Crown of Righteousness

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Apostle Paul, Champion of a Living Faith
2 Timothy, 4:7-8

Walking into a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than walking into a garage makes you a car. More than membership in a brand name church showcasing routine religious rituals, Christians experience lives of love, joy and peace, powered by God’s Holy Spirit.

Christianity is a living relationship between a transformed, repentant sinner and God. A Christian life finds abundant living and “peace that passes all understanding.”

“…Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18

God’s everlasting kingdom is governed by His love. Humans are introduced to the rich experience of divine love by parenting children. God’s Holy Spirit reaches out to share His love with all mankind so that those who respond positively, though never having heard of Jesus, will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:8

The Apostle Paul describes the intuitive character traits of Christian lives, led by the Holy Spirit.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” I Corinthians 13:4-7

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22, 23 “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…Forgive whatever grievances you might have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgives you.” Corinthians 3:12, 13.

When symbolically baptized by God’s Holy Spirit, all brothers and sisters in the Family of God become Princes and Princesses, sons and daughters of the King of Kings, siblings of Big Brother Jesus. This Royal Family radiates God’s love intuitively,

There is no reason to fear. While growing in grace, children of God may stumble occasionally but always with the assurance, that, while growing in grace, they will be covered with Christ’s robe of righteousness and be
accounted “perfect.”

The seventh-day Sabbath is a monument to freedom, celebrating creation, set aside and sanctified by the Creator for the benefit of mankind. Brothers and sisters of God’s family honor their Creator by resting and worshipping their Father in heaven on the Sabbath. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Ecclesiastes 12:1