Jesus Cares About Performance and Results

Your sins are forgiven. Go and be a spiritual athlete competing for a crown from the Lord.

The First and Chief Article of doctrine on which our Christian identity pivots has produced an intended and unintended levelling effect. Positively, the intended effect is that the Christian knows he has contributed nothing to his eternal salvation. He receives an identical gift of saving faith that all other Christians obtain (1 Corinthians 12:13), thanks to Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Negatively, because of the way it is generally taught in our Synod, it unintentionally stimulates a temptation to passivity because a belief has crept in among us that regeneration has no particular demand or expectation for the righteous works God grants our Christian lives¹ (Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Philippians 2:12-13)

Scripture is, however, unambiguous. Throughout the Bible, we are warned that the Lord searches our hearts to reward us according to our deeds (Jeremiah 17:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 14:14, Revelation 22:12). Works are accounted righteous or unrighteous not because of our striving but in the same way that God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, and blessed Jacob but rejected Esau (AC XX 31).

The initial reward/punishment is the division of the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:12-13), but after the principal undeserved reward, are there any deserved rewards? Yes, Scripture is explicit, spelling out that five crowns are on offer as performance-related incentives/rewards for the work we are assigned as believers to fulfill the will of God.

The crowns might be considered subcategories of Christ’s crowns:

1. John 19:1-6 - a thorny crown of suffering and humiliation for the only head that could make full and final satisfaction for our sins;

2. Revelation 14:12-13 - a golden crown of his glorification with authority to reap the final harvest.

3. Revelation 12:1 - His bride, the church’s crown of twelve stars (the elect saved by grace through faith)

These contrast starkly with the Great Red Dragon’s blasphemous ten horns and seven crowns (Revelation 12:3 - Satan’s apostatizing alliance with the kingdoms of the earth).

Zechariah 4:11-14 / Revelation 11:3-4 / John 15:5

How the heavenly crowns are earned

1. Crown of Glory. 1 Peter 5:2-4. Awarded to the shepherds of Christ’s Church who are:

   1. Concerned for their sheep, protecting them from all threats to their faith.

   2. Serving their flock willingly and without compulsion.

   3. Not greedy and uncharitable.

   4. Exhibiting humility in their teaching and conduct.

   5. Living examples of Christlike humility and service.

2. Crown of Life. James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Awarded to Christians who:

   1. Remain faithful despite persecution and suffering.

   2. Endure tests and trials without giving up or losing hope.

   3. Finish the race and keep the faith granted to them.

3. Crown of Righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8. Awarded to Christians who:

   1. Long for Christ’s final redemption.

   2. Trust in Christ’s righteousness alone.

   3. Pursue righteous living in response to Christ’s expectations.

4. Imperishable Crown. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 5:16-17, Luke 9:23, Proverbs 23:20-21, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, James 1:27, 2 Corinthians 7:1. Awarded to Christians who:

   1. Submit to being sanctified so that they produce the fruits of faith and demonstrate hearts turned from stone.

   2. Discipline their mind and flesh.

   3. Suppress and overcome their sinful flesh and worldly desires that would otherwise strangle their faith.

5. Crown of Rejoicing. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, 1 Peter 3:15, Daniel 12:3, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Proverbs 11:30, Luke 19:10. Awarded to Christians who:

   1. Seek out, evangelize, and witness to unbelievers through a renewed mind and exemplary life.

   2. Are ready and able to answer anyone about the reason you long for Christ’s return and righteousness.

   3. Have grown in wisdom by applying Christ’s righteousness to their lives.

   4. Are mindful, conscientious, and diligent to husband their fruits of righteousness that save lives by pointing others to Christ.

   5. Sacrificially serve God in and through His church.

Compare these crowns with the crowns of wisdom for this life.²

Fruitfulness

The Bible is chock-full of references and allusions to horticulture, especially viticulture, making it clear that the crowns mentioned above are rewards for fruitfulness. True faith bears fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8), and the vinedresser diligently tends a productive plant, pruning it to produce more and better fruit.

Source

Conversely, we see what happens when one doesn’t earn at least the crown of life, often represented as a barren fruit tree being cut down at the roots. If "fruit" expresses faith or righteousness (e.g., Psalm 1:3, Matthew 7:16-20, John 15:1-8), then the lack of fruit results in the offending tree or limb being cut down and thrown into a fire (Matthew 3:10-17, Matthew 7:19, Luke 13:6-9) because true faith automatically accompanies good works; they are inseparable and indivisible (James 2:14-26).

Fruitfulness is non-negotiable, but bearing fruit (Philippians 1:11) is only possible if we remain grafted to the vine of Christ (John 15:1-8). The baptized Christian is tenderly planted next to the river of Christ’s righteousness, his roots tapping into its water of life and never failing to yield a harvest in every season (Ezekiel 47:12, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Revelation 22:1-2) In other words, for a Christian to be cut down and burned means he has become detached from the life-giving vine. He is no longer quenched from the river of life - he has ceased to abide in Christ and surrendered his faith to iniquity (Psalm 51:11). The law accuses him because he no longer believes the good news.

Source

Spiritual ultramarathons

Self-discipline is another common theme that overlaps with the demand to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. St. Paul loves references to athletic training, achievement, and mental conditioning³. He indisputably teaches that our spiritual health is somewhat of a trinity connected with physical health and the condition of our mind, echoing Psalm 119:32, “I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart”, and guess how the path is lit? By the Word of God - Psalm 119:105

The overall impression is of training for a super ultra-endurance event in a hostile climate over unforgiving terrain. Unless you rigorously train your body, you will not know the pace required or have the stamina to race the full distance and compete for the prizes. You will be unprepared for setbacks and detours if you have not steeled your mind with knowledge of the route and wisdom to deal with adverse developments.

Source

St. Paul warns and urges us that Christian life is not passive indifference, with a series of church record-keeping checkboxes that start with baptism and end with a church funeral. He is not just being allegorically cute, but gives actual life instruction and coaching advice, as demonstrated in the reports from his rugged time on the road as a missionary, pastor, and bishop. There are things to do and be as a lifelong spiritual athlete, gaining a training partner (marriage), becoming a coach (parent), and for a few, rising to be athletic director (pastor).

The well-conditioned spiritual athlete may end this life with a broken body and a broken brain, but he will retain a vivified spirit. He will have been prepared by consuming Scripture and being in fervent prayer. Then, he will step onto the victor’s podium to accept one or more eternal crowns and look forward to reuniting with his imperishable physical body, which will never again wear out, grow weary, or bear rejected fruit.

Casual universalism

Are we doing enough in our congregations to overcome the unintended levelling effect that turns universal objective justification into universalist justification? Can we exposit Christian piety, to ensure we preach the whole counsel of God, without suffering the typical Lutheran sanctification anaphylaxis?

Are we preaching St. Paul’s admonitions for spiritual athleticism, or are we instantly qualifying all admonitions with, “but you are still forgiven today, tomorrow, and forever, even if you deliberately ignore and set aside the things God expects of and from us”? If it’s not said, is it nonetheless implied? Is the actual effect of our preaching and conduct to maintain and sustain parishioners in a state of somnambulance, thanks to default habits of formulaic expressions of justification allied to a bloodless atonement, oppositional law and gospel distinctions, and reordering the Ten Commandments for priorities around civil righteousness?

Are we putting away childish things? Are we frequently reminding each other that competitive spiritual athletes put away lying, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking (Ephesians 4:25, 31)? Ditto putting off all malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouths (Colossians 3:8). Are we still capable of counselling publicly to put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony (Proverbs 23:2)? Do we insist, per Romans 8:9, that the flesh does not control Christians? Do we even teach about the crowns to be earned and encourage everyone to strive for them?

We should contemplate and study these questions seriously as we examine the Synod’s collapsing membership and attendance, and consider the fruitfulness or otherwise of the LCMS orchard.

☩TW☩

1. Ap AC Art. V (III)² Of Love and the Fulfilling of the Law is written in the prophet, Jer. 31:33: I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And in Rom. 3:31, Paul says: Do we, then, make void the Law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the Law. And Christ says, Matt. 19:17: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Likewise, 1 Cor. 13:3: If I have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Earthly crowns of wisdom

2. We are admonished to strive after not only the heavenly crowns, but also to know about the proverbial crowns in this life:

1. Psalm 149:3-5 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

2. Proverbs 4:9 [Get wisdom], she will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

3. Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

4. Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

5. Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches, But the foolishness of fools is folly.

6. Proverbs 16:31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

7. Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

8. Proverbs 27:24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

3

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. …

• Philippians 3:12-14
  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

• 2 Timothy 4:7-8
  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on 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 to all who crave His appearing.

• Galatians 5:7
  You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth

• Romans 12:1-2
  Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

• Colossians 3:8-10
  But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

• Ephesians 4:22-24
  to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.