 |  |
before them. This same "example", namely Israel's failure in the wilderness, is before
the apostle when he wrote I Cor. 9: 24 - 10: 13.
"Do you not know that in a foot-race the runners all run, but that only one gets the
prize? You must run like him, in order to run with certainty. But every competitor in an
athletic contest practices abstemiousness in all directions. They indeed do this for the
sake of securing a perishable wreath, but we for the sake of securing one that will not
perish. That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does
not inflict blows on the air, but I hit hard and straight at my own body and lead it off into
slavery, lest possibly after I have been a herald to others, I should be rejected (as
unworthy of the crown and the prize)" (I Cor. 9: 24-27 Weymouth).
We have, in earlier numbers of this series of studies, referred to the crown and the
reign of II Tim. 2:, and we will not go over the ground again. We most earnestly
beseech every reader to weigh over most carefully the essential difference which the
Scripture teaches between assured salvation, "we shall live with Him", and subsequent
prize, and moreover, reject as false, any teaching which would lead one to suppose that
membership of the One Body could by any possible mans, be a "prize" which any saint
or sinner could "win". To entertain for a moment such a conception is to give a fatal
blow to the fullness of unmerited grace which so characterizes our calling, gospel and
dispensation.
Why does Paul call the crown which he has won, "the crown of righteousness"?
First let us acquaint ourselves with the usage of stephanos "crown". The only
occurrences of stephanos in the four gospels, refer to the Saviour's "crown of thorns".
Adam at his creation was "crowned with glory and honour" (Heb. 2: 7), and Christ,
who, like Adam, was made a little lower than the angels, He too was "crowned with glory
and honour for the suffering of death" (Heb. 2: 9).
On two occasions Paul speaks of believers as "his crown"; to the Philippians he wrote:
"Therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and my crown" (Phil. 4: 1),
and to the Thessalonians he wrote:
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (I Thess. 2: 19).
Specific crowns are mentioned in the New Testament:
(1)
An incorruptible crown (I Cor. 9: 25).
(2)
A crown of life (James 1: 12; Rev. 2: 10).
(3)
A crown of rejoicing (I Thess. 2: 19).
(4)
A crown of glory (I Pet. 5: 4).
(5)
A crown of thorns (Matt. 27: 29).
(6)
A crown of gold (Rev. 4: 4).
(7)
A crown of twelve stars (Rev. 12: 1).