The Crown of Life

James 1:12

 

INTRO: This is the first of 5 crowns we will be studying. This crown, the crown of life, could be called the lover’s crown. All believers have eternal life, but not all will receive the crown of life.

 

WHO WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE.

Only those believers who meet the requirements.

Not all believers will receive this crown.

HOW YOU, AS A BELIEVER, MAY RECEIVE THIS CROWN.

By overcoming temptations and enduring trials through the love of God.

We are to glory in tribulation knowing that they can strengthen our faith. Paul said: "We glory in tribulations also."

James said: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation..."

Temptation will try you. It will put you through the fire and burn away carnality.

Those that endure the fires, go through the furnace, take the heat of the crucible, through the love of God.

The only way that we can consistently overcome in mind and deed is by loving the Lord.

We must draw upon the love that has been poured (Rom 5:3-5).

Without the love of God in our hearts, trials will cause us to become bitter not better, critical not loving.

God will reward those who endure persecution (Matt 5:10-12).

We must be faithful unto death to receive this crown (Rev 2:10).

We must love the Lord more than life itself.

This is illustrated in Mark 8:35.

"Save his life..."–live for self.

"Love his life..."–live for Christ at all cost.

Lester Roloff said: "Find a cause worth dying for, than live for it."

ENDURANCE OF TEMPTATIONS AND TRAILS (I Cor 10:13)

Temptation is of the Devil and not of God (James 1:13).

There are two factors involved in enduring temptation.

Enticement to sin (James 1:14).

Afflictions of righteousness (James 1:17).

Resistance of "temptation" involves such self-denial as makes well doing difficult; or in other words, we suffer positive trials.

The man who would resist temptation pursues righteousness no matter what the cost.

He avoids, "even the appearance of evil."

He lives by his Bible convictions in spite of persecution.

This man is on the cay to the crown of life.

Think of the Savior’s temptations:

In the desert (Matt 4:1-11).

In the garden (Lk 22:39-46).

We cannot write "blessed" over the wrestling in the desert nor over the agony of blood in the garden. But we can over the victorious results we see (Heb 4:15).

It is not, "Blessed is the man that is tossed and troubled"; but "Blessed is the man that endureth."

Endureth the temptation of sex.

Endureth the temptation of booze.

Endureth the temptation of tobacco.

Blessed is the man that endureth.

THE PRIZE JAMES 1:12

The prize for the man who love God and endures is "The crown of life."

A crown to be place at the Savior’s feet (Rev 4:10).

 

CONCLUSION: Let us strive for the crown of life.

 

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