The Crown of Righteousness (Santosh Poonen)

At the appearing of Christ, there will be those who, like Adam, will be afraid and hide because the nakedness of their secret sin will be exposed (Genesis 3:10). As children of God, however, we can come boldly into God’s presence because we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:12-16). The crown of righteousness is not a reward for good works. This is the righteousness of God: that you can do nothing of yourself, but only out of the life of God in you! (John 5:19,21,26) You will experience this life only if you seek the glory of the one and only God! (John 5:44) Paul’s desire was that He would not be found with his own righteousness, but be “found in Christ”. (Philippians 3:9) Jesus rejected the foolish virgins because His life was not in them. (Matthew 25:1-12)