Striving to Be Complete in Our Obedience
Matthew 5:48; 7:14; Luke 13:24
I. JESUS CALLS US TO STRIVE TO ENTER THE NARROW GATE
24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:24)
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way…there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:14)
16 I always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. (Acts 24:16)
11 Let us therefore be diligent (make every effort, NIV) to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same
example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11)
II. ALL BELIEVERS WILL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
A. The Greek word for the “judgment seat” of Christ is “bema seat” or place for reward.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in
the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
5 The Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the
hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
B. God esteems, remembers and rewards all of our obedience. Therefore, even in the midst of the mundane and
routine of our lives, we have great dignity. Our actions have significance forever. In our resurrected body we will all have
different spiritual capacities and abilities.
41 There is one glory of the sun…another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:41-42)
C. God will only give the crown of life to believers who are approved as worthy of it. This crown is not related to
salvation but to our place of function in His Kingdom (government/infrastructure).
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved (found consistent), he will
receive the crown of life…promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)
D. The crown of life refers to our capacities to experience and impart God’s life (zoe), glory or the anointing of the Spirit.
The authority to impart God’s life or anointing in our ministry to others in the age-to-come is central to understanding the
crown of life. There are 2 Greek words describing 2 types of crowns in the NT. One is the crown of a ruler (Gr. diadem),
the other is the crown of a victor (Gr., stephanos) who won a race in the Greek athletic games (James 1:12). Crowns of
authority are only given to those who endure in resisting temptation until the end.
10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
26 And he who overcomes…until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. (Revelation 2:26)
11 Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)
III. OUR PRIMARY LIFE PURPOSE: BECOMING COMPLETE IN OUR OBEDIENCE
A. Principle: God only wants those who were faithful to love Him and His purpose for the earth (as the place He
manifests His full purposes) to have authority in the Millennium to oversee the establishment of His will on earth
(Matthew 6:10). Our obedience is measured by what we do now in the natural realm in fulfilling the 8 beatitudes
(Matthew 5:3-12), not what we do after the resurrection.
B. The two analogies that Paul used most in sharing his paradigm of the Christian life was to run a race (endurance)
and to fight a battle (conflict).
C. Paul presented the Christian life as a champion marathon runner who needs endurance in their preparation with
discipline and restraint. We must run in the only way in which we can obtain the prize (v. 24). The issue is in running the
“right way” not in “outdoing others.” A champion must continually keep his end goal in view. Paul kept his long term goal
in mind (v. 26).
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize (stephanos crown)? Run
in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a perishable crown (stephanos), but we for an imperishable crown (stephanos).
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty (lack of focus). Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should
become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
D. Paul viewed his life as one long race that resulted in one appearance before the Olympics judges or the Bema
Seat. The crown of righteousness is given only to those who faithfully finish their life-long race having endured temptation
in each area of their life as they engage in a sustained resistance against sin and unbelief. This is not the same as living
in “sinless perfection” but rather to live with a sustained war against darkness in us. Our race is against darkness (not
against others). There are plenty of crowns (gold medals) for all who are faithful.
1 …Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1-2)
E. In Phil. 3, Paul had not yet won the prize of the crown of righteousness because his life-long race was not yet
completed. (Some champion athletes stumble at the end of a race they were to win).
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I
have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God…15 Let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…
(Philippians 3:10-15)
F. Paul desired to receive the prize of the upward call (crown of righteousness/crown of life). Paul pressed toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ (v. 14). The “upward” call is the “highest” and most “heavenly”
dimension of his calling in the age-to-come. Our prize is to walk in the fullest dimension that God has ordained for our
calling (in the age-to-come).
G. Paul wrote from a prison in Rome (shortly before he died) that he knew that he had won the prize (crown). Paul wrote
about being delivered and preserved and of his martyrdom.
6 I am being poured out (imprisonment) as a drink offering, and the time of my departure (death) is at hand…
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them…18 The
Lord will deliver me from every evil work (temptation and persecution) and preserve me for His heavenly
(supernatural) Kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:6-18)
H. Many believe that Paul was in prison in Rome twice. His first imprisonment was a house arrest which lasted two
years from 60-62 AD (Acts 28:30). During this time he wrote his “prison epistles” (Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and
Philemon). Paul's appeal as a Roman citizen (Acts 25:11; 28:19) was finally heard and he was freed. From Rome he
probably went to Turkey and then to Spain where he lived for another two years. On his return back to Turkey and
Macedonia, he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. Not long after that he was imprisoned again in Rome during which time he
wrote his final letter (2 Timothy) in the Fall of AD 67 just before he was executed in the summer of AD 68 (the same time
that Nero died). The persecution under Nero started in 64 AD. The Philippian church was founded in 50 AD.
I. Paul prayed that the saints would walk worthy so as to fulfill their highest calling.
11 We also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good
pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power… (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
J. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are complete in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Colossians 1:20-22; 2:10).
We are instantly complete in Christ in our legal position at the moment we are born again. We progressively become
complete in our obedience in our living condition before God.
10 You are complete in Him... (Colossians 2:10)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new…21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
K. We are made complete by bringing all the major issues in our life (not sinless perfection) into obedience until the
end of our life. Our aim is to bring every area of our life under active obedience to the Lordship of Jesus. This includes our
time, money, eyes, words and appetites.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man…that we may present every man perfect
(mature) in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor… (Colossians 1:28-29)
L. We must see the relationship of gaining endurance (v. 3) to receiving the crown of life (v. 12).
2 Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
(endurance). 4 Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (in
obedience in preparation for the Judgment Seat)…12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when
he has been approved (found consistent), he will receive the crown of life…promised to those who love Him.
(James 1:2-12)
M. We are to be complete in our obedience (2 Corinthians 13:9, 11; Philippians 1:6; Col. 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:17;
Hebrews 13:20-21; James 1:4); perfect (Matthew 5:48; 19:21; John 17:23; Galatians 3:3; Ephesians 4:13. Colossians 1:28;
1 Thessalonians 3:10; James 2:22; 3:2; 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 3:2); mature (Philippians 3:15); blameless (Luke 1:6;
1 Corinthians 1:6-8; Philippians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23; 1 Timothy 3:2, 10; 5:5-7; 6:14; 2 Peter 3:14; without
spot (Ephesians 5:27).
48 You shall be perfect (mature), just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)
7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has
made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine
linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless (blameless in our
character) before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy… (Jude 24)
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a
while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works
perfect before God…4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they
shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:2-4)
N. We are to pray for the saints to walk in complete obedience and thus, to be found worthy of ruling in the
age-to-come.
10 When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints…11 Therefore we pray always for you that our
God would count you worthy of this calling…12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in
you, and you in Him… (2 Thessalonians 1:12)
9 This also we pray, that you may be made complete. (2 Corinthians 13:9)
9 I pray that your love may abound…10 that you may be sincere and without offense (not offended at God
nor offending God by sin) till the day of Christ … (Philippians 1:9-10)
12 Epaphras…always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God. (Colossians 4:12)
O. Jesus told people to take up their cross with a view to receiving eternal rewards.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me…27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father…and then He will reward
each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:24-27)
62 Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit (fit for service NIV,
i.e., for ruling in God’s government) for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)