True Discipleship (Part 3)

The prize Paul is talking about in these verses is not eternal life but the full potential that exists for Christ's disciples to exalt His name and Kingdom. Athletes in Paul's illustration compete against other athletes, but the race that Christ's disciples are in means that they compete against themselves. The disciple's greatest obstacle is his own fleshy nature. It is his flesh that seeks to prevent him from obtaining the goal or winning the race. This means Christ's disciples must persevere through difficulties and hardships and subdue their fleshly nature. There is only one winner in the contest between the flesh and the spirit. That which renders the disciple's life ineffective for the Kingdom and prevents them from taking hold of the prize is their own sin. Christ's disciples must be committed to persevering and subduing.