What has Perseverance to do will Salvation, WHEN YOU ARE SAVED BEFORE
THE BEGINNING OF TIME ? ? ?
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.
Think about it ? ? ?
The HORSE is SALVATION.
The CART is what we do or don't do in life, that is PART of the LOVE HE put into our heart, Rom. 5:5.
Anytime one thinks what we do or don't do in life, IS PART OF SALVATION; you are getting the CART ahead of the HORSE.
When you LEAVE IT BEHIND THE HORSE, it remains PART OF OUR LOVE, and is only worthy of REWARDS, and SALVATION IS NOT A REWARD.
Rewards are important, be each individual can have a difference in REWARDS.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (HCSB)
11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,
13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.
14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
15
If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.
THERE IS THE TESTING OF OUR WORKS, and
SALVATION IS NOT PART OF IT ! ! !
REWARDS are like the LAUREL WREATH CROWNS that were awarded to the Winning Athletes in Paul's day.
AFTER they have been awarded a crown, the would go over to their KING, Bow, and Take off their CROWN, and CAST IT AT THE FEET OF THEIR KING AND RECITE,
"I won this Crown for you My KING!" And HE may say,
"KEEP THE CROWNS YOU HAVE WON."
Some of us will have fewer CROWNS THAN OTHERS, some may have few leaves on them, and maybe some of us will have NO CROWNS.
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Here are the BIBLICAL CROWNS you can WIN.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (HCSB)
25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.
However, they do it to receive
a crown that will fade away, but
we a crown that will never fade away.
Crown of Life
Crown of Joy
Crown of Rejoicing
Crown of Hope
Crown of Righteousness
Crown of being right with GOD
Crown that the Lord Promised to those that LOVE HIM
Crown of Glory
In the Apocrypha
Crown of Wisdom
Crown of the Aged
Crown of Competence
Crown of Reverence for GOD
1 Peter 5:4 (HCSB)
4
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.