Young Adults' Group

Winning The Race Of Faith

by Pastor Mark
July 14, 2016

Running the race of faith

At YAG, we have been learning about running the race of faith. The challenge was given that we should learn to lay aside every weight and the sin which easily ensnares us and to run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Heb 12:1, 2) This was a challenge that was also given to the Corinthian church…that they should run the race of faith. But what was the context in which the Apostle Paul gave this challenge to the brethren at Corinth?

The context of the Corinthian church

In his epistle to the Corinthian church, Paul reveals to us the context of what the church was like. There were a number of issues that were plaguing the church.

1. There was division among the brethren (1 Cor 1:10)
2. They were carnal in their ways (1 Cor 3:1)
3. They were suing each other (1 Cor 6:1)
4. There were marriage problems also (1 Cor 7)

These were but some of the sins and problems that affected the church. The brethren were being brought down by these weights and sins. They became caught up and distracted by them. Paul sought to give to the brethren a challenge to run the race of faith well.

The strategy of winning the race

In this spiritual race of faith, everyone can be a winner. If we run the race well, we would be able to obtain the prize also. (1 Cor 9:24) Every athlete must have a strategy that will help them win the race. Paul provided his own winning strategy for the brethren.

1. Self-control…“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.” (1 Cor 9:25) The word “temperate” in Greek means “self-restrain, self-control”. The brethren should control themselves. Let us be challenged to run with self-control in all things.

2. Certainty…“Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” (1 Cor 9:26) The word “uncertainty” means “to be without a goal”. Paul ran with certainty of his goal which is to win the prize. Paul then changed the analogy of himself to a fighter who must be focused in the way he fights. Let us be challenged to have certainty and focus in our faith and not to be distracted.

3. Discipline…“But I discipline my body and bring itinto subjection,” (1 Cor 9:27) The word “discipline” in Greek is “hupópiazó” which means “to beat beneath the eye”. It is to give a black eye. We need to beat our body into submission…that it becomes enslaved by us. Let us be challenged to discipline our body and bring it into subjection. Let us be challenged to follow these winning ways in running our race.

Finishing the race well

The Apostle Paul also proved for us that he was personally able to run the race well. He wrote towards the end of his life to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) He used the same two analogies…that he had fought a good fight and have finished the race which symbolised him keeping the faith. Let us be challenged to finish our race well by keeping the faith.

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