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"The Prize of the High Calling" (Phil. 3: 14).
pp. 148-151
We have seen the mark according to which the apostle pursued; we now consider the
prize itself that he had in view.
First of all it may help us to remind ourselves of the fact that the doctrine of reward is
not confined to one section of the Scriptures, but is as constant and inter-dispensational as
is sin and salvation. For example, in Matt. 5: 12 the Lord says, "Great is your reward in
heaven", to those who were persecuted for His sake. In 10: 41, 42 He clearly indicates
the reward that shall correspond with the act:--
"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward:
and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a
righteous man's reward, and whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a
cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise
lose his reward."
Turning to the epistles we read in I Cor. 3: 8, "Now he that planteth and he that
watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labour"; and again in verse 14, "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward". The next chapter has this in view, where the apostle says in
verse 5, ". . . . then shall every man have praise of God". In II Cor. 5: 10 we read,
"We must all be manifested before the judgment seat (the bema or tribunal) of Christ, that
each may receive the things done in the body, whether good or evil". The epistle to the
Hebrews urges its readers to endure to the end, saying, "Cast not away therefore your
confidence which hath great recompense of reward" (10: 35), and draws attention to
Moses who chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (11: 25, 26).
Some may say, While it is true that there is a reward held out to believers in the Gospels
and early Epistles, yet we do not associate rewards with the freeness of the grace of the
Epistles of the Mystery.
The epistle to the Colossians in its practical word to those who were members of the
One Body addresses among others those who were slaves. To them it is written:--
"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men, knowing that of
the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ"
(3: 23, 24).
Here therefore in the Epistles of the Mystery we have undoubted reference to the fact
of a future reward. The second epistle to Timothy, the last epistle written by the apostle
Paul, and the companion epistle to Philippians, speaks clearly of the possibility of
missing a "crown", and of not only living, but also of "reigning" with Christ; the crown
is only won by striving, the reigning by enduring (II Tim. 2: 3-5, 12; 4: 6-8). Here,
then, we have "reward" and "crown". Phil. 3: supplies the third, which is the "prize";