Lesson
51 October 6, 2002
Review:
5:7 Indictment of the source of legalism
You were running well;
who hindered you from obeying the
truth?
Summary
5:7
1. Paul first
commends them for the spiritual momentum that they exhibited in the past.
2. To run
well or honorably reflects this spiritual advance as believers.
3. The race
that Paul talks about running begins when we believe in Christ and continues
until we're face to face.
4. Since
Paul uses tenses that indicate continuous ongoing action in all the verbs, it
reminds us that these issues related to
running the race must be dealt with through out our lives. 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2
Tim. 4:6-8
5. Being
persuaded by the truth so that we we're
obedient to that truth is crucial
to running the race with honor.
6. What Paul is challenging them with here with
his question is to once again motivate them to think things through, who and
what has impacted your thinking so that you are now disobedient to the truth.
7. He also wants them to see that they are
attempting to run the race by legalistic self effort and not by faith.
5:8 Where
this persuasion is not from!
This persuasion did not come from
Him who calls you.
What
we find here the means of putting an obstruction in the path, a hindrance
that he mentioned in the previous
verse; that is through persuasive
argumentation.
SUMMARY: 5:8
1. Legalism
is not part of the race that God has called us to run.
2. Grace
never calls or motivates one by legalism.
3. Some of
what God called us for:
a.
Fellowship with His Son. 1 Cor 1:9
b. To peace
in relationships. 1 Cor 7:15
c.
Realization of His grace. Gal 1:6
d. To
freedom. Gal 5:13
e. Walk in
a worthy manner. 1Thes 2:12
f.
Sanctification. 1Thes 4:7
g. Holiness.
1 Pet 1:15
h. To get
out of darkness into light.1 Pet 2:9
i. To
suffer. 1 Pet 2:21
j. To
inherit a blessing.
4. The One
who called us is Faithful. 1Thes 5:24
5. He
called us from His own glory and excellence. II Pet 1:3
6. We have
been called to dinner. Rev 19:9