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All Run, But Only One Wins
Who? (1 Cor.
9:24)
19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under
bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 20And to the Jews I
became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as
under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are
under the law; 21to them that are without law, as without law, not
being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that
are without law. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the
weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23And
I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. 24Know
ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth
the prize? Even so run;
that ye may attain. 25And every man that striveth
in the games exerciseth self-control in all things.
Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I
therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27but
I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I
have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
A. Who
are the runners?
1. Those who love the Lord & His truth
(Matt. 22:37; John 14:15-21,23).
2. Those who love the brotherhood
(1 Pet.2:17; 1 Cor. 13:1-7; 1 Jno. 2:10-11).
3. Those who "obey the gospel"
(Mk. 16:16; 2 Thess.
1:6-9; 1 Pet. 1:22..)
4. Those who continue in the
faith
(Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6-13; Rev.
2:10).
5. Those who attempt to bring
others to Christ
(2 Tim. 2:1-2; Heb. 5:12-14;
Acts 8:4).
6. Those who
walk according to truth
(1Jno. 1;6-7; 3 Jno. 4;