1) The document is a Sunday school lesson about rewards Christians can receive for their works and faithfulness. It discusses five crowns that may be earned: the incorruptible crown, crown of rejoicing, crown of life, crown of righteousness, and crown of glory. 2) It emphasizes that God rewards believers for enduring trials, remaining faithful, using their gifts to serve others, and living godly lives. Good works done in faithfulness to God will be rewarded while works done out of selfish motives will have no reward. 3) At the judgment seat of Christ, believers' works will be evaluated and they will receive praise or loss of reward depending on the eternal value and quality of their works determined

1. PHILIPPIANS 3:20
May 20, 2012
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
Sunday School Lesson!
Commentaries Consulted:
 The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and
John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007

REVIEW
1) Rapture
2) Resurrected bodies
3) Bema Seat Judgement
4) Crowns
FIVE CROWNS
1) Incorruptible Crown(run)
2) Crown of Rejoicing (win)
3) Crown of Life
4) Crown of Righteousness
5) Crown of Glory
(3) The Crown of Life
This crown is given for enduring testings (trials) and temptation.
James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
James 1:12
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.”
James 1:12

2. The crown itself is not eternal life because that is a gift through faith alone in Christ
alone, but this crown is a reward for enduring trials and for overcoming.
The Crown of Life is earned by repentance, being baptized, and by patiently
enduring the present trials and testing of this earthly life.

3. Those who receive the Crown of Life will be “good” servants, they will be called “The
Chosen” and they will rule over cities.
FIVE CROWNS
1) Incorruptible Crown(run)
2) Crown of Rejoicing (win)
3) Crown of Life (endure)
4) Crown of Righteousness
5) Crown of Glory
(4) The Crown of Righteousness
This crown is a reward given for faithfulness to use our gifts and opportunities in the
service of the Lord and for loving His appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
 Note that these two things go together.
 To love His appearing is to live & serve in the light of it.

4. Crown of Righteousness
2 Tim 4:7-8
7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 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.” 2 Tim 4:7-8
The Crown of Righteousness is earned by being mature in the Word, growing in the
fruit of the Spirit, keeping the faith and loving His appearing.
Those who receive the Crown of Righteousness will be “good and faithful” servants,
will be called “The Faithful” and they will rule over many things.

5. FIVE CROWNS
1) Incorruptible Crown
2) Crown of Rejoicing
3) Crown of Life
4) Crown of Righteousness
5) Crown of Glory
(5) The Crown of Glory
This is a reward for those who have been faithful in shepherding the flock.
1 Peter 5:4
4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of
glory.” 1 Peter 5:4
The Crown of Glory is earned by tending, leading and nourishing the flock through
the exercising of your spiritual gift in building up and edifying the Body.
Those who receive the Crown of Glory will be “faithful and wise” servants, will be
called “The Wise” and will rule over all His goods.

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Revelation 3:11
11 “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your
crown.” Revelation 3:11
2 John 1:8
8 “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you
may receive a full reward.” 2 John 1:8
1 Corinthians 3:15
15 “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet
so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:15
Philippians 3:20
20 “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ;” Philippians 3:20
 Apekdechomai (eagerly wait) is often used to speak of waiting for Christ's
second coming.
 It describes not only eagerness,but also patience.

7. 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9, 11b, 14
3 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking,
following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For
ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of
creation.”
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day
is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow
about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for
any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (salt)
11b …then what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him
in peace, spotless and blameless,”
2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9, 11b, 14
According to the Bible, God rewards us for:
 doing good works (Ephesians 6:8;Romans 2:6),
 denying ourselves (Matthew 16:24-27),
 showing compassion to the needy (Luke 14:13-14),
 treating our enemies kindly (Luke 6:35),
 sacrificial giving (Matthew 19:21),
 enduring difficult circumstances & trusting Him (Hebrews 10:34-36),
 living faithfully with the right motives (1 Corinthians 4:2,5),
 persevering under persecution (Luke 6:22-23),
 living a life of godliness (2 Peter 3:11-14), and
 for making wise and productive use of the resources and opportunities God has
given us (Matthew 25:14-23).
 He rewards faithfulness with rulership.

8. Every time I obey God I am doing what is best for everyone:
1) God
2) others
3) myself
When you store up for yourself treasures in Heaven by giving away some of your
treasure here on earth – The recipient of your $ wins! You win! And God wins!
The Master and the servant are both pleased when the servant does well.
It is not a matter of denied gratification but of delayed gratification.
The key to the delay is faith. Hebrews 11:6, 32-40 Groups A & B.
Hebrews 11:6
6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:32-40
(Group A)
32“Gideon, Samson, David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith
conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the
mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from
weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection;”
(Group B)
35 “and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a
better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also
chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were
tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in
goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not
worthy),wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was
promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from
us they would not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:32-40
Faith motivates us to forgo something in this life for the promise that it or something
even better will be ours in the next life.
We are too easily pleased with short-term rewards.

9. C. S. Lewis says we settle for mud pies in exchange for a holiday at sea.
Mud Pies = power, possessions, and pleasures here on earth.
Holiday at Sea = power, possessions, and pleasures in Heaven!
 Our dream house is coming and we don’t have to build it.
 The Master Carpenter is building it for us!
Hebrews 11:24-26
24 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to
enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26
He chose short-term grief because he was motivated by long-term reward - not
because he wanted disgrace but because he wanted reward.
Right up until his death, Paul said that there was a reward stored up for him for “that
Day!”
2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 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.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
 Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him – Hebrews 12:2
 He humbled Himself to be exalted later – Philippians 2:9-11

10. You will be repaid!
Luke 14:14
“you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:14
 Receiving rewards from Christ at the Bema Seat is an unspeakable gain with
eternal implications.
 Forfeiting rewards is a terrible loss with equally eternal implications.
What you do with what God has given to you is your autobiography.
The book you have written with the pen of faith and the ink of works will go into
eternity to be seen and read by the angels, the redeemed and by God Himself.
The little things today become huge in light of tomorrow, the little choices now
become tremendously important : whether you read your Bible, share your faith, help
someone else – acts graciously empowered not by your flesh but by His Spirit is of
great eternal consequence not only for others but for you as well!
 At death you put your signature on your life’s portrait and the paint dries
quickly – ready or not.
 What you see is what you get – never to be altered.

11. The Swedish chemist, Alfred Nobel, and his brother, Ludvig, had an errant obituary
placed in a French newspaper – Alfred got a chance to edit his life.
Read over your obituary now and change it, edit it now while you can.
We send the building materials to Heaven and that is what is used to build our
mansion.
The more materials you send, the larger your mansion will be so the more guests you
can have over and the more folks you can serve throughout eternity.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because
it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If
any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire.” I Corinthians 3:12-15
It is clearly asserted in I Corinthians 4:5 that, in spite of all failure, every Christian shall
have the praise of God.
1 Corinthians 4:4b-5
4b “but the One Who examines us is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing
judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes Who will both bring to light
the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then
each man’s praise will come to him from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:4b-5
The Bema Seat is an evaluation of our works, both good works and worthless works.
 This will be a "job performance evaluation."

12. 2 Corinthians 5:10
10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether
good (agathos) or bad (phaulos).” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Greek words in 2 Corinthians 5:10:
 “good” (agathos, valuable like good fruit) and
 “bad” (phaulos, unacceptable like rotten or spoiled fruit).
Colossians 1:10
10 “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Colossians 1:10
“bearing fruit in every good work “(Colossians 1:10 b)
 Fruitfulness also results from knowledge.
 Fruit is the by-product of righteousness.
 Fruitfulness is the mark of every redeemed individual.

13. Jesus said in John 15:8, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.
The Bible defines fruit in various ways:
 here Paul speaks of bearing fruit in every good work,
 converts are also referred to as fruit - Paul spoke of the household of Stephanas
as the "first fruits of Achaia" (1 Corinthians 16:15),
 Hebrews 13:15 defines praise as fruit: "Through Him then, let us continually offer
up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His
name.”
 Giving money can also be fruit (Romans 15:26-28).
 Godly living is fruit, as indicated when the writer of Hebrews tells us that God's
discipline produces in us "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11).
 Finally, the holy attitudes mentioned in Gal 5:22-23 are referred to as "the fruit of
the Spirit."
What produces fruit in believers' lives?
 First, union with Christ. Jesus said in John 15:4-5, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the Vine, so neither can
you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who
abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do
nothing.“

14.  Second, wisdom is a necessary prerequisite for bearing fruit.
James 3:17
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and
good fruits, reasonable, unwavering, without hypocrisy“. James 3:17
Lack of fruit is directly related to lack of spiritual wisdom.
Finally, diligent effort on the Christian's part is required, as Peter writes:
2 Peter 1:5-8
“Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral
excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly
kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are
increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
Only the Lord can determine which works are high quality and which are low.