Paul is contending in a race, in a stadium where there is a great cloud of witnesses, he sees how others are attempting to run the race, but he holds above all other things; knowing Christ Jesus. Everything else offered up in this race is as dung. Think of what it would be like to run the race only to find at the end what one thought valuable was as dung or as filthy rags to God. So we want to focus on things that strengthen us for the purpose of running this race. Paul writes elsewhere what counts is being a new creation, and faith that is active in agape love. Now, too, in addition to your faith add excellence. Such a thing is being obedient also which strengthens us, building character and endurance so we win the prize. We are very careful not to put excellence before our faith, not to be justified by rules, and to be rooted and grounded in agape love. Now, established we press on to the high call of God in Christ Jesus where the prize of being excellent is to win Christ. To win, to gain Christ, this is the glory.
pressing on toward the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus.*
When we look at these passages in Greek, it helps in translation to keep in mind the comparison Paul is using, that of running, contending in a race. "The good stadium, I have contended, the race finishing, the one faith I have watched as my mark"* Does not this sound like running a race? Paul fought wild animals in Ephesus, so he knows a thing or two about contending in such a stadium. In this good stadium we run and there is a great cloud of witnesses thus the hall of faith is there to encourage us as we see others who have run a tougher race shedding blood. To keep the mark, the object of that we fix our eyes on, we have a goal, the high call of God. Others Paul write are enemies of the cross, they are focused on earthly things, not the high call.* Run with those who are true, who fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the shame even of death on a cross. To those who run the race these know this world is not our home, and to the world, the stadium we contend in, we are foolish, laughable, even despised and loathed, but to the world who does not comprehend nor understand this high call, to them we are ambassadors.
This word for excellence is often translated as virtue, the Greek word means "excellence of any kind" which also is used to mean "moral virtue." The Greek notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one's full potential.* Paul warns us as we seek to live our purpose, beware of the dogs, evil workers who pursue things that do not build up in the faith, who trust in earthly things, and who have confidence in the flesh. To know the power of his resurrection, and share in his sufferings, is to become like him in his death, so to also become like him in his life. John writes the one who fears has not been perfected in love. Paul writes his grace is sufficient in that his power is being perfected in our weakness and that we will rule over sin under grace, not through living to the letter of the law. What counts is to win Christ, "through whom all things also I lead the way, counting as dung, in order to win Christ." To win the race is to win Christ, think about this, pursuing being excellent is to win, to have and possess Christ. It is to become like Christ, to be transformed into his image from glory to glory, this is to win Christ.
Not that I have already taken in hand neither already reached this goal but I press on since and to the extent that I lay hold of it, with a view to, even as Christ Jesus lays hold of me.*
It is fitting to remind those who would run the race to run it by the rules, as some attempt to run the race the wrong way. Paul reminds us that to attempt to run the race legalistically, is to be disqualified, "and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith..."* Like weights on a runner's ankle so we must throw off sin that weighs us down. We are reminded we must know the cost and the rules, as an athlete must follow the rules of the race we too must pursue excellence. The disqualification is in attempts to run in the flesh. Such attempts are seen in legalism, which is justification in following rules, and in thinking that there are no rules, these people live to their own sensuality, their god is their belly. The high call is perfection in Christ Jesus, becoming mature, growing up into salvation, thus we set the mark of being excellent for this purpose. This is why Christ has laid hold of us and we can be assured he will continue to lay hold, encouraging us to press on, it is our calling.
now for this very purpose, bring into play all, enthusiastically upon your faith add excellence, upon too excellence add knowledge...*
Now then those perfected have this mindset, and if some think otherwise, God will reveal to you, nevertheless advance to the extent of that very close at hand.*
Advance, take in hand that close at hand, do not try to attain that which is unreachable, but run the race with that which is close at hand. Ask and God will add to you, the will to press on. Some will despise your youth, but pursue excellence even if you pass them by, keep your eyes on the mark, "pressing on toward the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus." To those who are immature who might call you a rule follower, say to them I seek the high call in Christ Jesus, I seek to be excellent. Being excellent is a core value of a follower of Christ, pressing on, pursuing excellence, holding Christ above all, "lead the way, all existing loss through that holding above..." be excellent in all things...
City On Our Knees