John 14:15 • “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21 • “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
John 14:23 • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him”
John 14:24 • “He who does not love Me does not keep My words”
John 15:14 • “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
Does anyone get to heaven …
who does not love Jesus, who is not His friend, who does not keep His commandments?
James 1 (NKJV):
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved,
he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth (eternal) death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James is warning these beloved brethren (1:16) …
Believers who love Jesus will overcome the temptation to sin, and thus will be approved,
and receive the crown of (eternal) life … instead of earning eternal death.
He is echoing Paul’s warning in Romans 6 …
Believers must choose to be slaves of obedience, which leads to righteousness and holiness,
instead of choosing to be slaves of sin … which leads to eternal death.
There are 2 opposites above in James 1 …
Overcoming sinning > the crown of life … compared to … Sinning > eternal death
“The believer who perseveres will receive the crown of life.
The ‘crown of life’ is the crown of victory over sin, or the crown of victory in our life’s race.
The main meaning of the crown of life is salvation, or eternal life.”
… The Applied New Testament Commentary -- Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing
(Dr. Hale is a Spirit-filled believer who served as a medical missionary with Interserve in Nepal.)
Revelation 2 (NKJV):
10 … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
Jesus considers being “faithful” has to do with overcoming sin, etc. (see Revelation 3:21).
He certainly does not define an overcomer as one who believes He is the Son of God.
The second death is being cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14 and 21:8).
There are 2 opposites above in Revelation 2 …
Being faithful until death > the crown of life … vs … Not overcoming > eternal death!
“Above all, the church at Smyrna needed encouragement and strength to endure persecution.
If they remained firm to the end – to the point of death – they would receive the crown of life,
that is, eternal life (see Mark 13:13, 1 Cor 9:25, 1 Pet 5:4) … The second death mentioned here
means eternal death; it is the final punishment for all evildoers.”
… The Applied New Testament Commentary -- Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing
Please notice that there are NO crowns (plural) mentioned anywhere above!
No different crowns of varying values … re: rewards.
When it comes to the crown of life, there is only one … the crown of eternal life!
The crown of life is also called the crown of righteousness • 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The crown of life is also called the imperishable crown • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The crown of life is also called the crown of glory • 1 Peter 5:1-4
Revelation 3:11 (NKJV) “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
John 14:21 • “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
John 14:23 • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him”
John 14:24 • “He who does not love Me does not keep My words”
John 15:14 • “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
Does anyone get to heaven …
who does not love Jesus, who is not His friend, who does not keep His commandments?
James 1 (NKJV):
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved,
he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth (eternal) death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James is warning these beloved brethren (1:16) …
Believers who love Jesus will overcome the temptation to sin, and thus will be approved,
and receive the crown of (eternal) life … instead of earning eternal death.
He is echoing Paul’s warning in Romans 6 …
Believers must choose to be slaves of obedience, which leads to righteousness and holiness,
instead of choosing to be slaves of sin … which leads to eternal death.
There are 2 opposites above in James 1 …
Overcoming sinning > the crown of life … compared to … Sinning > eternal death
“The believer who perseveres will receive the crown of life.
The ‘crown of life’ is the crown of victory over sin, or the crown of victory in our life’s race.
The main meaning of the crown of life is salvation, or eternal life.”
… The Applied New Testament Commentary -- Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing
(Dr. Hale is a Spirit-filled believer who served as a medical missionary with Interserve in Nepal.)
Revelation 2 (NKJV):
10 … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
Jesus considers being “faithful” has to do with overcoming sin, etc. (see Revelation 3:21).
He certainly does not define an overcomer as one who believes He is the Son of God.
The second death is being cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14 and 21:8).
There are 2 opposites above in Revelation 2 …
Being faithful until death > the crown of life … vs … Not overcoming > eternal death!
“Above all, the church at Smyrna needed encouragement and strength to endure persecution.
If they remained firm to the end – to the point of death – they would receive the crown of life,
that is, eternal life (see Mark 13:13, 1 Cor 9:25, 1 Pet 5:4) … The second death mentioned here
means eternal death; it is the final punishment for all evildoers.”
… The Applied New Testament Commentary -- Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing
Please notice that there are NO crowns (plural) mentioned anywhere above!
No different crowns of varying values … re: rewards.
When it comes to the crown of life, there is only one … the crown of eternal life!
The crown of life is also called the crown of righteousness • 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The crown of life is also called the imperishable crown • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The crown of life is also called the crown of glory • 1 Peter 5:1-4
Revelation 3:11 (NKJV) “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”