The Most Important Race

1. “1:Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a could of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” (Heb. 12: 1, 2). ”13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phili. 3: 13, 14). The Most Important Race “24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27: 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” (I Cor. 9).

2. “1:Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a could of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” (Heb. 12: 1, 2). The Most Important Race

3. The Most Important Race “24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27: 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” (I Cor. 9).

4. The Most Important Race ”13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phili. 3: 13, 14).

5. The Most Important Race “There is here an allusion to the Isthmian games, which took place very second year, at a place on the seacoast about nine miles from Corinth….They were the greatest of the national gatherings; and even when one State was at war with another, hostilities were suspended….At the beginning of the festival, they were required to prove to the judges that they were of pure Greek blood, and had not forfeited by misconduct the right of citizenship….The race…was to the Greeks one-half of the human education….” (A commentary on the New Testament Epistles by David Lipscomb, pg. 137, 138, comments on I Corinthians 9: 24-27).

6. The Most Important Race They had to be Pure blood/citizenship (I John 3: 10, 2 Thes. 3: 6). Had to prove to judges (cp. Acts 9: 26, 27). Lay aside every weight (Heb. 12: 1). Too much emphasis on sports, even today (I Tim. 4: 8). Preliminaries

7. The Most Important Race Had to run (I Cor. 9: 24, 26; Heb. 12: 1). Run with patience (Heb. 12: 1). Reach forth (Phili. 3: 13). Forget things behind (Phili. 3: 13). Practice temperance (I Cor. 9: 25). Run with certainty (I Cor. 9: 26). Look to Jesus (Heb. 12: 1, 2). Abide by rules (2 Tim. 2: 5). Requirements

8. The Most Important Race Add to the word of God or take away from it (Rev. 22: 18, 19, Gal. 1: 6-9). Violating the rules – 2 Timothy 2: 5!

9. The Most Important Race An incorruptible (I Cor. 9: 25). A corruptible crown (I Cor. 9: 25).