THE CHRISTIAN RACE

Guest Writer: Price A. McDonald

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he writer of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote, “Let us lay aside every weight...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (12:1). Some translations use the word, “patience” instead of “endurance;” either one makes the point.

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t the time of this writing [Winter, ‘88-89] the Olympic games are being played in Seoul, Korea. Have you ever thought of what it would be like to be on the U.S. Olympic team? Let's consider it for a few moments, since many phases of the Christian's life are similar to the Olympics.

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o be able to run in “the race that is set before us,” we must first enter that race. There are five qualifications that must be met before one can run. One must hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17), believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37), confess faith (Matt. 10:32,33; Acts 8:37), repent of sins (Acts 2:38; 17:80), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16).

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nce we qualify, there are other things that must be adhered to, such as where to run. For example, if an athlete planned to run the 100-meter dash, he would not line up in the middle of the track where the longer races begin. We likewise must have knowledge of the spiritual course on which the Christian “race” is to be run. “So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are read­ing?” “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:30,35).

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lso, we must run within the proper enclosure to be rewarded. It would be futile for one who is scheduled to run in a race in Seoul to go to London and expect to win. But no more so than for all the confused people of different religions who tell us they are all going to the same place—heaven—but by different routes. What they fail to realize is that we all must use the same road map—the Bible—if we plan to go to the same place.

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he proper enclosure is the New Testament church that was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28), of which He is both Head and Savior (Eph. 5:23). “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

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fter qualifying and entering the Christian race, we are to run with patience and endurance. We are not to “become sluggish, but [we are to] imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12). For this reason, we are encouraged to “be patient…until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7).

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aul told Timothy, “I have finished the race” and thus he felt confident of receiving the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:7,8). As we have seen, if we run faithfully we, like Paul, can have a crown of righteousness, because the Judge is righteous and consistent, unlike some of the judges in the Olympic games. “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).

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astly, we must run by the rules that have been laid down by the organizer of the Christian race, Jesus Christ, in the rulebook, which is the Bible. 'The word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Just as the U.S. men's 4 x 100 meter team was disqualified for its violations, so will we be if we fail to follow the rules the Lord has left us in the New Testament.

[Next Week: “The Christian Victory”]

 “TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH”

Guest Writer: Eddie R. Littrell

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t should be obvious to all that the shield was an indispensable item in the warrior’s armor. The most common shield was about four feet long and two and one-half feet wide. It was held by the left hand and could be used to protect the entire body. It was vitally important to the safety of the warrior. Joined together, these large shields could form a wall, behind which a body of troops could easily protect themselves from the rain of enemy fire.

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ith this figure, Paul  emphasizes the extreme importance of a Christian’s faith. While it is true that the gospel serves as a firm foundation for battle, without developing a strong faith, the Christian leaves himself vulnerable to the constant onslaught of the devil. To develop the faith that can “move mountains” the Christian must give himself “wholly” to “reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 2:13,15). To increase his faith, it is necessary to study regularly from the word of God, since “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

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aith in God serves as a shield that will enable the Christian to repel all the “fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16). Paul is not here dealing with the passions and lusts within us, which must certainly be conquered, but with the constant abuse the Christian must endure at the hands of the world. A strong faith will help the Christian to over­come the slanders and threats hurled by Satan through his human instruments. The faith that has “nothing wavering” (James 1:6) will ward off and quench all the devil’s darts, so that the soul never succumbs to their heat.

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his figure also extends to the strength that is found in the combination of many shields. Solomon taught us, “Two are better than one” (Eccl. 4:9, 10). In battle, the soldier must often depend upon his fellow-soldier for assistance and protection. In spiritual warfare, the Christian can look to other Christians for help in time of need. When temptation strikes, we can gain strength from the knowledge and wisdom of others. Their strong faith can help to fortify the weak faith of others. When a fellow Christian falls, other saints should be there with shield in hand, ready to defend and protect, while rescuing the fallen from the line of battle until strength can be restored (see Heb. 12:12,13).

 [Next Week: “Take the Helmet”]

WHICH FAITH ARE WE?

Guest Writer: Kenneth Hawthorne

(With credit to Jason Jackson and Rob Harbison)

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom" (Prov 4:7).

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here are three different classifications of people in the book of Proverbs: The fool, the simple, and the wise (compare Proverbs 9).

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hat is a fool? “The word is used in Scripture with respect to moral more than to intellectual deficiencies. The ‘fool’ is not so much one lacking in mental powers, as one who misuses them...In Scripture the ‘fool’...is the person who casts off the fear of God, and thinks and acts as if he can safely disregard the eternal principles of God's righteousness (Psa. 14:1; 92:5-6; Prov. 14:9)” (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 375). What are some of the characteristics of a fool?  There are at least six,

1.      He trusts in himself (Prov. 12:15; 28:26) when he should be trusting in God (Prov. 3:5-6).

2.      He will not listen to and even despises instruction (Prov. 1:7; 15:5; 23:9).

3.      He is a talker rather than a listener (Prov. 18:2).

4.      He cannot be disciplined (Prov. 17:10).

5.      He does not act on principle but on impulse (Prov. 14:29).

6.      He is so grounded in sin that he is virtually unchangeable. He has developed his character by a series of foolish decisions—a life of folly (Prov. 27:22; 26:11).

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ow what does it mean to be simple? The simple individual lacks understanding; he is naive and gullible; he is too trusting. He “lacks sense”(Prov. 7:7,ESV). This person is untrained; he cannot discern what would cause him harm. He is easily persuaded by strong influences. But “the simple” can be taught. If he will listen, he can be instructed in wisdom—skill for living. The book of Proverbs is designed ”to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Prov. 1:4, ESV).

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ow what is wisdom? Rubel Shelly has written, “In the Bible, wisdom is always God-oriented and practical. It is not entirely coextensive with knowledge for a knowledgeable person may be very deficient in wisdom. Wisdom is the right use of one's knowledge, insight and skill to the glory of God. It originates in the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7; 9:10; Job 28:28; Psa 111:10). Thus the Bible defines wisdom in terms of one's relationship with God rather than formal education or attainments before men (cf. James 3:13-18). Worldly wisdom is knowledge apart from divine revelation and is often opposing in nature. True wisdom is the ordering of one's life by God given counsel” (A Book By Book Study of the Old Testament, p. 81).

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nother has said, “Wisdom...enables one to turn every good thing in life to its rightful purpose. It is something more than intellectual excellence, in that it implies a spiritual and moral quality of heart, will and life; and is the practical application of knowledge to its best ends.” (Maurice A. Meredith, Studies in Proverbs, p. 9).

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t is our choice which of these we choose to be—foolish, simple or wise. The book of Proverbs is all about urging men to choose the wisdom of God for their lives (Prov. 3:5-8).

FAITH / KNOWLEDGE / OPINION

Bob Myhan

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aith is different from knowledge and opinion. Knowledge is based on the evidence provided by one’s senses. Faith is based on the evidence and testimony provided by others. Opinions are formed without regard for evidence sufficient for faith or knowledge. For example, an open-minded juror does not know, going into a trial, whether or not the defendant is guilty (although he may have an opinion) but he comes to believe either that the defendant is guilty or innocent by honestly weighing the testimony of the various witnesses.