SERMON: “Competing for the Sake of the Gospel” (1 Cor. 9:24–27)
“Competing for the Sake of the Gospel” (1 Cor. 9:24–27)
Series: “1 Cor: Holiness from Messes” #33 Text: 1
Corinthians 9:24–27
By: Shaun Marksbury Date: Aug. 9, 2026
Venue: Living Water Baptist Church Occasion: AM Service
Introduction
This introduces one of the most hated concepts for some
people — discipline. Perhaps our kids
only think of discipline only in negative terms, such as punishment. However, when a parent “disciplines” a child,
the goal is for the child to learn to practice discipline in life.
Yet, some grown Christians hate this concept, as well. Growth in the Christian life — progressive
sanctification — comes by the power of God through being led by the Spirit of
God, and we don’t want to teach that you become holier by personal effort. However, that growth will not come to those
who are unwilling to apply the work of God to their lives. While the energy we need to exert ourselves
comes by the Holy Spirit, we must also work out our salvation.
In other words, Christians must walk by faith that God is
giving them the strength and ability to bear fruit by actively disciplining
themselves in righteousness.
This kind of self-control is what Paul demonstrates in this
passage. Remember, Paul warns the
Corinthians not to let their freedom become a stumbling block to the weak (1
Cor. 8:9–9:27). He then spends chapter 9
defending his apostolic rights — his freedom to eat, drink, and receive
financial support. But here’s the pivot:
he declares he will never eat meat again if it causes his brother to stumble (8:13)!
He demonstrates that mindset in two ways. First, he talks about setting aside those
rights for the sake of the gospel, and we could consider that with vv. 15–23 of
chapter nine. Verses 24–27 also function
as Paul’s personal example of this principle, but he now uses sporting
analogies to illustrate this point in his own life.
In these verses, Paul disciplines himself with the same
intensity an athlete shows, not for personal glory but to maintain credibility
in his ministry. Similarly, all
Christians should see themselves in a competition for the sake of the gospel,
limiting or disciplining ourselves for the sake of others, and we’ll note three
ways we should “compete.” First, we
should compete to win, not entering the race with no expectation of victory
(vv. 24–25). Second, we should compete
with focus, knowing what our goals are (vv. 26–27a). Third, we should compete in integrity, not in
any way disqualifying ourselves (vv. 27b).
Let’s see how we run and fight as Christians.
First, Compete to Win (vv. 24–25)
Do you not know
that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes in the games
exercises self-control in all things.
They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
Paul opens with the obvious reality that in a race, only one
person wins the prize. This leads him to
call Christians to compete to win, something we may not always think about in
the Christian life. He calls us to
engage with purpose and perseverance for the sake of what’s eternal.
Let’s begin by considering the historical context. The term that
Paul uses here of running in a race is the same word from which we get
“stadium.” This is technically referring
to a fixed distance of 606¾ feet, and “most of the Greek cities had
race-courses for runners like that at Olympia.”[1] This is no different in Corinth, and the
Christians there would have seen the structure almost daily in the city.
Remember that Corinth was a
popular city, and one of the reasons for that was because of the biennial
Isthmian games, which were “second in fame
only to the Olympic games.”[2] It drew thousands of visitors every other
year, and though the religious Jews in Judea were against the games, some of
the Hellenized Jews living in Corinth may have been regular spectators.[3] It’s very likely many of the Corinthian
Christians, many of whom were Gentiles, had been to the stadium to see the
races and other games there.
It’s also possible that Paul attended
these games. He seems to describe them
in detail, and he may have seen his freedom in Christ as permitting him a seat
at the stadium. At the very least, since
Paul was a tentmaker, he probably made some of the tents that spectators and
athletes used, and had the opportunity to talk to them about the games while
conducting business.[4]
Corinth would have been teeming with
activity, and it’s hard to believe any Corinthian would be unaware of the
games. In any event, again, it’s obvious
that only one person wins the prize in a race.
What isn’t so obvious is that all Christians are in a race, and Paul
calls us to recognize that.
This is not the only place we see
this metaphor. After reading about the
great “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11, the next chapter opens (12:1–2),
Therefore,
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every
weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Christians are running a race, but
there are weights and sins that get in the way.
We get tangled up, tired, and we stray from the right path. We forget that we’re following in the
footsteps of Jesus Christ Himself, who ran the race well and gave us the
example.
Paul calls us similarly here to run
“in such a way that you may win.” Now,
we have to remember that this is a metaphor, an image with limitations. If we take this too literally, we might think
that we are running a race against other Christians, and only one of us will
get the victory. It’s sad that some
Christians do act as though they’re in competition with others as to who can
check all the right boxes, and it’s even sadder to see pastors who seem
threatened by others. We’re not in
competition with one another!
Perhaps a more helpful image might be
of team sports, but they didn’t quite have those back then as we think of them.[5] Instead of thinking of competing against
others, think of competing against oneself.
That’s ultimately where Paul is going with this — and we must beat
ourselves!
We should clarify something
else. In races, there are winners and
losers, and we might get the idea from this metaphor that failing means losing
salvation. As one commentary notes, we
can’t
miss
out on the prize, because ‘the crown of righteousness’ awaits ‘all who have
loved his appearing’ — i.e. all whose
goal in life is to know Christ and who are pressing forward for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ. In the
contests in the athletic stadium at Corinth, only one person received the
actual prize. In the Christian race,
rewards are not additional to the gospel, but integral to it: but running does
not automatically assure winning. Both
perseverance and self-discipline are needed.”[6]
This is really the aspect of the race
drawing Paul’s focus. In v. 25, the term
he uses for those who compete is ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai), meaning to
“strive,” “struggle,” or “contend” — the term from which we get “agonize.” Athletes “agonize” by exercising self-control
“in all things.”
What does he mean by this? Usually, people engaged in a lengthy training
regiment that included an “oath that they did not have sexual intercourse, eat
meat, or drink wine for ten months prior to the games.”[7] Interestingly, sex and diet are the very
issues that Paul addresses with the Corinthian Christians!
Christians need self-control in all
things. Paul seems to be suggesting,
then, that they’ve grown “spiritually flabby.”[8] Remember, self-control is a fruit of the Holy
Spirit (Gal. 5:23), so they are not walking according to the Spirit but
according to the flesh. In holding
tightly to their liberties, they were obeying the desires of the flesh over the
Spirit, and they were losing the race.[9]
There is a “prize” for running. These completers (who were not professional
athletes as we think of them, but simply those investing for the opportunity of
competition) put in this effort for a wreath of shaped greenery, perhaps pine
leaves[10] worn on their
heads. Ultimately, this wreath would dry
out and perish, just like the memory of the victory.
The prize for Christians isn’t a corruptible crown — it’s an
incorruptible one. It’s life
eternal. It’s “the
resurrection of the dead and the presence of Christ.”[11] This is a crown that the Lord Jesus Himself
will award us. But, while all Christians
receive eternal life, there are certain aspects of the eternal rewards we’ll
receive which are dependent on discipline and self-control.[12]
So, let’s not be out-of-shape
spiritually. Let’s seek to win the lost.[13] Let’s prepare ourselves to compete with
focus, bringing us to the next point.
Second, Compete with Focus (vv. 26–27a)
Therefore I run in
such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
but I discipline my body and make it my slave,
Paul shifts here to first person, showing that this isn’t
just a rule for others. He personally
practiced these principles. He’s not
running around, aimlessly engaging in missions work. He’s also seeking to ensure that every action
serves his mission, so he models extreme personal discipline for his readers to
emulate.
The first metaphor for the games Paul uses here continues
the image of running. Paul sees himself
running, just like everyone else. Yet,
he says he is not running “without aim,” which is just a fancy way of saying he
has an aim in sight while running. He
isn’t running “uncertainly;” he knows which direction he’s going, which is more
than he can say for other Christians.[14] He’s trying to win the lost, a goal he has
mentioned four times here.[15]
Paul then switches to a different competition: boxing. He doesn’t seem to support a pietistic or
passivistic position of never engaging in violence, a position that would have
been against God’s commands for Old Testament Israel. He seemed to have seen these bouts, and even
if he hadn’t, he knew enough about them to talk knowledgably about them. He certainly didn’t have scruples about using
them as an illustration of the Christian life.
While Christians certainly shouldn’t be pugnacious or aggressive, that
doesn’t mean that must fear all usage and mention of violence. And the Apostle Paul now describes his life
not just as one of running to win but also boxing with a purpose.
There is a question as to whether this refers to an actual
boxing match or to training exercises.
If this refers to a match, he’s saying he is trying to make every move
count. If this refers to training, he is
saying that he doesn’t merely shadowbox by stepping into the ring. Since the context is purposefulness in
everything and competing to win, it seems that Paul means the former, not the
latter. This is supported by the fact
that this term can refer to boxers who are unskilled and miss.[16] Paul isn’t swinging wildly in his matches, but
is instead trying to make every blow count.
This is something I’ve learned first-hand by getting back
into martial arts in my mid-forties!
Every punch and kick is physically exertive, much more than it seemed to
be when I was in my teens, especially because of years without any training or
dietary discipline. Add to that my
relative newness to this altitude, and I simply lack reserves for stamina. It is so much more important for me to plan
each movement in a match, because if I swing wildly, I’ll run out of gas. I must have a purpose in each movement, as do
we all as we compete.
So, in v. 27, he says he disciplines or “bruises” his
body. This
is telling us to focus on the true opponent: ourselves. Here, Paul is motivated with unbelievers
taking offense to the gospel message, and the illustration of this verse sums
up the theme of not abusing personal authority in this chapter. Sin is within the body, so this is where
discipline must occur.
The ascetics may have listened closely to this point,
thinking that Paul is justifying their harsh treatment of their bodies. However, Paul is talking about self-denial
for the sake of the gospel. Those who
try to make themselves “holier” in the eyes of God deny the gospel of
Christ. It is important that we deny sin
in our lives, but we do that from a place of security in Christ. Moreover, the actual target here isn’t the
body itself as much as it is human nature.
This is what he is trying to gain mastery
over. As one commentary notes, “He did not see his body as evil, but
he recognized that our bodies can be ‘presented’ either to sin ‘as instruments
of wickedness’, or to God ‘as instruments of righteousness’.”[17]
He said in v. 19 that he made himself
a slave to all, and in this verse, he says he makes his body his slave. As he says in Romans 8:13, “for if you are
living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are
putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.” We must be killing sin, or sin will be
killing us.
Another
commentary puts it this way:
Most people,
including many Christians, are instead slaves to their bodies. Their bodies tell their minds what to do. Their bodies decide when to eat, what to eat,
how much to eat, when to sleep and get up, and so on. An athlete cannot allow that. He follows the training rules, not his body. He runs when he would rather be resting, he
eats a balanced meal when he would rather have a chocolate sundae, he goes to
bed when he would rather stay up, and he gets up early to train when he would
rather stay in bed. An athlete leads his
body; he does not follow it. It is his
slave, not the other way around.[18]
If we give into temptations, then we are not in
control. Our emotions and our desires
rule us. Our sins reign supreme. And, if we name the name of Christ, we will
besmirch the holiness of message. That
brings me to the final point:
Third, Compete in Integrity (vv. 27b)
so that, after I
have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Paul concludes by explaining why he’s putting himself
through all of this. His self-discipline
obviously isn’t for personal achievement through literal competition — it’s for
the sake of the gospel. What if the
people he’s trying to reach see him cutting corners and not living up to the
high standard of the message?
Some have thought that maybe Paul is using another metaphor
here, that of the herald who announced the games. However, because he talks about being
disqualified like an athlete might be, that seems like a bit of a stretch. Instead, he’s tying his athletic metaphor
back to the purpose of this section. He
wants his gospel message to be effective, and a lack of self-control would
disqualify him and tarnish the message he delivered to others.
So, he’s not talking about being disqualified from eternal
life or loss of salvation here.[19] Yet, some who wanted to compete were
disqualified by the judges, and Paul didn’t want that to be the case of those
he was agonizing to reach.[20] It may even be that disqualification means
God would discipline us by removing us from life.[21]
There are many bad ministers of the gospel who disqualify
themselves. But, there are also
seemingly good ones who do the same. It
still breaks my heart to see some names on my bookshelf and know I can’t
recommend their materials anymore. And
it’s a reminder to watch my own life and doctrine carefully. I hope you are doing the same.
Conclusion
We need to practice what we preach! Hopefully, those in ministry are doing this
so that they do not fall like others have.
But, it doesn’t matter if you’re actively in ministry right now; there
are unbelievers watching you to see if the message of the cross makes a
difference. If we disqualify ourselves,
we might still have eternal life, but we might keep others from that same life
if they see and reject the grace of God as a result.
We are in a spectator race.
We are in a televised match. Let
us discipline our own flesh so that we can compete to win for the sake of the
gospel!
[1] A. T. Robertson, Word
Pictures in the New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 1 Co
9:24.
[2] J. I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, and Ajith Fernando, Eds., ESV Global Study Bible, (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway, 2012), 1617.
[3] Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The
Pillar New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 435–436.
[4] Ibid., 436.
[5] Ibid., 438.
[6] David Prior, The
Message of 1 Corinthians: Life in the Local Church, The Bible Speaks Today,
(Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 163.
[7] Andrew David Naselli, Romans–Galatians, 2020, X, 301.
[8] Prior, 162–163.
[9] John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (Chicago: Moody
Press, 1984), 214.
[10] Robertson, 1 Co 9:25.
[11] John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael
S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R.
Grigoni, and David Bomar, Faithlife Study
Bible, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 1 Co 9:24.
[12] MacArthur, 215.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ciampa and Rosner, 440.
[15] John MacArthur Jr., Ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed., (Nashville, TN: Word
Pub., 1997), 1742.
[16] Naselli, 302.
[17] Prior, 164.
[18] MacArthur, 1
Corinthians.
[19] F. Alan Tomlinson, CSB
Study Bible: Notes, 2017, 1825.
[20] Barry, et. al., 1 Co 9:27.
[21] David K. Lowery, The
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 2, 525.