PAUL DISQUALIFIED?🤔

And alas we have come to end of the series on misinterpreted scriptures pertaining to our salvation in Christ Jesus. We close the chapter with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 9:27:

But I keep my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

I struggled with this scripture for such a long time, because a ‘castaway’ didn’t sound like a joke. Paul himself, after having taught extensively on Christ keeping us, being sealed by the Holy Spirit for the final day, being seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, Christ interceding permanently for us, the hope of resurrection for the believer etc, now appeared to be saying that if he was not careful, he could find himself in hell. The chapter that followed [ch. 10] made it worse, as Paul talked about the Israelites and how many of them perished for their sins even though all of them had eaten the same spiritual food, drank the same spiritual water and had the same spiritual Rock walk with them. In all transparency, this piece has been on hold for some weeks now, because I could not reconcile the meaning of 9:27 [which I was 100% certain about] with Chapter 10. It wasn’t until yesterday that I received understanding into Chapter 10. And I’m happy to share with you! 🥰🤗

In Chapter 9 in which Paul concluded with disciplining his body, he had been talking about his work as an Apostle. He’d talked about being all things to all men that by all means some may be saved. This was his conclusion:

I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 9:23 -27

Paul was not talking about salvation! He could not have been, not when he was talking about winning a prize, after teaching that salvation was a gift we received by grace; not after coming down hard on the ‘foolish’ Galatians for trying to attain righteousness on their own after Christ had saved them. [Read about it here]. Paul was talking about running the Christian race to win! He himself, as an example, had just said he wanted to share in the blessings of the gospel. He was writing to believers who were plagued with massive temptation. Corinth  was a hub for business. The moral fibre of  the town had fallen below the standard of even pagans [1 Cor. 5:1]. So Paul reminded them; Fam! Do you realize after being saved, it doesn’t end there? You’re running a race! In spite of the many hurdles, run to win it! I myself want to win an eternal prize, so like an athlete, I train my body to run well! I do that so that after I have encouraged you to run this race well, I myself will not be disqualified from also winning a prize!He told the believers in Philippi the same thing. In Philippians 3:14, he told them: I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Hebrews 12:1 says: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up [temptations]. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

In Chapter 10 that followed, Paul talks about the Israelites’ idolatry and lust and sin and reminded them that many of them died as a result. The verse 12 used to be even more confusing to me when it said let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. This used to conclude the matter for me, that a believer could end up in hell, especially those who were too sure of themselves! [look at the buffoonery!😅] Verses 11 and 12 have always been in the text, but it was only yesterday the scales fell off my eyes! The AMP reads:

Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax. v. 11

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall [into sin] v. 12

It made all the more sense why Paul continues in verse 13: No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

These scriptures have never been about heaven or hell or falling from eternal life to eternal damnation! You can be disqualified from gaining an eternal prize. 1 Corinthians 3 likens a believer’s walk to a building. The foundation is Christ [your faith], but some build with gold, silver, expensive stone. Others build with wood, straw and hay. All these will pass through fire, and in 3:15 [AMP], Paul explains: ‘If any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.’

Dear believer, you have already moved from condemnation to life! Jesus said it Himself in John 5:24. God is not a liar. You cannot win your salvation as a reward for running. Then Christ’s work was useless, like Paul told the Galatians [5:2]. As we close this series on the perfect work of salvation God does in a man [Aww I’ll miss you 😪 I feel as though I’m going away😂], I’d like to encourage you: Be confident in God’s work that He has done and is doing in you! Live in the joy of eternal salvation! Enjoy God to the fullest, knowing that His forgiveness is eternal and effective! Let it break you free from condemnation. The only work condemnation does in you is to keep you running away from God, when Hebrews 4:15 rather says because He Himself was tempted in every way, He is not insensitive to our weaknesses, and calls you to come closer, that He can fix you till you get to the place where you can overcome! Remind yourself as often as necessary, ‘I am sanctified! I am anointed! I am a saint! God is doing a daily work in me! And I will overcome!‘

I pray with all of my heart that you believe this truth and walk in the joy it brings! If this is your first piece, welcome to the Last supper! You have missed a lot! But I got you covered 😉 Check out: Double Jeopardy, We’re Not All Sinners, You Cannot ‘Work Out’ Your Salvation, Depart From Me Or Not?, The Hebrews 10 Confusion and You Have Fallen From Grace! Till next time,

Love,

⭐ RAD! ⭐