Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

1Cor.9:25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 9:26 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air, 9:27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

Is the apostle Paul here contradicting himself? Paul states else where a serve treatment of the body is of no value at all in Christ than he also states those in the flesh cannot please God. Moreover, no one preached any louder and longer than Paul himself when it came to works of law. This is a quandary, Paul in the same letter teaches that if our works are not build upon Christ they would be destroyed as if by fire, but we ourselves would be saved, so what is the context of these verses which seem to contradict Paul himself?

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Specifically, Paul is defending his ministry, but why must he defend his ministry? It is because the Corinthian's are looking at the flesh, what flesh? Teachers flesh, which is bring them under control of laws completed in Christ, into works of law. There is a course each anointed Christian's must follow that course is being lead by the Holy Spirit in Christ, which means being under Christ headship by faith. Faith as will as self-control are fruit of Holy Spirit found in Christ and given to the body as gifts.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

If one does not stay in faith they are not in Christ under the head of the body whom won the race of life for us. However, Paul talks about his personal ministry here, his own conscience in Christ towards his ministry. Who would Paul be rejected by, YHWH, Christ, or man? Paul ministry would be rejected by men as of no value if he did not control his life's minister of the Good News just as the fleshly Corinthian's were doing here, that is, being fleshly and having to be corrected in their flesh by Paul defending his ministry.

1Cor. 1:12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ."
1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

2 Corinthians 11:17 That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

What Paul is not saying that a person wins the incorruptible crown of life by works of law, that is, obeying rules of law by men, religion or even the law. Paul is making a fleshly comparison so the Corinthian could understand why Paul conducted his ministry which was being challenge by fleshly teachers. Paul did not judge himself, nor make judgments about eternal life as a member of the body of Christ knowing as he did such fleshly judgments were not in his jurisdiction, for he himself was declared righteous without sin through Christ completing his own judgment.

1Cor. 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Moreover, Paul understood and taught tirelessly that the flesh is dead in Christ, meaning its judgment was dead, the flesh being of no value at all in combating fleshly desires. In other words, works of law do not combat the lust of the flesh making it righteous, what does declare us righteous is the removal of our judgment of our flesh, by its death, accounting it as dead in Christ, so we can be declared righteous by what Christ did for us in winning the race of life as the sinless lamb of God.

Colossians 2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Hence, Paul is stating what does my ministry look like to the flesh? If its of any value to the world it must be worth fighting for just as those whom attend in the games at Corinthian's, but he is not teaching a new doctrine, as a false righteous and false religion does from Paul's word here. He not changing up as the flesh does, he is in context explaining his personal ministry, and why he does what he does in the flesh for the sake of gaining others. These brothers and sister needed to move on out of the first doctrine of Christ, and stop looking at the flesh of teachers into knowing no one by the flesh, but rather by the Spirit, which indwells all of the body of Christ making them of real value.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction.

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