Running the Race

The lesson on April 10, 2022 was part 3 of the “Running the Race” study. Wayne first reviewed why we picked the title of this study to show the context of running the race as a Christian. You don’t race to receive salvation because it is by faith are you saved. We took the time to learn further how God has constructed a way for all to be saved by the work of Christ. Our works has nothing to do with salvation. Hebrews was written during the Acts period and explains why signs and wonders were active and targeted to Israel. Hebrews shows how to run the race for the Jew as expressed by Paul, and we are comparing to what PAul afterwards (post Acts 28) wrote to the Gentiles in Philippians. God’s mindset was all of mankind become saved by choice. An example was used comparing the addiction of alcoholism to that of the addiction of sin but no matter what state you are in, you can still accept help. You can choose to accept help and receive salvation. Wayne reminded us that the Calvinist arguments fail from all the scriptures that point out that God gave us the choice to repent and be saved. God didn’t force election upon a selected group and He didn’t choose those who would not be saved. When you believe, your faith is counted for righteousness. We then looked more diligently at the phrase “in Son” to better understand how God used His son to communicate his intention to us as a theophany. We were presented some passages in scripture that shows the theophany (Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 3:2-10; Numbers 22:22-35; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 13; Daniel 3:16-28). We closed with looking at the types of glory that Christ Jesus has received. There is some types of glory that can be shared with us and is communicated from the Son and you have to differentiate from them. Once you are saved, you can run the race best through right division. The scripture reading was from Hebrews 2:1-8 KJV

“1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”