The whole context of 1 Cor. 9 is about Paul talking about him preaching the gospel. - it is NOT about losing salvation. It is about Paul's ministry which was to preach the gospel.
Paul disciplined his body so that he could be a good steward of his ministry and would not be disqualified from his ministry.
Paul was "talking about Rom. 12:1-2 ". Present your bodies as living sacrifices.
1 Corinthians 9:16-27 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
[SUP]18[/SUP] What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
[SUP]21 [/SUP] to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
[SUP]23 [/SUP] I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
[SUP]25 [/SUP] Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
[SUP]26 [/SUP] Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
[SUP]27 [/SUP] but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.