Run to Win

1. Take the “low” road, vss. 19-22.

As Christians we have the right to use our liberty and position in Christ to enjoy all that God has for us. As Christians we also have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the gospel with the unsaved and building up other Christians in the faith.

To do this calls for humility, sacrifice , and teamwork

Ephesians 4:1–16 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Paul continues to set himself as an example. He did not insist on using his rights as either an apostle or one who is free in Christ. Instead he deliberately made himself a slave to others so that he may win more. He placed himself in a role of service to others for the purpose that he may win more. How does he do this?

verse 20 - Though Paul did not not lose his Jewishness, he knew the triggers that would offend his Jewish brethren; Paul would not diminish the truth of the gospel but he would alter his own lifestyle so as not to cause a needless offense that would result in rejecting the gospel of Christ. His purpose in doing this was so that he might “win” Jews. The word translated “win” has the meaning of “to gain back”; the idea may be to win them back to the Lord.

The he dives a little deeper in how he serves those under the Law. In Christ Paul is not under the restrictions of the sacrificial law nor the ceremonial law. The Jews considered the Law to be a marker of who is one of God’s people. Paul is however under the civil, or moral law of God. Because Paul is a new creation in Christ, Paul cannot live as if the Law was a required marker one must have to be considered a member of God’s people. Paul’s marker is serving in love the Lord Jesus Christ; he seeks to gain back his brethren by lovingly sharing the gospel of God’s grace through the provision of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Verse 21—Paul’s concern is not to let cultural or other differences become a hindrance to the Gospel’s reception to those who were not Jewish. Yet he clarifies that he is under the law of Christ so that no one may accuse him of being an antinomian, that is without law. His desire is to “gain the Gentiles back” to God through placing their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul will not do what Christ would not do; he will not participate in idolatrous rites or celebratory meals in the temples of idols, even if he has the right to do so. This is the behavior that is required of all Christians to ensure that those who have fallen away were won back to Christ, to serve one another in love, willing to sacrifice our own rights for the sake of others.

The weak are those who have been suffering at the hands of those who considered themselves mature in faith. They were in danger of being led astray by the arrogant in the church. They were unsure of their standing before the Lord and His people. They were regarded by the arrogant ones as less than adequate believers, yet they have not flaunted their status. So Paul becomes like them (weak) for the sake of the gospel. He does so because if they are falling away to destruction, they need saving!

Paul will do whatever it takes, without disobeying the law of Christ, in order to gain people for Christ:

Paul will work at keeping in the community of faith those who seem to be driven out.

Paul will work at bringing in those new to the faith.

2. Remember the prize, vss. 23-25.

Paul has both lived and modeled the gospel, thereby exhibiting to the Corinthians (and others) his true covenantal status before the Lord.

Then Paul asks another rhetorical question, using an example the Corinthians would be familiar with and would illustrate the self-discipline he employs in order to gain the eternal prize. The port city of Corinth was within 10 miles of the popular Isthmian Games, held the year before and the year after the Olympic Games— twice every four years.

By Paul’s day, these games attracted competitors and spectators from the entire Roman Empire. The athletes strove to win the prize. Here is where Paul draws a striking contrast. The winners in the Isthmian games were given a wreath made up of pine, like this picture

or made up of celery. But Paul sought to discipline himself in order to win an imperishable prize.

Let’s think about a few comparisons here:

Calling oneself an athlete does not confirm your status as an athlete; saying you are an athlete does not guarantee any prize. What type of Christian are you?

Athletes seek to win a prize. Christians seek to win a prize too; a prize that is imperishable.

An athlete must not be overconfident in his ability at the expense of proper training. Christian, we do not arrive until we see Jesus face to face. While we are here, we must seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ so we can effectively and lovingly win others to Christ.

Prizes must be worked for. The way to the winner’s podium is hard, humbling painful and takes great sacrifice. So to is the Christian life; thank God that we do not have to do it on our own for the Spirit of God is with us and in us and the people of God are there to help each other complete our race, to win the prize.

We together are to run in such a way that we may all win. Win what? 1 Thess 2:19

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NASB95

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

The inheritance of eschatological glory in the presence of our Savior, obtained by all who complete the race, crossing the finish line.

3. The prize is worth hard, sacrificial work, vss. 26-27.

Is it worth it? Paul would say, “YES!”

Paul sets himself as an example. He never asks the Corinthians to do anything that he himself will not do;

Paul runs with the goal in mind, which guides all his actions.

Paul himself goes goes further than others in his discipline to be marked out by his humble love for God and others

If one wants to win, he will need to discipline (“enslave”) oneself to the task.

Can we face disqualification for greater service to Christ? The Elitist Corinthian believers, the arrogant ones, by causing their weaker brethren to stumble and so be “destroyed” in their faith were in danger of being “disqualified.”

Paul will give another example in the next chapter: The first generation of the Exodus from Egypt.