How To Hinder Your Race!
Sanctification • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsPaul wants the people to wonder, "What slowed us down?"
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Introduction
Introduction
Paul wants to address the serious consequences of going off course spiritually.
The concept of the Christian life as a race.
A Course- the eternal plan of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Participation- being called into the kingdom.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Discipline/training- living in such a way that the race is run well.
24 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. 25 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. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
The Run- living the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
The Finish Line- the end of the race.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Metaphor
A means of expressing the difficulty, hardship, and reward of following Christ.
v.7
v.7
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Paul continues to reason with the Christians in Galatia.
He wants them to think along with them.
“To whom are you listening?”
2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
“You were running well...”
= recounts the relationship they used to have.
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
= words of endearment.
19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
He wants to call them back to the race, the race of faith.
The key passage for us is:
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Running...
Don’t be entangled by heavy objects.
Encumbrance = general reference to unnecessary objects
1 Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα 2 ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινεν σταυρὸν αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν. 3 ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ τὸν τοιαύτην ὑπομεμενηκότα ὑπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἀντιλογίαν, ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι.
“…lay aside all things, especially the easily ensnaring sin...”
The Epistle to the Hebrews 12:1. The Cloud of Witnesses
Τρέχωμεν: τρέχω* does not mean merely following a way of life (like περιπατέω, →13:9), but specifically running, especially in a foot race (Rom. 9:16; 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 2:16), or more generally making good progress (Gal. 5:7; Bauer 2a). The image connotes not only effort, not primarily speed, and almost certainly not competition with others taking part, but (as in the Pauline texts cited) the possibility of success or failure, of reaching or failing to reach the goal (→ Heb. 2:1–4; 4:1, 11; 6:4–6; 10:26–31). The subjunctive is hortatory (BD §364); the present subjunctive does not of itself imply continuous action, though the context calls for such a meaning here.
According to this passage it is best to hinder your race with “all things” and sin that “so easily ensnares us.”
v.8
v.8
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
The Lord does not lead in this way.
Galatians (3) Circumcision or the Cross (5:7–12)
It is obvious that the circumcision-preaching agitators had exerted a powerful influence over Paul’s converts. They had bewitched them and tripped them up in their race toward the finish line. What was the secret of their success? Paul answered this question by using a unique word, peismonē, “the persuasion,” a term found nowhere else in earlier Greek literature. Evidently the Judaizing missionaries had taken Galatia by storm. In
Listening to other teachers, contrary to Christ.
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
v.9
v.9
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
6 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
