But for love that claimeth lives for Whom He died',

but it is also right for every believer to believe what God has said regarding `the prize' that is attached to our `high

calling', as it is right that we should understand the high calling itself.

When one has perceived the riches of grace that characterize the calling of the Mystery, there is a temptation

which is very strong, to put out the hand to save the ark of God, and to deny the possibility of `reward' in the Prison

Epistles, lest by so doing the character of grace should be impaired. While sympathising with this regard for grace,

we must nevertheless resist it, for we must have a higher regard for `truth' of which grace is a part, and truth

demands that we shall allow a rightful place in the dispensation of the mystery to the undiluted meaning of `race'

with its `crown', `prize' and `reward'.

Let us turn to the epistle to the Colossians, an epistle which stresses the fact of the believer's `completeness' in

Christ and let us observe what it says concerning this aspect of revealed truth.

In chapter 2 the apostle gives a warning against that attitude of mind that beguiles of the reward. The word that

demands attention here is katabrabeuo. Brabeuo by itself means to be a judge or umpire, and so to assign the prize

in a public game. But the addition of kata `against' indicates an adverse judgment. Brabeuo occurs in Colossians

3:15 where the peace of God is said to `rule (act the umpire) in your hearts' - a precious thought. Brabeion is a

prize. It is found in 1 Corinthians 9:24 and Philippians 3:14, `the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus'.

We are therefore not without guidance as to the subject of this second chapter of Colossians. It has to do with the

prize. Now Colossians, whilst running very parallel with Ephesians, has much in its central section that bears upon

Philippians, which is the epistle of the `prize' and the `perfecting', and if we look at the first chapter of Colossians

we shall find in the idea of being `presented', the two aspects of truth set forth by Ephesians and Philippians. We

shall distinguish between that which can never be lost, and that which may be lost, and return to Colossians 2 with

clearer views :

The first presentation.

`In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight'

(Col. 1:22).

The second presentation.

`Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ

Jesus' (Col. 1:28).

The first presentation rests solely upon the finished work of Christ; the second involves the idea which is found

in the word `perfect' - of pressing on to the end. In the first no effort of our own could ever present us `holy'; in the

second we stand in need of `warning'.

Satan does not waste his energies in attempting to deprive us of our acceptance in the Beloved. `Your life is hid

with Christ in God'. Scripture nowhere says: `Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy life' but it does

say: `Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown' (Rev. 3:11). Satan was permitted to touch

everything belonging to Job except his life.

The same is true of all the redeemed. There is a prize to be won, a crown to be gained, but no man is crowned

except he strive lawfully. If therefore Satan can turn the saint away from the fullness of Christ, and get him

occupied with other means and ways - be they ordinances, days, feasts, meats, drinks, false humility, neglect of the

body, unscriptural mediators, or any other thing save `holding the Head' - then the prize is lost, the saint

dishonoured, and above all the Saviour robbed, for what is a crown to us but an added crown to Him?

The apostle returns to the subject of `reward' in his practical exhortations.

`The reward of the inheritance' (Col. 3:22-25). This phrase is the key to the apostle's object in writing the

epistle. The Colossian believers, being members of the body of Christ, were already `seated together in heavenly

places in Christ'; already `accepted in the Beloved'; already sure of their presentation `holy and unblameable and

unreproveable' in the sight of God. Already the apostle had said: `giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us

meet to be partakers of the inheritance in light' (Col. 1:12). Words cannot make clearer the assured position of the