Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New International Version ( NIV ). The apostle Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) recorded the following in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Paul was writing to "the church of God in Corinth" ( see 1 Corinthians 1:2 ) and, thus, he was writing to the Christians in Corinth ( see Acts, chapter 2 ( especially verses 41 and 47, for example; NKJV, for example ); 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example; NKJV, for example ); 11:1-26 ( especially verse 26 ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 12:3-8 ( especially verses 4 and 5, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ).
Paul teaches that Christians go into strict training, so that we will "get a crown that will last forever" ( see verse 25 of the above-quoted passage from the Holy Bible ). How strict is this training? Jesus ( see Luke 9:21 ) said the following in Luke 9:23-25: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"
What does the phrase "deny himself," in Luke 9:23, mean? The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) recorded the following in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." The apostle Paul, in writing, "I have been crucified with Christ," in Galatians 2:20, was teaching that he had been baptized into Christ ( recall Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), for example ). Thus, during the act of baptism, when a person is raised from the watery grave of baptism ( see Colossians 2:1-12 ( especially verses 11 and 12, for example ) and recall Acts 8:36, for example ), from that point forward, that one is to cease doing his or her own will, and do the will of Christ ( see Psalm 119:65-72; 142, 151, Matthew 1:16, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26, 28, 29, and 54; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( NKJV, for example; with center-column references ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Titus 1:1, 2, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ). Hence, we read the phrase "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me," in Galatians 2:20.
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If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
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NOTE: With regard to the above-referenced Bible video, the word "Christmas" is not a Bible term. Additionally, the Holy Bible does not specify the exact date that Jesus was born, though we can rightly conclude from Luke 2:8 that He was most likely born during the spring or fall ( please read Luke, chapters 1 and 2, to get the context - [ See also: BIBLE ALMANAC, PACKER, JAMES I., A.M., D.Phil., TENNEY, MERRILL C., A.M., Ph.D., WHITE, WILLIAM, JR., Th.M., Ph.D., THE OLD-TIME GOSPEL HOUR, LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, Copyright 1980 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 62. ] ). Thus, the date of December 25th is merely a tradition of men ( see Mark 7:1-13 ( especially verse 9, for example ), for example ): it is not specified anywhere in the Holy Bible. Finally, Jesus was baptized to mark the beginning of His earthly ministry ( see Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:13-17 ( especially verse 17, for example ), Hebrews 1:5; 5:5, for example ).
