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“I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” – Phill.3:14
This passage of scripture has an apparent and beautiful allusion to the Olympic games which at the time took place among the Greeks. It was there that rival competitors fought, or wrestled or ran to obtain a prize, in itself of little value, but much sought after as a distinction given to those winning candidates. It is to these exercises that Paul is alluding in this passage of scripture.
1 St. Paul is giving us an example here, that we should consider eternal life and glory under the figure of a prize.
a) It is a valuable object – a crown; not at all like the perishable prizes offered in these races, but a prize that will not fade. It is a throne but not an earthly transient throne; a throne in heaven – the throne of God and of the Lamb: ‘To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame , and am sat down with my Father in his throne.’ Rev.3:21
b) The prize is recommended to excite us and to motivate us as we serve the Lord Jesus. The world around lives and subsists in an inbred hope. Men look to the future as such hope animates the soul and gives life to action. The bible says that Moses had ‘respect to the recompense of reward’ and Jesus himself was animated by hope when ‘for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame’ which attended it.
c) The prize spoken of here will be publicly bestowed and will relate to our activity and our service for Jesus. “One star differs from another star in glory’ and so shall it be in ‘the resurrection of the just’ ‘Everyman will be rewarded according to his works’ “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give unto me in that day, and not unto me only, but unto all them that love his appearing”. 2.Tim. 4:8
2 With eager eye and outstretched hands we are to press towards the mark – the perfection of Christlikeness. The early church “pressed towards the mark” in the presence of their fathers and brothers, wives and sisters, and so we also are encompassed around with “a great cloud of witnesses” patriarchs and prophets – apostles and evangelists – saints and martyrs. Hebrews 12:1,2.
This pressing towards the prize implies –
1 An eye towards the prize; “we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”
2 .Confidence in the Judge; “For I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him”
3. Perseverance in the race and in the pattern taught in the scriptures, and the example of Jesus Christ.
4. Reliance upon his divine strength.
Man, like the generous vine, supported lives,
The strength he gains is from the embrace he gives.
This passage of scripture has an apparent and beautiful allusion to the Olympic games which at the time took place among the Greeks. It was there that rival competitors fought, or wrestled or ran to obtain a prize, in itself of little value, but much sought after as a distinction given to those winning candidates. It is to these exercises that Paul is alluding in this passage of scripture.
1 St. Paul is giving us an example here, that we should consider eternal life and glory under the figure of a prize.
a) It is a valuable object – a crown; not at all like the perishable prizes offered in these races, but a prize that will not fade. It is a throne but not an earthly transient throne; a throne in heaven – the throne of God and of the Lamb: ‘To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame , and am sat down with my Father in his throne.’ Rev.3:21
b) The prize is recommended to excite us and to motivate us as we serve the Lord Jesus. The world around lives and subsists in an inbred hope. Men look to the future as such hope animates the soul and gives life to action. The bible says that Moses had ‘respect to the recompense of reward’ and Jesus himself was animated by hope when ‘for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame’ which attended it.
c) The prize spoken of here will be publicly bestowed and will relate to our activity and our service for Jesus. “One star differs from another star in glory’ and so shall it be in ‘the resurrection of the just’ ‘Everyman will be rewarded according to his works’ “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give unto me in that day, and not unto me only, but unto all them that love his appearing”. 2.Tim. 4:8
2 With eager eye and outstretched hands we are to press towards the mark – the perfection of Christlikeness. The early church “pressed towards the mark” in the presence of their fathers and brothers, wives and sisters, and so we also are encompassed around with “a great cloud of witnesses” patriarchs and prophets – apostles and evangelists – saints and martyrs. Hebrews 12:1,2.
This pressing towards the prize implies –
1 An eye towards the prize; “we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”
2 .Confidence in the Judge; “For I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him”
3. Perseverance in the race and in the pattern taught in the scriptures, and the example of Jesus Christ.
4. Reliance upon his divine strength.
Man, like the generous vine, supported lives,
The strength he gains is from the embrace he gives.
