The Apostle Paul speaks of “the race” in Hebrews 12:1; and he speaks of “the prize” in Philippians 3:14:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

In these two passages of Scripture, Paul indicates the foundation of the overcomer; for Paul reveals that the winning of the race and of the prize is dependent upon the regenerated man wanting to do more than just his duty.

In Hebrews 12:1, Paul said, “let us (the saved)”:

1)    “Lay aside every weight,”

2)    “And the sin which doth so easily beset us,”

3)    “And let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Paul said there is a race for the saved to run, to inherit the blessing. The blessing was tied to the birthright; see the story in the Old Testament of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25 – 30). The inheritance is by the father’s choice; however, in the Old Testament, it normally went to the first-born son. But in Jacob’s and Esau’s case (as with other examples) it went to the second-born, Jacob. Esau represented Old Testament Israel; and Jacob represented New Testament Israel, the Church. (See Romans 9:6-24.)

Salvation is not by works, but by grace. But those who are saved have works of faith (James 2:14-26). Inheritance does not make you a son; but being a son entitles you to receive the inheritance. In the Old Testament, the first-born, who had the birthright, received a “double portion.” The Church is the Church of the First-Born, Christ; and we that are in His Body are heirs of God, even joint heirs of Christ. Therefore, we receive the inheritance, or a “double portion.”

The down payment of this “double portion” is the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, by baptism into His Body, the Church. (See Galatians 3:16-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13.) Those who receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (or receive regeneration) are the called (Acts 2:39) and are the overcomers in Christ.

They are the ones who give up all of self to win the race; they give up every weight and sin that doth so easily beset them; and they run the race with patience (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).

Paul really defines the overcomer’s characteristics in Philippians 3:9-14:

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9)

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10)

“If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Philippians 3:11)

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12)

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (Philippians 3:13)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

Here in Philippians 3, you will notice:

1)    Paul wanted to “win Christ” (verse 8). He had already been converted, or saved, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-17); but Paul wanted more with Christ.

2)    Paul wanted to “be found in him” (verse 9); to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ (the breast plate in the armor of God; Ephesians 6:10-18).

3)     Paul wanted (verse 10):

a)    To “know him” (ginōsko; to know by experience);

b)    To know “the power of his resurrection” (the power to be an overcomer);

c)    To know “the fellowship of his sufferings” (to have an intimate communion with Christ);

d)    To be “made conformable unto his death.”

4)    The reason being that he “might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (verse 11); which is explained in verses 12-14.

Paul was not trying to work his way to heaven, or preach a salvation by works. But he wanted to win the race, to receive “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He wanted to be an “overcomer” by the Power of the Lamb of God in His Victory as the Overcomer Himself. Paul wanted to be a profitable servant of God. He wanted to be in the Marriage of the Lamb, even the Lamb’s Bride.

Therefore, being an overcomer has nothing to do with the sinner’s position in redemption. It has to do with inheritance, which has to do with position in rewards, not redemption.

If God has made you a servant of God, then you are a son of God, now and forever (Romans 8:29-39). But there is a difference in being an unprofitable servant and a profitable servant.

The profitable servant is an overcomer in the Victory of Christ. He is a vessel of mercy “afore prepared unto glory”; that He might make known to them “the riches of his glory” (Romans 9:23).

Reader of these devotions, where do you stand? Are you an overcomer in the Victory of Christ? Or are you an unprofitable servant?