Exactly what I was talking about. He's not striving for his salvation, he's striving to reach the world and establish the church. He's rested his hope in God, there's no doubt about his salvation. He's a servant of the gospel, because that's his calling. That's about the works God is doing through Paul it's not Paul working to be saved.
Indeed, I agree, he was striving to accomplish those things. But why.
To continue Pauls advice, council and admonition to young Timothy.
In verses
7 and
8 Pauls encourages the young Timothy to:
1 Tim 4:7 "On the other hand, train yourself with godly devotion as your aim." (Godly devotion = Reverence, worship, and service to God)
For, as Paul acknowledges, although physical training maybe good for a healthy life now, godly devotion holds out a much better prospect altogether, not only a better life now namely, spiritual health, satisfaction, happiness, and a purpose in living. It also holds promise of the life that “is to come."
1 Tim 4:8 "For physical training is beneficial for a little, but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and the life that is to come."
Just as physical training (for example: to run in the games) requires a striving and strenuous exertion, also, strenuous training is necessary on the part of the Christian in order to achieve full godly devotion.
That is why Paul stated:
1 Tim 4:10 "For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe."
Paul was striving and exerting himself, training himself in godly devotion because of the wonderful hope and promise he was given.
Paul went on to say in
verse 16: "
Persevere in these things, for by doing this (striving to achieve godly devotion) you will
save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Persevere: Verb.
1) to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
Godly devotion is something Christians have to strive for. Constantly training ourselves and exerting ourselves to attain and maintain it. It is a requirement for the hope of salvation and the promise to come.
2 Pet 1:1-6 "Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have acquired a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and the Savior Jesus Christ: . . For this very reason, put forth all earnest effort (Strive) to supply to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, to your knowledge self-control, to your self-control endurance, to your endurance godly devotion,
2 Pet 2:9 "So, then, Jehovah knows how to rescue people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people to be destroyed on the day of judgment,"
Clearly, as Peter exhorts above, striving and exerting oneself in developing, improving upon and maintaining godly qualities, including godly devotion is an ongoing building and training process that necessarily calls for exertion and a striving throughout the Christian life.
Stay safe and well,
LB