What Exactly does Paul have in mind when he encourages the believer to beat their body and making it their slave? And why should Christians be people who discipline their bodies - people who are diligent in practicing self-control? He urges us to develop the kind of self-control and self-discipline over our body and life, so that our whole being is obedient and surrendered to the work we require of it - in order to live fully for the sake of the Gospel! As those who live our life for the sake of the Gospel, and the eternal rewards that are promised to those who give themselves to the work of the Gospel, there is tremendous incentive to prepare our lives and discipline our bodies with the goal of obtaining the rewards of the Gospel. By faith we all obtain the salvation of the Gospel, but it is by obedience, hard work, and faithfulness that we obtain the rewards of the Gospel.
