What is the prize Christians should run to win according to Paul?
According to Paul, the prize is not salvation, which believers already possess, but the reward that will accompany salvation. Christians should run to win that reward, keeping their priorities fixed on the glory ahead rather than being tied to this world.
Les explains that even believers can become so tied to this world and blind to the glory out there that their priorities get mixed up. Paul therefore says, run to win the prize. That prize is not salvation, because believers already have salvation, but the reward that is going to go with the salvation. Les connects this to Abraham in Genesis 15, where God had already saved him and declared him righteous, yet promised him land to inherit. Abraham asked, how shall I know that I shall inherit it? The whole concept of working for reward, Les notes, has been on the minds of believers from day one.