The Mission

The Race Where Everyone Can Win

In the Christian warfare, no one who complies with the conditions will be disappointed at the end of the race. The weakest believer, as well as the strongest, may wear the crown of immortal glory. Too often people look on the principles laid down in God’s Word as unimportant—too trivial to demand attention. But nothing is small that will help or hinder. And the reward given to those who win will be proportional to the energy and earnestness they have put into the effort. 4TC 163.3

The apostle compared himself to a man running in a race, straining every nerve to win. “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty,” he says. “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” The words, “I discipline my body,” literally mean to beat back the desires, impulses, and passions by severe discipline. 4TC 163.4

Paul realized that his conversation, his influence, his refusal to yield to self-gratification, must show that his religion was not just empty talk but a daily, living connection with God. One goal he always tried earnestly to reach was “the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). 4TC 163.5

Paul realized his need of putting a strict guard on himself, so that earthly desires might not overcome his spiritual zeal. He continued to battle against his natural inclinations. His words, his practices, his passions—he brought them all under the control of the Spirit of God. 4TC 164.1

Paul knew that the Corinthian believers had a life struggle ahead of them, from which they would have no release. He pleaded with them to put aside every weight and press onward to the goal of perfection in Christ. 4TC 164.2

He reminded them of the miraculous way in which God led the Hebrews from Egypt—He brought them through the Red Sea, while the Egyptians, trying to cross in the same way, were all drowned. Israel “all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” The Hebrews had Christ as leader. The rock that Moses struck represented Him, wounded for our transgressions so that the stream of salvation could flow to everyone. 4TC 164.3

Yet, because of the Hebrews’ craving for the luxuries left behind in Egypt, and because of their rebellion, God’s judgments came on them. “Now these things occurred as examples for us,” the apostle wrote, “so that we might not desire evil as they did” (NRSV). Their love of ease and pleasure had prepared the way for sins that brought the vengeance of God on them. When the Israelites sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play, they threw off the fear of God. They made a golden calf and worshiped it. And it was after a luxurious feast connected with the worship of Baal-peor that many Hebrews gave in to sexual sins. The anger of God was stirred, and 23,000 died by the plague in one day. 4TC 164.4

If the Corinthians became boastful and self-confident, they would fall into terrible sin. Yet Paul gave them the assurance: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 4TC 164.5

Paul urged the believers to do nothing, no matter how innocent, that would seem to approve of idolatry or offend those who might be weak in the faith. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.” 4TC 165.1

The apostle’s words apply especially to our day. By idolatry he meant not only the worship of idols, but self-serving, love of ease, the gratifying of appetite and passion. A religion that treats self-indulgence lightly is not the religion of Christ. 4TC 165.2

By comparing the church with the human body, the apostle illustrated the close relationship that should exist among all members of the church. “The body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. ... But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. ... God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (NRSV). 4TC 165.3