“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
It would be helpful to read this in the context of the whole of 1 Corinthians to get a better grasp on what Paul’s message was here to the church, overall. For much of what Paul was speaking to the church about was with regard to their walks of faith in the Lord Jesus, and how, in so many areas, it was not matching up to God’s will and purpose for the lives of those who profess to know him as their Lord and Savior.
So, he first dealt with them in regard to the divisions that were among them and how they were raising one man (teacher) above another. And he spoke with them in saying to them that he could not address them as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, for there was jealously and strife among them due to them raising one man above another and because they were, thus, becoming followers of man rather than followers of Jesus Christ.
He also dealt with them in regard to blatant sexual immorality within the church and how they were tolerating it and that they were proud. And so he instructed them in what they ought to do to reconcile this situation and to discipline the unrepentant sinner, and in what they needed to do to “cleanse out the old leaven” among them so that they were no longer tolerating such blatant immorality, but so they were living righteously before God.
But I don’t believe this one man was the only one engaged in sexual immorality, or that sexual immorality alone was their only offense against God, for then Paul went on to warn them against lawsuits against one another and against wronging and defrauding each other. And he said that those who practice sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, thievery, drunkenness, and more, will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, in the context of all of that, and more that I did not cover here, Paul wrote these words about running a race. So what was the message he was giving to the church here?
Now many people credit Paul with being the one who penned the book of Hebrews, as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit. So I am going to go with that and to say that Paul, thus, is the one who talked about the race that we are all to be running as followers of Christ in Hebrews 12:1-2. There he spoke of a spiritual race that God set before all of us to run. And there we are instructed that we must lay aside every weight (hindrance), and sin which clings so closely (sounds like addictive sin), so that we can run this race with endurance, looking to Jesus who endured the cross for our sake.
Well, that goes right along with the race he is talking about here in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, too. And it fits right along with the gospel message that Jesus Christ and Paul and the other NT apostles taught, which is progressive salvation: We are saved (past), we are being saved (present active), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus Christ returns to take his faithful ones to be with him for eternity, which is when our salvation will be complete, and only if we continue in Christ and in obedience to him.
[Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Php 2:5-11: Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]
For that is what I believe is the message here. When Paul said that we must run this race in order to obtain the prize (our salvation from sin and eternal life with God), he intended to give us the same message which he gave over and over all throughout his writings which were authored by the Spirit of God. We have to walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands in holy living and no longer in sin or we will not inherit eternal life with God.
And what was Paul’s own personal response to this message that he taught? He disciplined his body (his whole being) and he kept it under the control of the Holy Spirit, lest after preaching to others he should be disqualified for the prize at the end of the race. And that is the gospel message that Paul taught, that if we walk according to the Spirit, we have eternal life with God, but if we walk according to the flesh, and if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness and obedience, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
Do Your Best
An Original Work / November 7, 2011
Based off of 2 Timothy 2
Love You, Father, love You, Lord.
Be strong in the grace of Christ.
Endure hardship for your Lord.
Your commander, live to please.
You’ll receive the victor’s crown.
By the rules, run in the race.
Your Lord, you’ll see face to face.
Jesus Christ, raised from the dead;
Of your life, He is the head.
Endure all for the elect.
Love You, Father, love You, Lord.
If we died, we live with Him.
If we last, with Him we’ll reign.
If we disown Him today,
He will have to look away.
Even if we faithless be,
Faithful He’ll remain always.
He cannot disown Himself.
He’s our Lord and Savior, King.
He will reign o’er ev’rything.
Love You, Father, love You, Lord.
Do your best; present yourself
As one who’s approved by God.
Work as one who’s not ashamed;
Rightly share the Word of Truth.
Wander not from what you know.
Destroy not the faith of some.
God’s foundation; it stands firm.
The Lord knows those who are His:
Those who turn from wickedness.
Love You, Father, love You, Lord.
In a house are wood and clay,
Gold and silver, all array.
Some are noble, some are bad –
Cleanse your life, and you’ll be glad;
Useful to the Master’s work.
A pure heart – in righteousness,
Pursue faith and love and peace.
Bad desires you want to flee.
Gentle servant you must be.
http://vimeo.com/117504030
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