Scared Of Being A Castaway?

‘But I keep UNDER MY BODY, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY’! (1cor 9:27)

Hmm… Many a time, I hear many people use the above verse to scare believers of the possibility of them losing their salvation!

Now listen carefully: when we fail to read a verse in CONTEXT….we then make the verse a PRETEXT….for a false doctrine!

When Paul said…‘Lest I should be a CASTAWAY’…he was NOT referring to salvation!!! Jesus said:

‘…and him that cometh to Me….I will IN NO WISE….CAST OUT’! (John 6:37)

Hmm… The day you became BORN AGAIN….God perfected your salvation…ONCE FOR ALL!!!

‘We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ…ONCE FOR ALL’ (heb 10:10)

Wait a minute! How many times do you perform a ‘ONCE FOR ALL’ process? Hmm… The Bible is so clear on the kind of redemption Jesus brought for us who believe in Him!

‘…but by His own blood,…He entered in ONCE into the holy place, …having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us’! (Heb 9:12)

Hmm…. I don’t know the type of ‘redemption’ you have…but as for me…my redemption is ETERNAL!!! Paul said:

‘I do not FRUSTRATE the Grace of God…for if RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY THE LAW….Christ DIED IN VAIN’! (Gal 2:21)

When you refuse to believe that righteousness is not by your behaviour…but you believe you must fulfil the Law in order to be righteous…then you are FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD!!!

Now listen carefully: when Paul said ‘…I keep under my body, …lest by any means…I myself should be a castaway’…he was referring to the PRIZE (or CROWNS) that God will REWARD Him for living a life full of GRACE!

In the context with which he made that statement, which is only 3 verses earlier, he said:

‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the PRIZE? So run, that ye may OBTAIN’! (1cor 9:24)

Paul was referring to the prize available to everyone who has been ALREADY saved!

Listen: You ‘may’ be disqualified from your CROWN…..but you cannot be disqualified from your SALVATION!!!

Hmm….

‘If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer LOSS: ….but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED;…yet so as by fire’. (1Cor 3:15)

The Bible is so clear on this matter! Salvation is NOT a reward!!! But there are REWARDS that accompany salvation!!! (Heb 6:9) What saved you INITIALLY….will also keep you ETERNALLY!!! Hmm…. GRACE saved you initially….GRACE will also keep you eternally! (Eph 2:5-6, Jude 1:24)

You shall know the TRUTH…and the TRUTH shall make you free!!!

Glory to Jesus!

Amen.