PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK
[Note. This tract contains two hyper links which should be opened.]
On
page seven (The Leader, 1st. October, 2002 issue *) my eye caught a very interesting headline:
"PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK." As
I began to read the short advertisement* my heart lifted, and for a brief
moment, I believed God had answered my prayers.
The following is what I found:-
[* The
advertisement was also placed in the Coleraine Chronacle, October 3, 2002.]
“For many, the Pits area in Portstewart
is synonymous with the roar of well tuned engines, the smell of burning fuel
and the exciting anticipation of competing in the race. From a Biblical perspective, the apostle Paul
spoke of the race, as he earnestly pressed towards the mark to gain the prize
(Philippians 3: 7-14). His mind, like
that of every true believer in Christ, was focused on this one thing. The finishing line in the Christian race was
always before him. He knew without doubt that beyond this present
life he would have eternal joy in the presence of Christ. Do the realities of heaven and hell and the
value of your soul affect you? Do you ever think about what lies beyond
the finishing line of your life? If
you have any interest in these great matters, why not come along to the Pits
and hear Mr. Harold Paisley, (
Had
the writing stopped at this point, I would have attended Mr. Harold Paisley’s meetings
to hear more as soon as possible, but to my great disappointment the
advertisement continued:-
“In the race that
leads to heaven there are no losers, but remember that everyone is a loser eternally, who does not believe
in the Son of God.”*
[*The bold type and underline is mine. -Ed]
Before
reading Mr. Utting’s article, there are a number of
questions I would like to ask my reader.
1.
Is eternal
salvation a “prize” or a
"free gift"? It cannot be both!!
2.
If it is a "free gift," what then was
“the prize” which the apostle Paul sought to
"attain"?
3.
Are all motorcycle riders allowed to enter and race
in the North West 200 Motorcycle Race? or is it only for those who have
a racing license? Here is the first separation and selection. If a racing license places one on the
starting grid of the race; do all racing motorcyclists
participate in that race? Here is a second selection, out from amongst those racers
who are previously selected - holders of a racing license.
4.
If regeneration qualifies one (“by grace
through faith in Christ”) to participate in the Christian
race, will it automatically follow that all Christians will do so; and go
on to finish the race and win a prize?
5.
Are there no losers in the Christian race? The Scriptures teach the contrary: "For I would not BRETHREN, have you ignorant”… “Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased; for they
were overthrown in the wilderness." - They did not enter their
inheritance: they fell on the right side of the blood, but short of their
inheritance in the land – “NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR
EXAMPLES”... “Now these things happened
unto them by way of example: and were written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come” (1 Cor., 9: 24- 10: 1-12; cf.
Heb. 12: 1-7.). Where all who,
sheltered under the blood of the lamb, left Egypt, under the leadership of
Moses, led by God through the desert Saved or Unsaved?
6.
What does our context teach? Is it
related to a “free gift” - (that is, eternal
life, by way of justification by faith, and the imputed righteousness of
Jesus Christ alone); or to “a prize” which can
be lost afterwards? That is, a REWARD, based upon the standard of a
disciple’s obedience and righteousness?
“Except your righteousness exceed …”
(Matt. 5: 20).
7.
After having the imputed righteousness "which is of God" (v. 9); Paul seeks to “attain unto the
resurrection from the dead” (v. 11) ; and press
“on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (v. 14).
Will all regenerate believers ‘attain’ unto this resurrection of reward?
8.
If a motorcycle racer completes the race and finishes first, will he qualify
for a prize if he refused to compete according to the rules of the Race? Then our failure to observe God’s rules must
disqualify us from obtaining His “Prize”! And is this not precisely what the Bible
teaches us? (Matt. 5: 20; I Cor. 6: 9, 10;
Gal. 5: 19-21; Eph. 5: 5, 6.).
I
have the greatest of respect for all who preach the gospel of God’s grace,
but when they guarantee prizes (contrary to the teaching of Scripture) to all
regenerate believers (on the basis of Christ’s imputed righteousness alone),
then I feel it is my duty to object in the strongest way possible. Why? Because they have failed to distinguish
between what we received as a “Free Gift,” from
that which our Lord and His apostles describe as a “Prize”! No wonder the
My
prayer and heart’s desire is that the Holy Spirit will awaken and encourage
both writer and reader to act upon and be obedient to the demands and
expectations of our God. May we find His grace and strength to
run ‘the race’ with perseverance, and be allowed
to finish the course with honour and thankfulness. Mistakes have been made, and will be made;
but let us make sure we can retrace our steps, correct our course, be allowed
to continue the journey by being restored, strengthened, and forgiven by His enduring
love and compassion. Jer.
8: 4, 5; Heb. 12: 1-9. Let pay
close attention to the His warnings and fear "lest
haply, a promise being left of entering into His rest," should
affect us today in the loss of our inheritance, as was the case with
disobedient
W.
H. T.
THE GIFT AND THE PRIZE
By
C. S. UTTING.
“THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST
JESUS OUR LORD,” Rom. 6: 23,
R.V. At his conversion a man becomes
possessor at once of this free gift, through his faith in the work, atonement
ransom-paying in blood, and resurrection of our Lord, "Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all
iniquity," Titus 2:14. The acceptance of this free gift of
eternal life, is the birth-point of the Christian. It should be also at once the
starting-point of the race for the Prize, a
lifelong contest which is won by few and by supreme effort alone. It is described in Phil.
3: 11-14.
"If by any means I may attain the (select or out) resurrection from (among) the dead. Not that I
have already attained, or have been already perfected, but I am pressing
onward, if so be that I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by
Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have laid hold of ; but one thing
I do: ... I am Pressing on toward the mark, UNTO THE PRIZE of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (See Wordsworth).
"Paul,
when writing these words, was probably a prisoner on the Palatine Hill at
"The
Apostle has a spiritual Circus of his own.
He too is a charioteer. He
presses eagerly onward to the mark. He
also has a prize to gain - the palm-branch of Victory from the hand of Christ.
*
To open "In The
Arena Of Faith:" click
here. * * *
But,
before his conversion, "When he was furiously
racing onward in his mad career of persecution, he was suddenly arrested by
Christ; his car was upset; he was flung prostrate on the ground ... He was apprehended
and laid hold on by Christ, in order that he
himself might apprehend and lay hold on the prize
which Christ gives. Thenceforth he is a pursuer
in the Christian Circus; he forgets what he has left behind, and he is
continually stretching himself forward to what is
before. The Apostle compares himself to
an eager charioteer hanging over his horses, and urging them on to the goal;
and he pursues onward after the mark in order to win the prize
of his heavenly calling in Christ.
"The Victory in the Circus was determined by the place gained
by the charioteer after going a certain number of heats round the ends and
along the side of the Spina (or low
wall which was the back-bone of the course).
In the Roman Circus the Victor descended from his car at the end of the
race, and mounted the Spina, and there
received his prize."
(See Wordsworth).
Now,
Phil. 3: 11, and
14, shew that our PRIZE is the First
Resurrection, described in Rev. 20:
4-6; and all the glories contingent thereon. In 1
Cor. 15 : 50, again, the Apostle clearly is
speaking of the inheritors of the Kingdom of God and the
glories attending their resurrection, or rapture; not by any means of every and any believer: many alas! are wicked,
slothful, and worldly Christians who will be dismissed with shame from the
judgment-seat of Christ, and some be cast into the outer darkness for the time
appointed, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matt. 24: 48-51, 25: 30; 1 John 2: 28; Luke 6: 46-49.
But
those who reign with Christ in His Millennial glory will be the blessed
and holy that participate in this first and special resurrection. Other
glories, rewards, and honours are mentioned in the promises to the Overcomer
recorded in the letters to the seven Churches in Rev.
2 and 3, also in Matt. 25 : 21, 23, etc., etc. No less than five different
crowns are offered to faithful servants of the Lord Jesus at His
return.
*To open "Out-Resurrection
From Among The Dead" : click here. * *
*
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With superhuman effort, grand, supreme,
He leaps into the air, - and falls in death
Across the line, - a VICTOR, but at what
A fearful cost! He GAVE HIS LIFE, HIS ALL.
I ponder o’er this tragedy of days
When Greece was mistress of the world, and say,
Hast thou not also entered on a race
My soul, in contrast for a ‘crown of life.’
A ‘prize’ thou canst not win except thine all
Thou givest! Then, be wise, and WATCH AND PRAY
Turn not thine eyes one instant from ‘the mark’
For fear thou dash thy foot against some small,
well-rounded truth, which in thy pride thou hast
Over looked, and thus thou stumble, fall, and though
Thou shouldst arise, ‘twould
be TOO LATE TO WIN.
Ah, then, consider thy ‘forerunner’ Christ,
Yea, call to mind the ‘cloud of witnesses’
Around - those noble, faithful ones of old, -
And strip thyself, my soul, of every weight;
Gird up thy loins, make straight paths for thy feet;
Breathe deeply of the Spirit’s conquering power,
And run with patient, meek, enduring zeal!
ALMOST THOU HAST ATTAINED, my soul, my soul!
Shall angels, principalities, or powers,
Or height, or depth, or OTHER CREATURE draw
Thee from the goal so near? Ah! Yes, SO
NEAR
The glory-light streams through the parting veil;
HAVE FAITH, PRESS ON, ONE EFFORT, GRAND SUPREME, -
AND THOU HAST WON IN DEATH LOVE’S BLOOD-BOUGHT CROWN.
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