The Christian’s Crown (Romans 1:6–7)
What titles are engraved on the Christian's crown? Romans 1:6–7: belonging to Christ, loved by God, called to be saints, given grace and peace.
Introduction
The New Testament describes believers receiving a crown (στέφανος). The church in Smyrna was exhorted not to fear suffering, testing, and tribulation as Christians, even when the devil threw some of them into prison: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). James encouraged his hearers, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Paul spoke autobiographically of his hope and of all believers: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth 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 also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).
This is where John Bunyan derived his imagery of the portrait of a preacher in The Pilgrim’s Progress. There’s a crown, hanging over the head of a minister; it’s heavenly and awaits us in glory. According to Paul. This crown awaits us all.
What’s written on those crowns? In the Old Testament, the high priest wore a turban-like crown with a golden plate on the front with the words קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָֽה, “Holy to the LORD” (Ex. 28:36). As we open up Romans again, verses 6–7 are like the words engraved on the crown of life and righteousness that await us.
Theme
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the titles written on the Christian’s crown.
Belonging to Christ
What’s engraved on that crown hanging over your head?
First, it says, “Belonging to Christ.” Paul says the preaching of the gospel addresses the audience of all nations, including youwho are called to belong to Jesus Christ (v. 6). This is so beautiful. He’s speaking of the essence of what it means to be human in our creation. God made us. We’re his creatures. We exist to engage in union and communion with him. Of course, we know the story: we’ve fallen from that high and noble calling. So, now God’s calls us back to himself to belong to Christ as Christians in our redemption.
Called to belong to Jesus Christ. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? This is where our Heidelberg Catechism gets its first question and answer, that I “belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.” Later in Romans 14, we read, “none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (14:7–8). You exist to belong to Jesus Christ. He’s calling you to himself. Respond by trusting in him and seeking to live for him! You, a sinner, belonging to him, the sinless Savior. He came down and became human that you might become his and brought back to God.
This is so important. We live in a society and world, in fact, where we belong to one another. Not a day goes by that I don’t receive a message from Asia, or South America, or Africa, or Asia, or Australia. We are so connected via technology, but we’re also lonelier than ever. Church: be a community, a fellowship, a family for one another. Amen? This is also important for our evangelism. When we talk with people about our faith, Jesus, and the church, what are we talking about? What are we trying to accomplish? Jesus simply said to sinners, “Come, follow me.” It’s about belonging, connecting, being a part of God’s life in Christ as expressed in the fellowship of his body, the church.
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the title “Belonging to Christ” written on the Christian’s crown.
Loved by God
What’s engraved on that crown hanging over your head?
Second, it says, “Loved by God”: to all those in Rome who are loved by God (v. 7). Love is a universal human longing. Whether it’s Freddie Mercury belting out, “Can anybody find me, somebody to love,” or Shakespeare writing, “Love is like a child, that longs for everything it can come by” (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 3, Scene 1)—we want to love and be loved.
“But Pastor, how can I belong to Jesus?” The answer is the love of God. Paul can say you belong to Jesus Christ because “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). God so loves us who have rebelled against him, squandered every good gift he’s given us, are living in a pig pen, wallowing in the mud! He’s poured out his love upon you—you, of all people! He’s done this in and through his Son, Jesus Christ. As Martin Luther said, “His love is the beginning of all good things in us.” (Luther, Romans, 5-6.) As the apostle John says, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins…We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:10, 19).
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the title “Loved by God” written on the Christian’s crown.
Called to be Saints
As those loved by God to be called into fellowship of belonging to Jesus, we’re then called to be something and to act in an appropriate way. Paul says there’s a third title engraved on that crown hanging over your head: called to be saints (v. 7), literally, “holy ones.” What’s so wonderful about this title is that it was used of our forefathers. The Lord called our spiritual forefather, Abraham. To “walk before and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1). Later, he designated all Israel by this title:
You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Ex. 19:4–6)
The Lord redeemed Israel out of Egypt to both be holy (“you shall be to me a… holy nation”) and to act holy (“if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant”). Now turn over to 1 Peter 2: “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4). “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
You are called to be saints. This is a part of your Christian identity. It’s on your crown. You are also called to act holy. If God calls you a holy one, act like it. Amen? Don’t ever forget, you weren’t called to be a saint because you’re holy, but to be holy. (The Glossa Ordinaria on Romans, 16.) As Luther said, “…he wants them to know that they are saints not on the basis of their merits but on the basis on the love and call of God.” (Luther, Romans, 6)
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the title “Called to be Saints” written on the Christian’s crown.
Recipients of Grace
What’s engraved on that crown hanging over your head? Fourth, it says, “Recipient of Grace.” Grace to you…from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 7). This comes right from the ancient priestly benediction we sing at the end of our service: “The Lord bless thee…and be gracious unto thee” (Num. 6). It’s the grace of God that has justified us or pardoned our sins, imputed Christ’s righteousness to us, and accepted us before God. Stay tuned to our second service for more! As a recipient of grace, be gracious!
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the title “Recipients of Grace” written on the Christian’s cown.
Recipients of Peace
What’s engraved on that crown hanging over your head? Finally, it says, “Recipient of Peace”: peace…from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 7). Again, this is right from the benediction: “The Lord bless thee…and give thee peace” (Num. 6). It’s the peace of God that has brought us into peace with him in our reconciliation. As a recipient of peace, be peaceful!
Paul’s greeting to the Romans reveals the title “Recipients of Peace” written on the Christian’s crown.
Conclusion
Above your head is an engraved crown, Christian: “Belonging to Christ,” “Loved by God,” “Called to be Saints,” “Recipient of Grace,” and “Recipient of Peace.”
This crown of life and righteousness awaits you after a life of trials and tribulations. In heaven, what will we do with crowns? The day is coming, when as soon as you receive your reward, are “clothed in [the] white garment” of the forgiveness of sins, you will
“fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever…cast[ing your] crown[…] before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power’” (Rev. 4:10).