SIX NECESSARY ELEMENTS IF WE ARE GOING TO EFFECTIVELY PURSUE THE PRIZE OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
1A AN AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PURSUE A BETTER CONDITION.
2A YOU MUST GIVE MAXIMUM EFFORT IN PURSUING THAT CONDITON.
“But I follow after,” vs. 12
· i.e. Press on “I am pursuing.” Press forward; try to achieve something, run after.
· Verb. Indic pres. action. A continuous action or result.
· An expression for the quest of Christian values. Romans 14:19; 1 Timothy 6:11.
· To aspire, to seek, to go after something.
· The pursuit of Christian objectives.
o Romans 12:13 Hospitality
o Romans 14:19; 1 Peter 3:11; Hebrews 12:14 Mutual Peace
o I Corinthians 14:1 Holiness and Love
o I Thess.5:15 Doing Good.
o 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22 Righteousness
· Paul sees the Christian life as ultimately directed to this goal. He presses on like a runner set on winning the victor’s prize. Knowing Romans 9:16, 30.
· Paul says this not because he is discouraged but he’s encouraged.
· A sprinter in this race.
· An aggressive, energetic endeavor.
· I Corinthians 9:24-27, I Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 12:1-2 Running the race to win.
· Serious and earnest in his desire to “follow after.”
· Not being content just to be merely saved.
· The race is a long-distance race.
Why all this continuous all-out effort?
· Jesus is coming
· People are dying, 6,000 each day.
