Who is the castaway of 1 Corinthians 9:27?

But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV) So many off-context interpretation of the above verse exist today in church. Well if you care to know what the writer (Paul) is saying, I welcome you. The first misinterpretation you’re likely to make as you read as it is often preached is that Paul constantly had to battle with one "Mr Flesh" so-called, when he says “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” You just missed it if you have thought that way brother. For God sake, your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost! In case you don't know, "body" does not necessarily connote the sinful, evil "flesh". (Joh_6:51-63, Mat 19:5, Mat 24:22, Luk 3:6, Joh 1:14, Rom 1:3, 2Co 7:5, 1Pe 3:18, 1Jn 4:2). Jesus was said to have “come in the flesh”, yet Jesus didn’t sin (Rom 1:3, 1John 4:1-2, Heb 4:15). Besides, no believer is called to do any battle with any Mr Flesh whatsoever. The Bible makes it clear that to be Christ's is to have crucified the flesh; not to start to "die to the flesh" And they that are Christ's HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with the affections and lusts. *[[Gal 5:24]] KJV* We know that our OLD NATURES WERE CRUCIFIED with him so that our SIN-LADEN BODIES might be rendered powerless and we might no longer be slaves to sin. *[[Rom 6:6]] ISV* So you don't have a living "sinful nature" anymore. Okay? Paul the brilliant apostle taught us this. So he could not have been caught "dying to sin" or “battling with flesh” as it were. “I keep under my body”, therefore is not Mr Paul "dealing with Mr Flesh". Clear? The study on Flesh and Spirit and the new Creation be reserved for another time. The other part of the sentence is “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Please read IN CONTEXT. Be carried along with the message pattern flow and be not lost. Take the message from the verse he started it. It didn't start his message in verse 27. No. Read the previous verses. 1 Corinthians 9:20-27 KJV And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; [21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. [22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means save some. [23] And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you . [24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. When he says "castaway", does he mean cast away of God? Don't forget it's in this write-up Paul said: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 KJV Take note that it’s in this singular sermon that Paul wrote the two, so he could not have been contradicting himself. He says, If any man's work (preaching to the Jews, to the Gentiles, etc) burns, Paul says God will not CAST AWAY for that, because by grace are ye saved, not of (burnt or unburnt) WORKS. That already defeats the notion that Paul meant God might still reject him because of one body. Come on! Should we be undisciplined in our conduct then? No. But we are not saved by our disciplined lifestyle. Ohhh. It's so funny to believe an active minister who is carrying out the great commission with all his life whereas there are other mute Christians, but this enduring persecutions and trials: and after all these, God will cast away. Very silly belief! Come on let's see truth But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: ... By doing what? What are the things Paul said here that he does? The word "castaway" was used to contrast the word "partaker" in a preceding verse *[[1Co 9:23]] KJV* And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be PARTAKER thereof with you. That if he doesn't do “this”, he will not be PARTAKER with and thus will be a word that is an antonym to the word - partaker, which is – CASTAWAY. Now we know from the verse 23 where he uses the word "partaker", that he wasn't referring to a partaking with God. “This I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be PARTAKER thereof with you”. Partaking with men or God? that I might be PARTAKER thereof WITH YOU. So it’s with you (Corinthian Church). Now is this partaking in heaven? Surely not! Rather it’s of an earthly life. *[[1Co 9:13]] KJV* Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? *[[1Co 9:14]] KJV* Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should LIVE OF the gospel. Is that an heavenly living? No. Can you see? So, what “castaway” was Paul Saying? I submit to you that the castaway he wanted to avoid is by the Corinthian church. He says “when I have preached to OTHERS”. Which “others”? Other churches he has preached at. When I have preached to other churches, just because of finances which Paul calls "carnal things" in verse 11, ooooooooh! I mustn't expound this more than this so that you will read it by yourself and not gullibly sit on my word or just say “it’s a lie”. See it. Paul decided to free the Corinthian church of the "carnal things" (honorarium) he ought to get from them in return for the "spiritual things" he had ministered to them, but so as not to "hinder the gospel", he made the gospel of Christ "without charge" (verse 18). So he calls this practice of his by a language – “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law...To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means save some.” (v20-22) It was a strategy he constantly employs that he "might save some". In verses 24-27, we see his motivation for doing this. He draws his motivation from the incorruptible nature of the believers crown as better and better-to-be-fought-for than that of the athletes and boxers (v24-26). So the "castaway" is not a rejection by God. It's not an unsaving of a man because salvation is by grace through faith and has nothing to do with works. (Eph 2:8-9) It's a rejection by men: the Corinthian Church in particular. See the way the chapter opened. You surely can sense a rejection in it. Am I not a free man? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord? And aren't you the result of my work for the Lord? Even if others do not ACCEPT me as an apostle, surely you do! Because of your life in union with the Lord you yourselves are proof of the fact that I am an apostle. When people CRITICIZE me, this is how I defend myself: (1 Corinthians 9:1-3 GNB) Because Paul waved his right to take “carnal things” from these people, they almost began to feel Paul isn’t a genuine “man of God” and Paul simply explained he did not want to “hinder the gospel” so he did this. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them], to do you service. (2 Corinthians 11:5-8 KJV) Jesus already promised: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will IN NO WISE cast out.” (John 6:37 KJV). Jesus is saying here that the ones the Father gives Him will come, and that refers to all of us who have come today. He also goes further to assure this set of people that are come to him, they will not for any reason be cast out. What a promise! Do whatever you want to do today for the Lord’s sake. Win souls now without fear. Go all out for the kingdom sake, knowing the integrity of Him that says “I will NEVER leave thee, nor FORSAKE thee.” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).