Robert Govett (1813 – 1901) was the pastor of Surrey Chapel in Norwich, England. (He was succeeded there by D.M. Panton, author of The Judgment Seat of Christ, who had been his student.) He was the first to really see, and to stress in his ministry, that while we as the believers in Christ can be sure of our eternal destiny, we may still be disciplined by the Lord during His coming 1,000 year reign upon the earth (Rev. 20:4-6).

In the excerpt below he is dealing with the apostle Paul’s word in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 on how he was still concerned, as he was running the Christian race, that he could be “disapproved” for the prize. Govett stresses that to harmonize Paul’s word in this section with other Bible verses that deal with the matter of our salvation, we must realize the New Testament has more than one object in view in this regard, i.e., not only the gift of eternal salvation, but also, the reward of the kingdom.

P.S.: If you’d like to listen to a podcast episode I recently recorded that relates to this topic, click on the link at the bottom of this email.

— Robert Govett —

Reward or Loss
in the
Coming Kingdom

But I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest somehow, having preached to others, I myself should become disapproved.
— The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27

The subject of the race and the crown is rarely if ever touched on. Why? Because of its difficulties. Let us look at them.

In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul states that “I myself may become disapproved.” Put this beside other passages. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

Now have we not here several contradictions? I can fancy someone to say, “Salvation is spoken of as a gift. In Romans 4 it is described as the result of not working, but believing. God’s elect are saved as soon as they believe, and are called thereupon to rejoice. But here the writer speaks of it as a prize to be awarded for merit, as the result of training, effort, self-denial; with the danger of entire loss, even in the case of so faithful a servant as Paul. Now I can’t see my way through this. What is a contradiction, if here is not one:

“1. ‘I am to work; and I am not to work.’
2. ‘Salvation is a free gift; and yet a prize to be won by effort.’
3. Then, as to the issue: ‘I have salvation already, and yet I may lose it.’”

This text then, is a stumbling block to many. Calvinists know not what to make of it. Arminians seize on it as proving their views. Here is the knot. How is it to be untied?

Shall I lay before the reader a similar case? Some years ago, the most distant known planet, Uranus, occasioned to astronomers difficulties insurmountable. Its calculated place did not at all correspond to its observed place. Now it was in advance of the spot which theory said it ought to occupy. Now it was in the rear of it. Some suggested that at so vast a distance as Uranus is from the Sun, the force of gravitation had lost some of its power. That was very like upturning the whole system of astronomy.

At length, another planet was discovered [i.e., Neptune, in 1846, the gravitational force of which did indeed affect the movements of Uranus]. This new link restores all to order. Gravity abides in undiminished power; all is set at rest. Perplexity is replaced by a happy discovery.

As long as it is supposed that but one object is presented before us in the New Testament, this contradiction and confusion will exist. In fact, there is a second object in the field of Scripture, the perception of which reduces all texts on the subject to harmony.

Holy Scripture offers to our notice two things, (1) eternal life, and (2) the millennial day. To the ungodly God presents eternal life as His gift. “Believe in the finished work of Jesus for you, and you are saved in Christ. Rejoice.” But when you have become a believer, and are already possessed of eternal life, there is a prize set before you, to be sought for by diligence and effort. You are elected to eternal salvation. But a place in the glory of the thousand years is a reward to be granted by Christ according to works.

The gift of God, believer, you cannot lose. But the prize you may lose. The first and blest resurrection [Rev. 20:4-6] is a reward to those “accounted worthy.” The kingdom of heaven, or the age of glory to come, is thus set before you as an object to be sought: Matt. 5:1-12; 6:1-16; Luke 20:34-36; Rev. 11:18; 22:12; 2 Thess. 1:5, 11.

Eternal life is not something to be sought by the believer. It were unbelief. He is saved already. But the kingdom of the thousand years he is commanded to seek for. It is unbelief and disobedience not to do it (Matt. 5:20; 6:33; 7:21; Luke 12:31; Phil. 3:14; Rev. 2:26-27; Col. 2:8).

It is then concerning a part in the millennial kingdom that Paul is speaking in 1 Corinthians. It is to that that he refers, wherever he is speaking in the epistle of gain or loss, as in 3:1-17; 6:1-11; 15:21-28. The apostle is writing throughout to saints justified by faith and sets this kingdom of glory before them as the prize to be won. In this epistle he treats of the present exclusion of believers from the church for certain offenses. That is a witness of the future exclusion of some believers from the millennial kingdom. There are offenses for which the Spirit of God directs that the guilty be excluded from present fellowship at the table of the Lord (1 Cor. 5:11-13). For the same offenses the Holy Spirit declares that offending believers will be excluded from the millennial kingdom (1 Cor. 6:8-11).

Many, many will receive the gift, who will fall short of the prize. This then takes away all perplexity from the passage cited. The gift of salvation is bestowed on faith. The prize is to be sought for by effort.

Adapted from Kingdom Studies, pp. 1-4. Schoettle Publishing Co., Hayesville, NC.

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— 11 October 2025 —