The Race Set Before Us

I. Paul, running the race:

Let look at what Paul is dealing with in the first Epistle to the Corinthians:

The problem of factions which starts around 1:10 and moves through 4:21. Our main text deals with the Christian life and Paul is dealing with the Christian life throughout Corinthians. The problems of the Christian life. So we are going to look at a few.

1 Cor 1:11-17 “11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

The issue of picking Elitism, that you are of a better school, or a better back ground.

It creates bad competitiveness within the church.

Not only that but it begins to pit the leaders against one another.

No only was Paul dealing with carnal Christians and them picking favorites, they were questioning Paul’s authority as well.

I am going through this so that you can see that Paul, like you, has to deal with real life issues and problems.

2 cor 10.7-10 “7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

Understand what is going on here is that the Corinthians are judging not only Paul’s appearance, but they are questioning his Apostolic authority.

That helps build some context for this next verse in terms of what is going on in Paul’s head as he is responding to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 2:1-5 “1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul is saying that the ministry is done by empowering of the Holy Spirit and preaching the Gospel.

Paul then has to address Moral issues within the church starting at 5:1 and moving through 6:20

Look a 1 Cor 5:1-5 “1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul is getting at them about doing immoral things that even the Pagans weren’t doings

Paul then has to address the issues of marriage, divorce and singleness as a calling in Chapter 7

Then in chapter 8 Paul is dealing with food sacrificed to Idols and continues through chapter 11. Look at 1 Cor 8:1-7 “1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”

There were those within the church who were acting as though they were more moral then everyone else.

Factions and elitism

Moral issues within the church

Marriage, divorce, singleness

Eating food sacrificed to idols and it leading to moral elitism.

Proper attire and how to dress , chapter 11

How to conduct the Lord’s supper, chapter 11

Turn to 1 Cor 11:17-22 “17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”

So Paul is dealing with a church that is Carnal, babes in Christ, and just a mess. When you do ministry, your going to be dealing with all of these same issues. Carnal Christians.

Christians have problems like anyone else. So I want to look at three specific things that Paul uses to help draw some analogies and helpful advice for how to live this Christian life.

Paul uses three analogies, which is used to liken one thing another thing because they have similar characteristics and help in understanding. That doesn’t mean they are the exact same thing but rather by understanding one it helps you understand another.

Paul likens the Christian faith to that of a athlete:

1 Cor 9:24-27 “24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And 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. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But 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.”

However, we are going to take a quick pause and talk about the prize. In other words what is the point?

First, turn to Philippians:

Turn to Phil 3:13-14 “13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

So we are striving for the High Calling of Jesus Christ

Spurgeon says this:

“

THE very high value that the apostle Paul set upon the Saviour, is most palpable when he speaks of winning him. This shows that the Saviour held the same place in Paul’s esteem as the crown did in the esteem of the runner at the Olympic games.

So Paul, regarding Christ as more glorious and excellent than mountains of prey, considered such a prize to be worth all the fighting, even though he should agonize and sweat with blood. He would be well worth dying to win.

I would to God that you all felt the same. I wish that the ambition of every one of my fellow-creatures here assembled—and, indeed, the wide world over,—were this, that they might win Christ. Oh, if they did but know his preciousness; if they did but understand how happy and how blessed he makes those to be who gain him, they, too, would give up everything else for this one desire,—that they may win Christ. I hope that, perhaps, a few words of mine may be blessed of God the Spirit to stir up such a desire in the hearts of the congregation now assembled here. How then shall I begin?

C. H. Spurgeon, “The Priceless Prize,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 56 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1910), 373–374.”

First we are not speaking here of salvation. We are speaking about the sanctification of the Christian life toward Holy living.

Some would take verse 27 as teaching that you can be disqualified and lose your salvation, but this is not the case. Again we are referring to sanctification and not salvation. You get those two mixed up and you are in a world of trouble.

The prize, the thing that we are striving for is Jesus Christ. The High calling.

The goal is do the will of Jesus Christ in your life.

How is the Christian life likened to that of an athlete.

Stay in your lane

Look at Heb 12:1-3 “1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, “

Not others race, the race before us

Look at John 21:21-22 “21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”

Stay in your lane, focus on what God has told you to do.

Turn to Gal 5.7 “7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth

Strive lawfully - In training

Strive lawfully 2 Tim 2:5 “5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” If you don’t run the race right, you don’t get the crown.

Stay focused, you can’t do everything

Matt 6.33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Eph 4.14 “14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Likened to a soldier

2 Tim 2:1-5 “1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

First you must endure hardness

Notice verse 3: Endure hardness.

We are to endure persecution

We are endure tribulations

Notice verse 4: Don’t get Entangles with the affairs of this life.

You are to be concerned with the things of Jesus Christ

Take on the armor of God, look at

Eph 6.13 “13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

As a soldier - Do you view your Christian life as a life and death consequence to not doing it well?

Do you train, and take your Christian training as though lives depend upon it?

They do, they do, they do depend upon it.

Also to a farmer, 2 Tim 2:6-8

2 Timothy 2:6–8 KJV 1900

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

It is likened to a farmer in that when we witness, we are putting out seed.

Turn to Luke 8.5 “5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.”

2. It will be hard work

Luke 9.62 “62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

3. It must be done correctly

Look at Isaiah 28:24-29 “24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? 25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, Doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, And cast in the principal wheat And the appointed barley and the rie in their place? 26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. 27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, Neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; But the fitches are beaten out with a staff, And the cummin with a rod. 28 Bread corn is bruised; Because he will not ever be threshing it, Nor break it with the wheel of his cart, Nor bruise it with his horsemen. 29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, Which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.”

4. You can’t be lazy - it will take hard work.

Prov 20.4 “4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”