Before we look at that verse, let’s make it crystal-clear that a true believer in Christ can NEVER LOSE their salvation. Here are 3 passages which prove this truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE” (John 3:16). “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believe in Him who sent Me HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, but has PASSED FROM DEATH INTO LIFE” (John 5:24). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them ETERNAL LIFE, and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who have given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).

Could words be clearer? The sinner who has “believed on Christ as their Savior” HAS ETERNAL LIFE and WILL NEVER PERISH. If there was something that the believer could do to lose eternal life Jesus would have said so. Also, eternal life IS ETERNAL! It is not “temporary life” that can be lost. Finally, when Jesus says he “shall NEVER PERISH He means it! The believer is eternally saved/secure because Jesus has paid the full price for our sins and thus there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Now let’s read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: “Do you not know that those who are in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 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. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight: not as on who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subject, lest, when I have preached to others, I should become disqualified.” We saw in the verses above what we must do to be given eternal life; we must BELIEVE on Christ. In this passage we are not looking at the subject of SALVATION; we are looking at the subject of SERVICE. We are looking at one who is already saved, and he was SERVING THE LORD IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A CROWN (reward). Paul often uses the “race course” as an analogy to teach us that if we serve the Lord faithfully, we will win a prize (see Hebrews 12:1 with Philippians 3:12-14). There are 5 crowns (rewards) mentioned in Scripture (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; James 1:12 & Revelation 2:10; and 1 Peter 5:1-4). We must never confuse SALVATION with SERVICE. Salvation is a GIFT which we cannot earn (Ephesians 2:8-9); SERVICE is what we do to EARN A CROWN. Paul is teaching us that if we are “serving the Lord faithfully according to His Word,” we will be rewarded with a crown!

So, what does Paul mean by the words, “Lest I myself should be disqualified?” Again, Paul was using a race to illustrate the truth. When one runs a race here on earth they may be disqualified. For example, if one uses drugs (like STEROIDS) to enhance their performance, they will be disqualified. One must be “disciplined and play by the rules” if they are to receive a crown. Paul used this same analogy in 2 Timothy 2:5, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.“ When he says he could be disqualified he is simply saying he could be “ejected” (set aside here on earth) by God for not serving according to God’s Word. He could also be referring to when he stands before Christ to have his service reviewed and how he could “suffer loss of rewards” for not serving the Lord faithfully. I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 which speaks of when our SERVICE will be tested by the Lord, and we will be REWARDED or SUFFER LOSS (of rewards). Yet even if one “suffers loss of rewards” we read that “he himself will be saved” (verse 15).  (DO)  (723.3)