Striving Lawfully

The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 11 • March 14, 2025

Mar 14, 2025

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2 Timothy 2:5, KJV

IN THE WORLD

In the realm of the Olympic games and competitive sports, there is a long list of athletes who have sought to obtain a victory by breaking rules of their competition.

Some athletes have been caught prior to the awards ceremony, and thus their shame went before them. In the 1904 Olympics, Fred Lorz appeared to be the clear winner of the marathon. However, prior to receiving his gold medal, it was discovered that he had spent 11 miles of the marathon riding in a car.

Others, after having obtained what they sought after, have had their offenses follow them, only to be discovered later in their lives, resulting in their achievements being stripped from them. In 1988 Ben Johnson lost his gold medal, as well as his record for the world’s fastest man. In 2012, Lance Armstrong was stripped of seven Tour de France championship titles. Though these men were honored for a time, their deceit was finally uncovered in the end.

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” (1 Timothy 5:24, KJV)

In the above examples, the men were aware of the rules, yet they attempted to gain victory by circumventing those rules. Light was given, yet not followed. Requirements and expectations were made clear, yet not obeyed. In the end, they lost that for which they had hoped.

IN CHRIST

All who call themselves Christians are striving to receive a crown of life,1 an eternity with their Savior, and to hear the words “well done good and faithful servant.”2 Yet are all striving lawfully? Are all admitted entrance into the kingdom of heaven simply by a verbal confession of Jesus as Lord, or are there rules in this life that even Christians are expected to follow?

Jesus describes a scene at the end of this age of sin where many are turned away from entering the kingdom despite their verbal confessions of “Lord, Lord.” He describes them as being “workers of iniquity” whom He never knew.3

The Bible defines sin as being a transgression of the law.4 Workers of iniquity are those who disregard the commandments that God has made clear to them, and thus they do not strive lawfully. The end result of such negligence, as Paul describes in our verse this week, is that they will not be crowned with eternal life.

On the other hand, the Bible connects a true love for Jehovah with obedience to His commandments.5 Jesus reiterated this sentiment when He was on earth.

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21, KJV)

CROWN OF LIFE ETERNAL

What is the end result for those who keep the commandments of God, not as some sort of works-based salvation, but in faith as an outpouring of their love for their Creator? They receive the crowning of eternal life and partake of the tree of life.

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14, KJV)

Truly, when this day comes, how blessed are those who strove lawfully!

Of all the commandments, Sabbath keeping is the most contentious. Satan has done a masterful work in blinding people to the blessing of this day and has convinced them that it is now a burdensome aspect of the law that followers of Christ have been freed from. Seminaries now train millions of future pastors year after year to propagate this lie to the congregations that they will be placed in front of.

The Sabbath is a dividing line between those who strive lawfully, out of a love for Jehovah, and those who are unwilling to give up the pleasures, purposes, and pursuits of this life that are not convenient with Sabbath keeping. The distinction of this dividing line will become more and more apparent as we draw closer to the end and the time when the mark of the beast will be enforced.6

PRAYER

May God help us all to strive lawfully, loving one another and upholding His commandments by the grace which He makes available unto us through the faith of Jesus Christ.