1 Corinthians 9:24 Explained – Running The Race

Posted by Mike Cynar in Bible, Christian Messages, Salvation, The Bible Views 1944

1 Corinthians 9:24 | Running The Race Explained

1 Corinthians 9:24 has been incorrectly taught that running the race is about works. Today we discover that the context is about saving people. It’s about using your body as a tool for Jesus.

Before we unpack this, let me begin with a very firm disclosure:

I believe I’ve been pretty clear in all of my videos that works are a great thing. That includes sharing the gospel, or any type of outward good deed. With that fully disclosed, I think it’s important that we realize there’s absolutely NO work of ANY kind that saves us, that causes our prayers to be heard, that activates our forgiveness, that gets us more blessings, etc., etc., etc. Salvation is the gift, the reward is the inheritance of the kingdom.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

So, if the reward is the inheritance of the kingdom, it is certainly not something we are earning in any fashion.

Remember, ALL believers will inherit the kingdom. None of us are earning higher levels of the kingdom. This takes us over to something Paul says about running a race and training his body.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.’

First and foremost, we need to understand that, in this chapter, Paul is defending his apostleship. He’s dealing with a bunch of people that are asking him if he’s really an Apostle, and if he’s really serving the Lord, etc. Paul is telling his personal story about all that he has done and all that he has sacrificed so that others might come to know Jesus.

Paul is making clear that he indeed is an apostle. He’s traveling everywhere, he’s enduring hunger, attacks, and all kinds of difficult circumstances. And when we read verse 24, we can easily build a theology the teachers we need to get out there and do more and try harder so that we might be found acceptable in the day of our Lord. Well, that may sound super religious and ominous, but it’s completely garbage teaching.

Now, let’s back up a little and look at verse 19. This will set the stage so we can properly interpret verse 24.

1 Cor 9:19 ‘I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may GAIN MORE.

Now, the legalist says that gaining more is a reference to Paul getting hooked up with gifts and heavenly rewards to cash in at the gift shop. But the person who is spiritually trained understands that what Paul is talking about is gaining more people to inherit eternal life, through faith. So, the context is EVANGELISM! SAVING people.

Paul is running the race to GAIN more souls for Jesus! So this has nothing to do with a bunch of churchy works and rewards redeemable in heavens gift shop :). And I would point out this is not a command or some way of getting more favor from God. Paul probably has the biggest challenge of anyone else. Paul went from being a Jewish man under the law to pushing a message of being saved by grace apart from works of the law. Talk about an offensive message to his fellow Jews. They think he has lost his mind. Jesus was an extremely offensive message to his fellow Jewish peers. But Paul doesn’t want to offend them either. He has a heart for their salvation too. So he meets them where they’re at. He gives up his freedom in Christ so that they will be open to his message. They simply are not going to be open to Paul’s teaching if he’s living a life that they think is immoral.

[1 Cor 9:20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might GAIN Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might GAIN those who are under the Law;

So the apostle Paul knows he’s free from law, but he’s going to continue to use his body as a tool for sharing the gospel. And he’s going to do that even if it means following Jewish traditions in order that he might win Jewish people for Christ. An example of that for you and I might be something like the fact that I enjoy wine and bourbon. I am free in Christ to do that. But if I’m around someone who does not drink and is offended by alcohol I will not drink in front of them. I’m free to do that if I want to, but I would rather use my body as a tool to lead them to Jesus. And that’s really all Paul is talking about here. We see a similar scenario where Paul is around Jewish people who don’t want to eat meat that is sacrificed to false gods, so he abstains from it. Even though he knows he’s perfectly free to eat the meat, there’s nothing to gain by exercising his freedom if it offends other Jews that he hopes to lead to Jesus.

So what is Paul gaining? Is it more gifts? Rewards? Blessings? No, no, and no.

What he’s gaining from all of this is the excitement of his fellow Jews being saved and inheriting the kingdom. Some people think this is about something Paul is benefiting from. Paul is not jacked up on any so-called personal reward or gift. He’s jacked up on other people receiving the same gift that he already has. The inheritance of the kingdom. Eternal salvation. The incorruptible crown is eternal life.

The beating of his body analogy is nothing more than contrasting how human athletes train themselves and their bodies for a crown that is corruptible with the way he is training himself that leads to his fellow Jews receiving a crown that is incorruptible. Paul does not need to use his body to save other people, but as an act of his own free will, he makes a choice to train his body to follow Jewish traditions. In this case, the training is keeping up with Jewish laws that he is no longer obligated to keep. If that’s what it takes to bring them to Jesus then Paul is fully willing to train his body. It really is that simple. Sharing the gospel and doing whatever it takes to get his message heard.

Paul is disciplining his body to meet the Jews wherever they are. If that means not eating certain meats, not drinking, or whatever, he’s willing to give up his freedom in order that others might come to know Jesus. But let’s be careful not to stop there, because if we do will start teaching people that we should all just be an example and live a life under the law. That’s not what we are learning here. This situation is exclusive behavior that Paul exhibits when he’s around JEWISH people who are obsessed with the law. But when Paul is around Gentiles he does not live that kind of life nor does he teach it. He does the exact opposite and teaches them that they are saved by grace alone.

[1 Cor 9:21] to those who are without the Law, I became as one WITHOUT The Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are WITHOUT the Law.

So, two different groups of people, and two different ways of sharing the gospel message.

Now I know someone will dispute this because of what the last verse reads. It starts talking about being disqualified.

1 Cor 9:27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

It’s amazing how people can look at one word and just build an entire theology out of it that totally conflicts with what the Scriptures teach us. This disqualification is not from God. He’s talking about the Jewish people disqualifying him. He’s saying that if he comes to share this message of Jesus, while at the same time they are viewing him is blatantly having no respect or regard for their Jewish laws, he will be disqualified as a messenger in their mind. They will not listen to him. Consider that obnoxious drunk guy in the bar who’s sharing the gospel of Jesus. He may indeed love Jesus, but to those around him hearing his message, they will not take him seriously. He will be disqualified in their minds. So Paul again is willing to sacrifice his complete freedom in Christ so that his fellow Jews will be willing to hear his message about the price.

If you enjoyed this message, please be sure to like, comment, and share below. God bless each and every one of you.

Author: Mike Cynar

Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.

It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.

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Tags: 1 Corinthians, Running the race

About Mike Cynar

Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as 'back sliders' or 'fake Christians' just looking for 'fire insurance'. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church's message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one's flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one's identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don't partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel - that our righteousness comes from Jesus' actions, not our own - Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, "Jesus Without Religion" was born.

It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it's true, if you're convinced that God thinks you're a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.

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1 Corinthians 9:24 Explained – Running The Race

1 Corinthians 9:24 | Running The Race Explained

Author: Mike Cynar

About Mike Cynar

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