The New Testament speaks of both 'the gift' and 'the prize'. One is given freely as an act of grace and is appropriated as an act of faith. The other is given in recognition of a lifetime of faithful obedience to Christ. 'The gift' is eternal life. It is given when we come to the Cross of life and recognize our need to be put right with a holy God by repenting of our acts of disobedience and personal waywardness and trust Christ as our Lord and Savior. (see NOTE 1 below)

The 'prize' speaks of the rewards given at the Judgment seat of Christ. The New Testament is full of references to the rewards given from the 'bema' (see NOTE 2 below) seat to those who steward the gifts they were given and daily took up their cross to follow Christ. Paul said, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14). "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing." (1Timothy 4:7-8). "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." (Hebrews 6:10 NIV). The prize is rewarded to those who are diligent in persevering in the grace race. They are running in obedience, redeeming the time, diligently denying themselves and the rule of Adamic programming, that they might 'win Christ' (Philippians 3:8 KJV, Galatians 4:19) as His life is fully incorporated into theirs.

We receive Christ as a gift. Just how much of Christ's life has been incorporated into our lives will be declared at the judgment of believer's works. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV).

The thought of suffering such loss at having one's works exposed as being carnal, selfish, in vain, and only to be consumed by fire on the Day, is one that terrified the Apostle Paul. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men." (2Corinthians 5:10-11 NIV; the King James Version is more striking: "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." ).

How are you administrating the gift that God has given you? If you deny yourself, take up your Cross, and draw on the gift of Christ's life within you to finish the race in obedience, you shall be rewarded. How much of the life of God is being manifested in you today? Don't rush on ahead of the Lord. Follow in submission (2John 1:9).

Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29; John 15:2). Let His Word bring the verdict of the Cross to your life and judge your thoughts, motives and actions (Hebrews 4:12). He can purify you of waste and hindrances through His dealings now to spare us from suffering loss at the Judgment (Jeremiah 23:29; John 15:2-3). To be purified by the fire of His Word today can save you from the fires of judgment tomorrow.

Having received the gift of Christ in my spirit, I want to 'win Christ' in my experience through faithfulness.

NOTES:

1.         We cannot do it ourselves. The gift is the life of Jesus Christ. He laid down His sinless life on our behalf, taking the capital punishment we deserved, that the sin barrier, which separated us from God, might be removed and that we might be acquitted of all guilt. On the basis of God being satisfied with this perfect offering, we can receive the gift of eternal life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

2.         bema is the Greek word for the judgment stand erected for the judging of athletic contests, used in the New Testament for the judgment of believers' works, in contrast to the judgment seat in a court of law for the judgment of criminal activity.

Responding to Grace that I might finish the race,

David MacAdam, Pastor/Teacher
New Life Community Church