From: Dana Fitz-Randolph [mailto:sheckie2@msn.

com]
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 11:11 AM
To: bob@biblicalanswers.com

Subject: Castaway

Dear Bob,
Could you give me your thoughts on what Paul is saying in 1Cor.9:27?Some think that he is talking about loss
of salvation which I disagree.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

When we read your passage in its context, we see it isn’t talking about salvation at all. It is talking about the
prize. 1 Co 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in
such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” The word disqualified is
adokimo", the opposite of approved in 2 Ti 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Paul wanted that prize, and he got it,
according to 2 Ti 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is
at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up
for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to
me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

When Paul was writing to the Corinthians in the same book, a few chapters earlier, he showed that they would
be saved even if all their works were burned up: 1 Co 3:8-15 Now he who plants and he who waters are one,
and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you
are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise
master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on
it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone
builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become
clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of
what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s
work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

In Christ,
Bob