9.72 But I discipline my body and bring it to subjection
If dying to self in the New Covenant is to have faith in Jesus (to see yourself crucified with Him), then where is the role of discipline? It sounds too simple, you may say. If we don’t have to put our old nature under, then why does Paul talk about disciplining his body? Many people still want to wrestle within themselves.
Let us refer to the verse where Paul talks about disciplining his body, to read it in its context.
(1 Cor 9:26-27)
Therefore I RUN thus: not with uncertainty. 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.
Paul talks about running not with uncertainty, but the certainty of faith. When the Bible talks about running a race, it refers to the race of faith.
(2 Tim 4:7)
Fight the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
(Hebrews 12:1-12)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
Paul talks about fighting not as one who beats the air, but as one who disciplines his body. What fight is Paul referring to? It is the fight of faith.
(1 Tim 6:12)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
What is Paul’s motivation to want to be disciplined to run the race and to fight the fight of faith? It is his faith in Jesus – the author and finisher of faith.
When we believe our new identity in Christ and when we believe our calling in Christ, we experience a sense of discipline to want to finish the race. But when we lack faith, and we try to discipline ourselves to make up for that lack of faith, we wont get anywhere.
Today, when we talk about discipline, know that there is a powerful discipline that comes through faith. This is the faith that caused Paul to labor more abundantly than the rest. Faith is a powerful force.
Let us refer to the verse where Paul talks about disciplining his body, to read it in its context.
(1 Cor 9:26-27)
Therefore I RUN thus: not with uncertainty. 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.
Paul talks about running not with uncertainty, but the certainty of faith. When the Bible talks about running a race, it refers to the race of faith.
(2 Tim 4:7)
Fight the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
(Hebrews 12:1-12)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
Paul talks about fighting not as one who beats the air, but as one who disciplines his body. What fight is Paul referring to? It is the fight of faith.
(1 Tim 6:12)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
What is Paul’s motivation to want to be disciplined to run the race and to fight the fight of faith? It is his faith in Jesus – the author and finisher of faith.
When we believe our new identity in Christ and when we believe our calling in Christ, we experience a sense of discipline to want to finish the race. But when we lack faith, and we try to discipline ourselves to make up for that lack of faith, we wont get anywhere.
Today, when we talk about discipline, know that there is a powerful discipline that comes through faith. This is the faith that caused Paul to labor more abundantly than the rest. Faith is a powerful force.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:22 PM
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