The Incorruptible Crown
1 Cor
9:24-27 (KJV) Know ye not that they which
run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth
for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore
so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one
that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway.
The incorruptible crown is awarded for living a disciplined life as outlined by the
word of God for the believer. It is a daily race of “putting off” the sins of
the flesh which then allows the believer to “put on” the fruits of the spirit
(Col 3). This requires self-discipline of the body which is used by the Holy
Spirit to magnify the life of Christ. This life is dependent on the filling of
the Holy Spirit through confession of sin and sensitivity to the leading of the
Lord.
You are running in a race to obtain an incorruptible crown. The runners in an athletic contest run to obtain a passing fame and a corruptible crown or trophy [this will pass away, it can be destroyed]. The athletes in Paul's day ran for a crown or wreath of olive leaves. Their fame and crown were the same as with our athletes today: they both passed ever so quickly. However, the crown and fame of the genuine Christian will never pass away. Our crown and fame are incorruptible. He shall live and be rewarded with an eternal fame and with the most real and valued crowns imaginable.
Figuratively
speaking, The crown was a symbol of victory and
reward, victors being crowned in the Grecian games (similar to the Olympics).
These crowns were usually made of leaves that soon began to wither. In
opposition to these is the incorruptible crown (<1 Cor.
9:25>, NASB, "wreath," cf. <2 Tim. 2:5>), a crown of life or
of glory <James 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10>. The meaning of the crown of
thorns placed on the head of Jesus <Matt.
27:29>
was to insult Him under the character of the king of the Jews.
The
crown is also used as an emblem of an exalted state (<Prov.
12:4; 17:6; Isa. 28:5; Phil. 4:1>; etc.). (from New Unger's Bible
Dictionary)
(originally
published by Moody Press of
There is a difference between being “in Christ” and having “Christ in us.” All
Christians are in Christ, but Christians winning this Crown have Christ in
them. The winner of this crown has been successful in denying the fleshly
desires and appetites of the body. He has been successful in “crucifying
the flesh” (Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have
crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. {affections:
or, passions}).
This crown is directly associated with the “good and faithful servant” who will
be “ruler over much” (Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well
done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord.).
Just because there are many things
which are lawful for Christians to participate in, they are not expedient or
conducive to spiritual growth. You and I have the liberty to live a disciplined
or an undisciplined life, God gives us the freedom to make that choice. However
if we wish to receive the Incorruptible Crown we must accomplish the following.
ü We must conquer self and flesh (Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.)
ü We must live according
to Gods word (Revelation 22:18 ¶ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are
written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the
book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book. {out of the book...: or, from the tree of life}
ü We must remove the encumbrances from life (Hebrews 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.)
Ask yourself; is anything keeping me from obtaining the Incorruptible Crown?