> General Discussions
What does it mean to run the race.
John from Kentucky:
It's best not to overthink or get bent out of shape over salvation.
The great false church ruled by Satan teaches the lie of salvation by works. The false teachers, great and small, teach we have to do this and that to get saved. If you do good works, then you are good, and God likes you. If you are bad, then ......
The truth is Jesus saves all, when he chooses. It is all about Jesus, the Great God and Saviour.
The Scriptures teach we are saved by Grace, which is a complete gift from God.
Further, the Scriptures show us the three principal events in God's plan of salvation of all.
First, Passover, which shows Jesus as the Lamb of God, Who covers all sins and saves all.
Second, Pentecost or Feast of First Fruits, which shows the salvation of the initial few.
Third, the Fall Harvest, which shows the salvation of all.
The Scriptures say not to worry about anything. But how many believe and obey the Scriptures?
There is no free will. No human can decide if they want to be saved or not by what they say or do.
God will save everyone, each at their appointed time.
Jesus is the chosen One who will bring about the salvation of all. Nothing for us to worry about.
Kat:
Hi Rick, there are quite a few Scripture about following Christ and what that means, here are a few.
Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
v. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Col 3:2 Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.
v. 3 For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.
v. 4 When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with Him in glory.
v. 5 So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
v. 6 It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.
v. 7 You used to behave like them as you lived among them.
v. 8 But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, and all such sins.
v. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices
v. 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the One who created it.
v. 11 In Him there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiah is all and in all.
v. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
v. 13 Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive.
v. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.
v. 15 Let the peace of the Messiah also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. (ISV)
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Hope that helps.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Colin:
Hello Everybody
After reading Alex’s post, in which he referred us to 1 Corinthians 9:24, I took a closer look at that section to see if it contains “more than meets the eye”.
Why, I asked myself, would Paul have written, aren’t you aware of how a race “works”? What had he been addressing in the previous verses of his letter, which led up to this question?
Paul had been discussing his preaching and being remunerated for doing so. (vv. 13,14). He then asked in verse 18, “what was his reward” [Greek misthos = pay for service]? Continuing, he tells us that he had “made himself a servant to all, so that he might gain the more”.
We can look back at what Ray did for many years, spending thousands of hours studying, praying for inspiration, giving bible studies and writing hundreds of articles for our benefit, whilst looking ahead to the benefitting of all who will be taught truths in the future.
In this same letter to the Corinthians, Paul also said that not all have the same role as he had, for example. Ray also covered this aspect.
1Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set [Greek tithemi = placed] some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
That “more excellent way” is showing love, pursuing love towards others.
Going back to Paul’s analogy of running a race, he wrote that only one wins and receives the “perishable garland”. (1Cor 9:24). Paul encourages us ALL to run, with the end result of ALL being winners, of an immortal, undecaying “garland”.
1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown [Greek stephanos = wreath, garland]; but we an incorruptible [garland].
All of us, as we “run the race” of life have some opportunity to provide a level of love to others, to be of service…..in other words - be a servant, as Paul (following the example of Jesus) pictured himself, by helping physically when able, and giving encouragement.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
None of us might ever have the opportunity or occasion to visit people literally incarcerated in prison. However, people can be “imprisoned” by an incurable disease, which will take their life. They cannot escape from that “prison”. That is demonstrated to me as I carry out my volunteer duties with Hospice and Palliative Care and I accept that as being an opportunity for me to “visit those in prison”.
All who have “done good deeds” can look forward to being rewarded. That includes all of humanity.
1Cor 3:13 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.
3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward [Greek misthos].
If we have works which demonstrate our desire to “run our race” as best we can, to “do things unto Jesus” - then we can look forward to a victor’s wreath……a real, imperishable one.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown [Greek stephanos = wreath] of life.
We can claim to have "all the faith in the world" - but what does James tell us?
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Colin
lilitalienboi16:
--- Quote from: Colin on June 12, 2016, 12:05:15 AM ---Hello Everybody
After reading Alex’s post, in which he referred us to 1 Corinthians 9:24, I took a closer look at that section to see if it contains “more than meets the eye”.
Why, I asked myself, would Paul have written, aren’t you aware of how a race “works”? What had he been addressing in the previous verses of his letter, which led up to this question?
Paul had been discussing his preaching and being remunerated for doing so. (vv. 13,14). He then asked in verse 18, “what was his reward” [Greek misthos = pay for service]? Continuing, he tells us that he had “made himself a servant to all, so that he might gain the more”.
We can look back at what Ray did for many years, spending thousands of hours studying, praying for inspiration, giving bible studies and writing hundreds of articles for our benefit, whilst looking ahead to the benefitting of all who will be taught truths in the future.
In this same letter to the Corinthians, Paul also said that not all have the same role as he had, for example. Ray also covered this aspect.
1Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set [Greek tithemi = placed] some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
That “more excellent way” is showing love, pursuing love towards others.
Going back to Paul’s analogy of running a race, he wrote that only one wins and receives the “perishable garland”. (1Cor 9:24). Paul encourages us ALL to run, with the end result of ALL being winners, of an immortal, undecaying “garland”.
1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown [Greek stephanos = wreath, garland]; but we an incorruptible [garland].
All of us, as we “run the race” of life have some opportunity to provide a level of love to others, to be of service…..in other words - be a servant, as Paul (following the example of Jesus) pictured himself, by helping physically when able, and giving encouragement.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
None of us might ever have the opportunity or occasion to visit people literally incarcerated in prison. However, people can be “imprisoned” by an incurable disease, which will take their life. They cannot escape from that “prison”. That is demonstrated to me as I carry out my volunteer duties with Hospice and Palliative Care and I accept that as being an opportunity for me to “visit those in prison”.
All who have “done good deeds” can look forward to being rewarded. That includes all of humanity.
1Cor 3:13 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.
3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward [Greek misthos].
If we have works which demonstrate our desire to “run our race” as best we can, to “do things unto Jesus” - then we can look forward to a victor’s wreath……a real, imperishable one.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown [Greek stephanos = wreath] of life.
We can claim to have "all the faith in the world" - but what does James tell us?
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Colin
--- End quote ---
Hi Colin,
You reference James so I have to ask, have you listened to ray's audio on, "Do James and Paul contradict?" As I feel it is very relevant to your post.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,9742.0.html
James was talking about good works and not our own work's of the flesh.
We can't earn our way into the kingdom.
The problem lies in the heart of man and his carnal mind.
We who believe do enter into His rest and cease from our own works. From our own filthy rags.
His Holy Spirit works in us to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
But what are these fruits? Christ also said, 'you will always have the poor with you.' And
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here then are your 'good works,' your good fruits,
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5:8-10
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
It is God who justifies, not man.
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
God bless,
Alex
rick:
Hello J from k and Kat,
Thank you both for your input, much appreciated. John, Your right , over thinking is probably not a good thing to do and as you said it's all up to Jesus anyways.
Kat, the scriptures you put up help me out because in reading them I saw something I haven't see before.
I know this must sound crazy but I feel I been living in what I call spritual limbo because I don't know if it's me doing it or Christ yet when I look back at myself I see change in my thinking process .
I keep thinking maybe I should go out on the limb and just trust whatever it is I'm doing must be of God seeing where all is of God, sure it is , it's His creation not mine , I must be doing what it is He wants me to do but because God is spirit I can't detect Him, He comes and goes but I don't know but He changes me.
My life seems crazy but who's life isn't , sometimes I feel like I'm in that movie the matrixs or something like that.
It all seems kinda freaky to me being born into life learning there is a creator but does not show Himself to anyone , we go through all this pain and suffering but I've had good things in my life too and then we die and will be raised back to life almost sounds like a fairy tale story but one I believe will happen, like Ray said first the physical then the spiritual.
Thanks again J from k and Kat.
God bless.
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