1.     Oftentimes in the Bible, the apostle Paul used athletic terms to convey spiritual truths.  This was done in such a way that his listeners or readers easily understood what he meant (cf. Heb. 12:1).

2.     The Corinthians loved sporting events – especially their Isthmian games – so Paul uses a foot race as an illustration of how we are to live in the light of the judgment seat of Christ (I Cor. 9:24).

3.     Here in I Corinthians 9, Paul is stating that not all who run in a race win the prize (9:24).   And in like manner, not all who are Christians will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 3:14, 15).

4.     Friday night we had a wonderful service.  We had a lot of fun. Bro. Gregg gave prizes to each and every child who came to VBS. 

5.     Many Christians think the judgment seat of Christ will be like that VBS rally – all fun and games and cute songs and puppets and cookies and cake and everybody gets a prize!

6.     But the judgment seat of Christ will not be like a VBS rally or a Sunday School picnic where everyone gets a nice reward and a pat on the head (cf. II Cor. 5:10, 11).

7.     The apostle Paul cared not for worldly pleasures.  His only concern was winning souls for Christ (cf. I Cor. 9:16). 

8.     And so Paul kept pressing on (cf. Phil. 3:14). Unfortunately too many Christians do not press on.  They are slackers.  They do not have a burden for souls.   They are not really in the race.

9.     They want their rewards here on earth and they have little interest in spiritual things.   Consequently they are missing out on blessings in this life as well as the life to come.

I. GET IN THE RACE

1.     Notice Paul says, “So run…” (9:24b).  Some Christians are not running.   They just want to sit around and watch others run.

2.     Verse 25 says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things…” The Greek word translated “striveth” is agonizomai.  It is where we get our English word “agonize.”

3.     If you are familiar with serious athletes, you know they push themselves; they exert themselves; they run and work out for many hours a day.   They endure vigorous training. The Bible says, “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown (in the Isthmian games it was a pine wreath); but we an incorruptible” (9:25b).

4.     Paul was looking forward to receiving his “crown of righteousness” (cf. II Tim. 4:8).  He did not want to wind up like Demas (cf. II Tim. 4:10).

5.     Paul wrote to young Timothy, “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.   For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Timothy 4:7, 8).

6.     There is some value in exercising.  “Bodily exercise profiteth little.”  But godliness is far more important.

7.     As the athlete must deny himself, so must the Christian who means business with the Lord.  But very few Christians want to deny themselves anything these days!

8.     The great British preacher, FB Meyer, wrote these words, “The prime cause of all failure in private life as well as in public ministry is the assertion of self.  As long as men and women think it is all right with them, nothing can be done for them.  It is only when there is excited within them a fear that after all, things may not be quite so well as they seem, a dread that after all they may have made a mistake and be self-deceived, it is only then that in the secret of their own chambers they begin to ask God, ‘Am I just what I expected?’  It is then that the heart is laid open, and they may be brought to understand how a man may be almost a castaway and yet be taken back to the bosom of Christ as Peter was; for within six weeks the man who was nearly cast away became the Apostle of Pentecost” (The Christ Life For Your Life).

9.     The athlete must be “temperate in all things” (9:25), but few Christians are temperate in all things.   If we want God to use us we must not pamper the flesh; we must not walk in the flesh; we must not give way to the lusts of the flesh.

10. The athlete observes strict training rules.  Likewise the Christian must “strive lawfully” (II Tim. 2:5).   Back in 1979, a woman named Rosie Ruiz ran in the NYC Marathon.  The next year she ran in the Boston Marathon and came in first place among the female runners.

11. However, it was soon discovered that Rosie Ruiz did not run the entire 26-mile race.  Apparently she only jumped in for the last mile.  Further investigation revealed that she cheated during the NYC race in 1979, having been seen riding the subway when she was supposed to be running.

12. Soon, race officials decided to strip Ruiz of her title.  She was disqualified.  She is banned for life from ever running in the Boston Marathon. She is a “castaway” (I Cor. 9:27). 

13. The Christian who runs the race unlawfully may seem to succeed for a while but when he stands before the judgment seat of Christ he will not receive a reward.

14. The athlete is very careful regarding the food he eats. He will deliberately restrict his diet, even avoiding certain foods that he enjoys.   But many Christians are self-indulgent and carnal.  Some are even gluttonous.

15. The athlete is careful to go to bed at an early hour.  He is determined to keep his body in the best possible condition.

16. But what about Christians? (9:27a).   Leon Morris wrote, “The strenuous self-denial of the athlete in training for his fleeting reward is a rebuke to all half-hearted, flabby Christian service” (I Corinthians).

17. Harry Ironside said, “Let us take a lesson from the athlete and be willing to give up present pleasures for future glory.”

II. STAY IN THE RACE (9:26).

1.     Oftentimes a man will get saved and he will go out and win souls with great zeal and enthusiasm.  But then he will cool off and stop witnessing to people.

2.     We should stay in the race by witnessing every single day.  Do not let a day go by without giving someone a Gospel tract, or talking to someone about the Lord.

3.     Oftentimes a man gets saved and he is excited about learning more about God’s Word and prayer, and he will come to prayer meeting but he is soon discouraged by the low attendance. 

4.     If there is someone like that here tonight, let me exhort you not to let cold and backslidden Christians discourage you or hinder you.  Stay in the race!

5.     An athlete jumps rope, lifts weights, jogs, etc. to stay in (physical) shape.  He wants to stay in the race.  He does not want to sit on the bench.

6.     We must keep on soulwinning to stay in (spiritual) shape.   We must keep on going forward in the Christian life.

7.     Paul said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…” (9:27).  Let us never forget that the devil works through the flesh. The flesh is an ever-present hindrance as we run the race.

8.     This is why Paul kept his body under control.  He wanted the Holy Spirit to work through him, and he did not want his flesh to get in the way.

9.     Fleshly desires and temptations have turned many Christians into castaways (9:27).

III. STAY FAITHFUL TO THE END

1.     Most Christians would agree that the apostle Paul was the greatest Christian who ever lived.  He dominates the second part of the book of Acts.  He started many churches. He wrote 13 epistles.

2.     Yet even the great apostle Paul feared becoming a “castaway” (9:27).

3.     I should stress that Paul is not saying he was worried about going to hell.  The RCC teaches that no one can be absolutely certain that they are saved.  And they use Scriptures like this to insist that even the great apostle Paul had doubts about his salvation.

4.     The Bible certainly does not teach that Paul or any Christian should ever doubt his salvation (cf. Scofield’s notes and II Tim. 1:9-12).

5.     The word “castaway” means “disapproved.”  Paul was not worrying about going to hell, but he did not want to wind up sitting on a shelf.  He did not want to lose his reward (cf. II John 8).

6.     I know many preachers who are now castaways.   At one time they were greatly used by God but not now.   At one time they preached the Gospel with great power but now they are castaways. 

7.     I know many Christians who used to assemble with us on Sunday evenings but tonight they are not here.  Tonight they are engaged in some worldly activity.  They are castaways.

8.     You say, “That will never happen to me!”  Well then, you must be a better Christian than the apostle Paul (cf. I Cor. 10:12).

CONCLUSION:

1.     You may recall that during the World Cup final, a French soccer player was banned and suspended for head-butting an Italian player.   I have heard some people say that this was one of the reasons France lost the game.

2.     He was disqualified.  He was disapproved.  He is now a castaway.

3.     Paul did not want to be suspended.  Paul did not want to be disapproved or disqualified. He wanted to win the race.  He wanted to win the incorruptible crown.  He did not want to disappoint his Lord and Saviour.

4.     He did not want to be a castaway. 

5.     Let me encourage each and every person assembled here this evening to get in the race and stay the course.

6.     Tell the Lord you do not want to be a castaway.