RUNNING THE RACE.

[Alex2165]

RUNNING THE RACE.

1Corinthians 9.24-26
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.

25.And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26.Therefore, I run in such a way as not without aim, I box in such a way as not beating the air,


1Timothy 6.12
12.Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


Do all "Christians" participate in the Race? What kind of Race Paul are talking about?

He talking about Race of being Merciful more than anyone else, Compassion more than anyone else, Understanding more than anyone else, Loving more than anyone else, and do the WORKS OF FAITH, and care for brother, for sisters, and strangers more than anyone else!


Philippians 3.14
14."I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus."

And what kind of Prize Paul talking about? Perhaps the Prize will in the form of admission to the Kingdom of GOD. What else it possibly be?

But of course the Prize would not come without real struggle, and we know very well how athletes struggle and fight in order to win and get the prize of victory.


How many such "athletes" are among so called Christian? I noticed that so called "Christian athletes" can be divided on three general groups.

The First group do not participate in the Race at all. They think that they will received the Prize anyway, and they convinced that their participation in the Race is not necessary.

The Second group are those who joyfully join the Race, but quickly run out of steam and step outside of the course, and did not complete the Race.

The third group is the most interesting one. They run only short distance and then start cutting corners. Some of them even run across the field to the finish line in order to finish the Race! So, these "athletes" are cheaters, and trying to finish the Race in dishonest way. They think that no one will noticed, and the Judge of the Race would not see it.

Such "athletes" convinced themselves that the strict Rules of the Race are not important. While the Prize was promised to all who will finish the Race, they ignored the Rules of the Race hoping to receive the Prize easiest way possible, without much effort and struggle.


And so, how actually Paul finished his Race? He wrote about it himself.

2Timothy 4.7
7."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith," (faith in this context means he was keeping the Rules! He won the Race in honest way, he did not cheat).


2Timothy 2.5
5."And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize, unless he completes according to the rules."

Indeed, how possibly anyone can win the Prize if he or she would not complete the Race according to the Rules?

But among "Christian athletes" many still think that it is very possible not complete the Race, ignore or cheat the Rules, and receive the Prize.

The time of the Race is our life. But some "athletes" is not complete their life cycle yet, they are still in the Race, but already claim the Prize, declaring that they already win "saved," because the Prize - the eternal Kingdom of GOD, was promised to all the athletes.

The Race itself is our life according to Commandments, Statutes, and Ordinances of GOD.

The Prize, as your already properly guess - the eternal Kingdom of GOD.

Keep the Race, and do not cheat!

 

[AustinC]

John Bunyan's classic, "Pilgrims Progress", may be the best allegorical answer to your question. If you have never read it, you ought to. It expresses the process of the race that we Christians run.

 

[Barry Johnson]

RUNNING THE RACE.

1Corinthians 9.24-26
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.

25.And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26.Therefore, I run in such a way as not without aim, I box in such a way as not beating the air,


1Timothy 6.12
12.Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


Do all "Christians" participate in the Race? What kind of Race Paul are talking about?

He talking about Race of being Merciful more than anyone else, Compassion more than anyone else, Understanding more than anyone else, Loving more than anyone else, and do the WORKS OF FAITH, and care for brother, for sisters, and strangers more than anyone else!


Philippians 3.14
14."I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus."

And what kind of Prize Paul talking about? Perhaps the Prize will in the form of admission to the Kingdom of GOD. What else it possibly be?

But of course the Prize would not come without real struggle, and we know very well how athletes struggle and fight in order to win and get the prize of victory.


How many such "athletes" are among so called Christian? I noticed that so called "Christian athletes" can be divided on three general groups.

The First group do not participate in the Race at all. They think that they will received the Prize anyway, and they convinced that their participation in the Race is not necessary.

The Second group are those who joyfully join the Race, but quickly run out of steam and step outside of the course, and did not complete the Race.

The third group is the most interesting one. They run only short distance and then start cutting corners. Some of them even run across the field to the finish line in order to finish the Race! So, these "athletes" are cheaters, and trying to finish the Race in dishonest way. They think that no one will noticed, and the Judge of the Race would not see it.

Such "athletes" convinced themselves that the strict Rules of the Race are not important. While the Prize was promised to all who will finish the Race, they ignored the Rules of the Race hoping to receive the Prize easiest way possible, without much effort and struggle.


And so, how actually Paul finished his Race? He wrote about it himself.

2Timothy 4.7
7."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith," (faith in this context means he was keeping the Rules! He won the Race in honest way, he did not cheat).


2Timothy 2.5
5."And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize, unless he completes according to the rules."

Indeed, how possibly anyone can win the Prize if he or she would not complete the Race according to the Rules?

But among "Christian athletes" many still think that it is very possible not complete the Race, ignore or cheat the Rules, and receive the Prize.

The time of the Race is our life. But some "athletes" is not complete their life cycle yet, they are still in the Race, but already claim the Prize, declaring that they already win "saved," because the Prize - the eternal Kingdom of GOD, was promised to all the athletes.

The Race itself is our life according to Commandments, Statutes, and Ordinances of GOD.

The Prize, as your already properly guess - the eternal Kingdom of GOD.

Keep the Race, and do not cheat!

Notice the context Paul is speaking on . ( not that many bother to actually check )

CONTEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which PREACH THE GOSPEL should live of the gospel.
15¶But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that ANY MAN should make my GLORYING VOID
16For though I PREACH THE GOSPEL I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not THE GOSPEL !
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a REWARD : but if against my will, a dispensation of THE GOSPEL is committed unto me.
18What is my REWARD then? Verily that, when I PREACH THE GOSPEL , I may make THE GOSPEL of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in THE GOSPEL ( WHAT IS HIS REWARD !!!!! ? )

NOW SEE HIS GOAL IN THE RACE OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL
19¶For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might GAIN THE MORE .
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might GAIN THEM that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might GAIN THE WEAK : I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means SAVE SOME .
23And THIS I do for the GOSPEL SAKE !!!!!!! that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24¶Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have PREACHED to others , I myself should be a castaway. OK DOES IT SAY ANYTHING WHATSOVER ABOUT GOING TO HELL ? OR DID YOU GET TRIGGERED BY A WORD THAT FITS YOUR BELIEFS ? The whole point is PREACHING THE GOSPEL And not being found in anyway a failure in his MINISTRY . It has nothing to do with losing salvation . He's spent volumes already writing about being secure and in light of this security go preach the Gospel .