Winkel (2025)
Notes
Transcript
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Greetings my Brothers in Christ, and it is with great joy that we are able to gather here today and meditate upon the Word together and to rejoice in the wonderful gift that God has given us in His Son, who gave His life even for sinners like you and me. In our lesson today, St. Paul speaks to the church in Corinth and does not exclude himself from this warning, for Paul understands the grace that he had received from God, and how easy it is to fall back into sin and every vice and so he compares it with the importance of disciplining our bodies and the exercising of self-control.
He compares the congregation with ancient Israel in this part and their journey in the wilderness that after they were freed from the land of slavery, and even though they had prototypes of Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, he says that with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
He then goes on to detail the ways in which so many perished, for they did not believe God’s Word and so the decree was given after the spies came back and 10 gave the bad report that they would be in the wilderness for 40 years, and everyone over the age of 20 would die in the wilderness. Of those over the age of 20, only Caleb and Joshua would make it into the promised land.
Now Paul is chastising the congregation for their numerous sins, and in this section their belief that flirting with and participating at Pagan altars was no big deal, but there is a strong reminder in here for Pastors and all those in authority in the Church as well. For Paul knows the Old Testament, and is aware that only Caleb and Joshua enter the promised land, Moses, and Aaron won’t. They had important roles, but they too died in the wilderness for their sins.
So when Paul says, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” He knows that Moses who spoke with God on the Holy Mountain, didn’t make it, and so Paul who Jesus in his glory on the road to Damascus should not assume that he is exempt and doesn’t have to worry about the dangers of falling into sin and disgrace.
At Seminary, they warn us that there is a target painted upon our back. There is no tool quite as sharp and deadly in the quiver of satan as a fallen clergymen, that he might use to not only spread false teaching inside of the church, but also by scandal to destabilize the Church, to justify the comments of the wicked who say that the church is just full of hypocrites, to convince other sinners who sit on the precipice to think if not even he can commit this sin, then why am I fighting against it, why not just give in?
So we must be on guard lest it be said of us, Isaiah 29:13 Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, we don’t dare be proud or think ourselves immune to this. For this issue concerns Paul who saw Christ with his own eyes, and was charged by the Spirit, and wrote how many books of the NT that he could yet be disqualified, so who amongst us is immune? We too are men, flesh and blood, and deal with the same temptations that our people deal with, but you and I will be judged with greater strictness as James warns.
We must not only call people to repentance from lust, laziness, indifference, lukewarm hearts, greed, gluttony, or abandoning our households for work. We also must repent of these sins. How many clergy have fallen victim to these sins? As Luther posted all those years ago, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” We are not granted a place in God’s Kingdom because of our job title, and if we fail, we affect not just ourselves, but the portion of Christ’s flock that has been entrusted to our care.
This is why you too need to hear from the Good Shepherd, that He has forgiven for you, for even though Moses was denied entrance into the promised land here on earth, we know that God forgave his transgression and welcome him into heaven, we know that David was a man’s after God’s own heart and after his failing was restored, and that Peter who denied Jesus 3x, was entrusted with Christ’s flock as God’s grace still extended to this man who abandoned his friend, and his Lord at his darkest hour, but Christ did not abandon them. Nor has Jesus forgotten you.
Christ has also shed His blood for you, and He has washed you, and forgiven you, for like the flock that you have been entrusted here on this earth, you are in need of forgiveness. So repent, acknowledge your sins, but also see that Christ is your Shepherd, who picks up the fallen on His shoulders that He might carry them joyfully home as he did for Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and you.
You who have been blessed with every spiritual blessing as the Church in Corinth had been, do not let yourself be overtaken by your sins, but rather discipline your body, fight against the flesh and oppose it, for if you go to sleep in your sins, you will perish eternally. We don’t want that to happen to any of member of the flock that has been entrusted to us, no matter how much some of the sheep might vex us. You had shepherds here on earth that nurtured you and didn’t want that for you either. For they knew that Jesus considered you one His own.
So keep yourself disciplined, don’t let sin gain a foothold, exercise self-control for we seek not a perishable wreath, but to receive that one that Jesus has promised you in paradise. No matter what shape or form the sin takes, lust, laziness, indifference, lukewarm hearts, gluttony, greed, or abandoning our family, we know the many ways that we can attempt to justify our sins, but you also know that it brings slavery to sin, and Christ has set you free that you might be His brother.
My Brothers in Christ, It is my hope and desire that we will have eternity together in God’s Kingdom, but we must not rely upon our positions to keep us safe, for we can be disqualified. So may your hearts ever remain humble, may you repent and flee from all sin, and may you cling to promises Jesus has given you in Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and by His promises, that He laid down His life for you, who He considers His dear friend. In Jesus name. Amen.
