Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

James 1:12 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹²Blessed is the man[7] who endures under trial; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord[8] has promised to those who love him.

for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life (James 1:12b)

The approval or acceptance comes from the fact that one’s faith has been tested and has been approved (δόκιμος dokimos) by God. This is because of the way that he has persevered through it. The approved person is considered good, genuine, as he has been approved by testing. James gives further motivation and encouragement for his readers in the fact that they are not only blessed in what they are going through if they persevere but that in the end, they will receive the crown of life (στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς stephanos zōē). The crown of life is not a mere physical crown to wear but rather a spiritual reward of getting to abide in the presence of God for all eternity. It is a sign of victory. God himself will give this crown in eternity for those who have remained faithful to him until the end. (Matt 24:13) This crown will be for those who have fought the battle against Satan’s evil world, sinful desires, as well as trials and have, all the while plagued by human imperfection, and yet through Christ come out victorious. These victors did not gain their crown through fame, success, or accolades, but instead, they achieved their crown from what they suffered and overcame. The apostle Paul makes this clear in Hebrews 11:37-40. It should be explicitly stated that these did not earn eternal life through their endurance of trials, but instead, they were privileged as with a “crown” by the gift of heavenly life. We cannot earn eternal life, but it is a free, undeserved gift from our heavenly Father through our faith in Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:23) Christians who maintain their integrity through trial after trial have made an evident demonstration that their faith is genuine. The quality of their faith has survived the difficulties of this imperfect world and has been found complete.