“I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” (v. 14)

It’s a flummoxing question:

“If righteousness is the gift of faith—and if it cannot be earned—then why does Paul ‘run’ for heavenly rewards?”

We are taught (rightly) that the Gospel is not of works, but of faith. We are saved by grace. We are forgiven by grace. The Spirit fills is by grace. We get heaven by grace. You can’t train for, work for, or earn grace. Jesus paid for it.

Yet Paul insists on training and working for and attaining something: rewards, a “prize.”

What gives?

Two keys:

First, the New Testament is not shy about a doctrine of rewards, of heaven’s good things for good-and-faithful servants. It tells us of stewardships and crowns awarded to the faithful. (Just don’t overlook that we who get them will also lay them at Jesus’ feet in worship.)

Second, the life we are given by grace is meant to glorify Him in the living. So we run—from sin, and toward Him—as ones who have already been sanctified by the Spirit, yet who are called to ever deepening sanctification. There is reward there! We get the joy of running rightly, a vital hope in heaven, and a purer value for the promised resurrection.

Saved by grace, and saved to run, for Jesus’ glory—and, yes, our own.

Flummoxing indeed.

— Tyler