The Crown
One
of my favorite songs, is a song that R.J. Stevens did not even see fit to
include in our hymnals – Crown Him With
Many Crowns, written by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring and set to music by George J. Elvey. The sentiments of the
song stir the soul. Here is how poem originally appeared without the music.
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but
its own!
Awake, my soul and sing of Him who died for thee;
And hail Him as thy matchless King thro’ all
eternity
Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and
side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified;
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his won-d’ring eye at mysteries
so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o’er the
grave;
Who rose victorious to the strife for those who came
to save
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high;
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death
may die.
Crown Him the Lord of heav’n! One with the Father known,
One with the Spirit through Him giv’n from yonder
glorious throne!
To Thee be endless praise, for Thou for us hast
died;
Be Thou, O Lord, thro’ endless days adored and
magnified.
The poem begins with a call to crown Jesus – “Crown him
with many crowns.” Then as each verse progresses some of these crowns are
identified: “Crown Him the Lord of love … Crown him the Lord of life … Crown
Him the Lord of heav’n.” And
to this I say AMEN – “Crown him with
many crowns”.
The
English word crown is derived from
the Latin word corona—which means a garland. And corona is derived
from the Greek word korŌnē, which means wreath. In ancient times the wreath or garland was
given to those who were in some way victorious.
In
the NT there are two different Greek words translated crown – diadayma and stephanos. The first word, diadayma, is the root of our English word diadem. Diadayma is a kingly crown – a crown of authority. This is the crown worn
by Christ in Rev 19:12 and by those who pretend to have His authority – the
dragon and the beast of Rev 12:3; 13:1.
The
second word stephanos is the root from which we
get the name Stephen.
Stephanos
is a victor's crown. It refers to the garland or
wreath of laurel leaves (that we have already mentioned) – the wreath that was
placed on the head as a reward for those who have been victorious. The victory
may have been on the field of battle or it may have been in an athletic
contest. Those who possessed this crown saw them as objects of pride and proof
of their victory.
During
his earthly ministry Paul declared his converts were to him a stephanos—a
crown.
(Phil 4:1) Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
(1 Th 2:19) For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
Most
of the churches established by Paul were made up of individuals who had turned
from idols and who were maintaining their faith amid serve persecution. To Paul
such congregations were emblems of victory; they were his crown of exultation.
And they would be even more so “in the
day of Christ” – at his second coming. For on that day it will be seen that
that he did not run in vain or labor in vain (Phil. 2:16).
Paul
valued his converts who were living faithfully to the Lord Jesus Christ; John
did too. For in his third epistle he wrote in verse four: “I have know greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in
the truth.” I have no doubt that Paul would have said a hearty, “Amen,” to
this. For in truth one of man’s greatest earthly glories lies in those whom he
has set or helped on the path to Christ” (William Barclay, The Letters to
the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, 225). It is because Paul had such a view of his converts that he
could say
Paul
spoke of his converts as being, to him, “crown
of exaltation.” But as we might expect the word stephanos is most
often used in the New Testament in connection with the future – to the crown
that God will give to the faithful on that final day. Let’s consider some of
the ways that the Spirit saw fit to describe this is crown. In 1 Cor 9:25 it is
described as …
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Just
prior to these words Paul had been teaching that Christians must waive their
rights to exercise their liberties not only to help the weak Christian but also
to save own souls.
(vss
22-23) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all
things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for
the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it
As one commentator points out: “The man who refuses to give up his rights for the sake of the weak brother … commits spiritual suicide” (Mike Willis, 1 Corinthians, 249). It is for this reason that Paul encourages the Corinthians to “[r]un in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor 9:24).
Some
of the Christians may have been tempted to complain about this – about how
hard, how inconvenient it might be to sacrifice their liberties for the sake of
others; how hard it was to control their fleshly appetites. Paul does not deny
that these things require self-discipline. But to motivate them to practice
this self-discipline he reminds them of what athletes were prepared to do to
win a prize that is of a far lesser value than they prize they were aiming for.
“Everyone
who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath,
but we an imperishable.”
Every two years the Isthmian Games were conducted in Corinth. These games rivaled the Olympian games that were held in Athens every four years. The Corinthians understood that in every event there could only be one winner. They also understood that months before these contests every serious contender changed their lifestyle. “As with modern athletes, the Grecian athlete thought there was no sacrifice too great for him to make if it gave him some advantage over the other competitors. His mental disposition was not that of one who desired to use every liberty which he possessed; rather, his attitude was that of a man who willingly sacrificed many rights in order to gain” the advantage over the other competitors (Willis, 250); and he practiced this self-control to win a “perishable wreath (stephanos).”
Everything
on this earth is perishable; everything is temporary. Our world is a place
where “where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt 6:19). After a few years, that crown of
laurel leaves that the athlete received for his feat of strength or agility or
endurance would become so brittle that the slightest touch could cause it to
disintegrate. What’s the point? If athletes are willing to practice
self-control to win a prize that won’t last, shouldn’t the Christian willingly
practice self-discipline to win the greater prize – an imperishable
wreath? This is Paul’s point! And so he concludes the thought with these
words….
(1 Cor 9:26-27) Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; {27} but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Those Christians who do not discipline their body to make it
their slave, who do not practice self-control with regards to the fleshly
appetites (even the legitimate ones) shall be disqualified. In other words,
they won’t win the victor’s crown – the imperishable wreath. They will forfeit
what they have gained in Christ. “So run
in such a way that you may win.”
There is another place in the NT that also brings out the eternal quality of this crown. While addressing the eldership – encouraging them to fulfill their task as shepherds in the church of God Peter writes (in 1 Pet 5:2-4) …
shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; {3} nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. {4} And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
In
this context elders who faithfully shepherd the flock of God are the ones who
are promised this victor’s crown – this stephanos – of unfading glory. Keep
in mind that in ancient times this stephanos was made up of fresh
laurels. With the passing of time these laurels would wither and eventually
disintegrate. But in contrast to this, those elders who faithfully shepherd the
flock of God in their midst, will receive a crown of “unfading glory.” The word “unfading” is from a Greek word that
means: “not subject to withering.” The word glory
appears to involve brightness and splendor. Hence the glory or the splendor of
this crown is such that it will never wither or fade away – it will remain
fresh!
Thus,
you pastors of the flock of God here at Tyngsboro, do not serve for material
gain or popular approval from the sheep; but serve as with the view of
receiving from the Chief Shepherd this crown of unfading glory that he will
give to all of his faithful under-shepherds at his coming.
So
what have we learned thus far about the crown that will be given by Christ on
that final day? What we have learned is this: That it is an imperishable crown,
a crown with unfading glory that is given: 1) To those the one who disciplines
his body to make it his slave – who practices self control with regards to his
fleshly appetites and 2) To the elders who are faithful in pasturing the flock
of God under their charge. In both
instances the crown is given to the one who is victorious –
who has accomplished the task that has been set before them.
But
more is said about this crown. In the epistle of James, for example, the
brethren are taught about God’s purpose for allowing trials to fall upon them.
In chapter one, verses two through four
James reveals that trials, contrary to what Satan would have us believe, are
for our good. As we pass through various trials we learn about the quality of
our faith – about its strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, with each trial
that we successfully encounter we gain endurance – the strength to go through
even greater trials.
Some
resist God’s work in them through trials and they give up the struggle to
remain faithful Christian. But to those who hang in there and who remain true
to their calling, James says …
(James 1:12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Those who persevere under trials, who “keep on keeping on,” who never give up “will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.” This same promise was made in Rev 2:10 to the saints in Smyrna who were about to undergo severe trials. The Lord tells them …
(Rev 2:10) 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The “life” under consideration is eternal
life. Those who come to Jesus through faith – who believe that he is the
Messiah, who believer that he died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, who
believe that he has been raised from the dead on the third day after his death
and who believe that he is presently seated at the right hand of God – these
are the one’s who are saved, who are forgiven of sins, who have eternal life
when they repent (Luke 13:1-3) and are baptized in the name of Jesus for the
forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:26-38). But here is something that many
fail to understand even though it is brought out both by the Lord Jesus and the
prophet James: Those who have been given life eternal must continue to believe
and stand, they must endure in the gospel to maintain that relationship with
Jesus, those who believer must also endure, persevere, never give up in order to receive the victor’s
crown on that final day.
(James 1:12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
(Rev 2:10) 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Before closing let consider the final description of the victor’s crown that will be given to every faithful believer on that final day. In 2 Tim 4:8 Paul calls it the “crown of righteousness.”
(2 Tim 4:8) in the future 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.
It is the
crown of righteousness because those who receive it have been declared
righteous through Jesus Christ. From the first to the last, He is our means of
righteousness. For it is through his blood that the baptized believer is
forgiven of his sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and it is through his blood that the
Christian is forgiven whenever he confesses his sin to the Father (1 John 1:9).
Jesus is the means by which we obtain righteousness before God.
There
is great day coming when the Lord Jesus will descend and reward his servants
who have finished the course with a victor’s crown – a crown of unfading glory,
which is also called crown a life and a crown of righteousness. But the interesting thing to me is what
shall we do with that crown after we receive it? It is my conviction that we will do with it what the elders did
with theirs in Rev. 4:10? And what was that? Look and see.
(Rev 4:4, 9-11) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. … And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, {10} the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, {11} “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” [And] … (Rev 5:9 ) … “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
To Christ be the glory and honor forever and ever. For he was slain, and purchased for God with his blood US – “men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” I say again: TO CHRIST BE THE GLORY AND HONOR FOREVER AND EVER1 AMEN! AND AMEN.
“In
the gospel song, "Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It," Fanny J.
Crosby wrote, "I know there's a
crown that is waiting In yonder bright mansion for me." Do you want to
receive this crown? You cannot earn it solely by doing good works, because all
of us have sinned and no amount of good works can atone for even one sin.
Rather, it is a gift of God. But what
did James say? The Lord has promised this crown to those who love Him. How do
we show our love for God? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Therefore,
to meet the Lord's conditions for receiving this crown, we must keep His
commandments or obey Him, being faithful until death. As long as we live, may
we ever press on toward that crown” (Wayne S. Walker, Expository Files, The Crown, 8:4).