he had been `laid hold of' by Christ.  Meanwhile his `confidence' in

Philippians 1 and his `diffidence' in Philippians 3 give us the two sides of

truth that present a perfect whole.

The figure of a race, a conflict with a crown or prize at the end is

used by the apostle in more places than one.  If this `prize' is something

for which we have been apprehended by Christ, then if for no other reason,

than to please Him, we should get to know what it is and how it may be

obtained.  While it is right for every believer to sing:

`Not for weight of glory, not for crown or palm,

Enter we the army, raise the warrior's psalm

But for love that claimeth, lives for whom He died',

it is also right for every believer to believe what God has said regarding

`the prize' that is attached to our `High Calling', as it is right that we

should understand the High Calling itself.  When one has perceived the riches

of grace that characterize the calling of the Mystery, there is a temptation

which is very strong, to put out the hand to save the ark of God, and to deny

the possibility of `reward' in the Prison Epistles at all, lest by so doing

the character of unmerited grace should be impaired.  While sympathizing with

this regard for grace, we must nevertheless resist it, for we have a higher

regard for `truth' of which grace is a part, and truth demands that we shall

allow a rightful place in the dispensation of the Mystery to the undiluted

meaning of `crown', `prize' and `reward'.

Let us turn to the epistle to the Colossians, an epistle which stresses

the fact of the believer's `completeness' in Christ, and observe what it says

concerning this aspect of revealed truth.

First, in chapter 2 the apostle gives a warning against that attitude

of mind that `beguiles of the reward'.

`Let no man beguile you of your reward'.  The word that demands

attention here is katabrabeuo.  Kata means `against', and brabeuo means to be

a judge or umpire, and so to assign the prize in a public game.  Brabeuo

occurs in Colossians 3:15 where the peace of God is said to `act the umpire

(rule) in your hearts', a precious thought.  Brabeion is a prize.  It is

found in 1 Corinthians 9:24 and Philippians 3:14, `the prize of the high

calling of God in Christ Jesus'.  We are, therefore, not without guidance as

to the subject of this section.  It has to do with the prize.  Now

Colossians, whilst running very parallel with Ephesians, has much in its

central section that bears upon Philippians.  Philippians is the epistle of

the `prize' and the `perfecting', and if we look at Colossians 1 we shall

find under the idea of being `presented' the two aspects of truth set forth

by Ephesians and Philippians.  We shall distinguish between that which can

never be lost, and that which may be lost, and return to Colossians 2 with

clearer views:

The first presentation.

`In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and

unblameable and unreproveable in His sight' (Col. 1:22).

The second presentation.