoicing
There is a crown of rejoicing too! In 1 Thessalonians 2:14b &18-20, the Apostle Paul told the Christians
of Thessalonica that there is such a crown. He wrote, “You suffered from your own countrymen the same
things those churches in Judea suffered from the Jews.... We wanted to come to you... but Satan stopped
us. For what is our hope, our joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at His coming? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
The one who had to wear an awful crown of thorns before being unjustly crucified, Jesus Christ said in
Matthew 5:10-11: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
In Philippians 4:1, the Apostle Paul indicated that this crown of glorying is earned through leading people
to Jesus Christ and God s Word. He told the Christians in Philippi that they were his joy and crown. If
you had the cure for cancer, wouldn’t you share it? If you had the key to forever love and life with joy,
wouldn’t you want to share it to everyone you could?
2
Do these crowns sound interesting to you? Would you rather have them along with peace and joy than a lot
of money? True Christianity is the only way to be rewarded by God for eternity. Money and life here is
just temporary. Also the crowns are not needed at all in Heaven or in the new Earth, because the other
things of Heavenly living, especially the forever righteousness and peace and joy with no sicknesses, are all
that is needed for wonderful living.
Amendment: Since the crowns will not be needed in Heaven or in the new Earth, then how are the
differences indicated in the 1 Corinthians 3 passage manifested. I believe that it will be by
the location of the mansions (see John 14:1-4). Those were the most faithful will be in
residences closest to the throne of God and the least faithful will be the farthest away.
Are you ready?
