Paul feared lest, having preached to others, he himself should be a castaway. He realized that if he did not carry out in his life the principles he believed and preached, his labors in behalf of others would avail him nothing. His conversation, his influence, his refusal to yield to self-gratification, must show that his religion was not a profession merely, but a daily, living connection with God. One goal he kept ever before him, and strove earnestly to reach-- "the righteousness which is of God by faith." Philippians 3:9.

Paulus frygtede for, at han, som havde prædiket for andre, selv skulle blive forkastet. Han forstod, at hvis han ikke i sit liv gav udtryk for de grundsætninger, han troede på og prædikede, ville hans arbejde for andre ikke nytte ham noget. Hans tale, hans indflydelse og hans afvisning af at give efter for tilfredsstillelse af egne lyster måtte vise, at hans religion ikke blot var en bekendelse, men en daglig og levende forbindelse med Gud. Der var ét mål, han altid havde for øje og alvorligt stræbte efter at nå, nemlig "retfærdigheden fra Gud, grundet på tro". Fil. 3,9.