The Race Set Before Us--MMEBS 2

8/14/2019 The Race Set Before Us--MMEBS 2

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The Race Set BeforeUs


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The Race Set BeforeUs

Chapter 1

&

Preview of

Chapter 2


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What is there to win or lose? A dominant imagery for the Christian life in

the New Testamentathletic imagery. Divine call to a race (Phil 3:14).

Life entails training for this race (1 Tim 4:7-8).Training entails strict self-control (1 Cor 9:25).

All must run according to the rules (2 Tim 2:5).

A prize to be won (1 Cor 9:24).

All must run with single devotion to win the prize (Heb12:1-2).

What does this athletic imagery portray? What does the imagery of the race represent?

What is the imagery of the prize represent? 4


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Why Do Christians NotAgree Concerning the

Identity of What There isto Win or Lose?

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At Least Two Main Problems

The athletic imagery poses aproblem of interpretation. We have

to understand symbolic portrayalsof reality.

Theological commitments bias ourunderstanding of biblical imagery.

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Imageries Have TwoElements

The thing symbolicaportrayed: This is the subject to

which attributes are ascribed. The symbol: The thing from

which attributes are borrowed.


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At Least Two Main Problems

The athletic imagery poses a problemof interpretation. We have to

understand symbolic portrayals ofreality.

Theological commitments bias our

understanding of biblical imagery.The difficulty of understanding imagery

is compounded by the fact that earthly

things are used to portray heavenly-8

Three


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SymbolThe figure of speech.

SenseThe mental response.

ReferentThe thing portrayed.

How Does Imagery Work?


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SymbolThe athletic imagery.

SenseConceivable mental responses.

ReferentThe heavenly reality

portrayed.

How Does Biblical AthleticImagery Work?


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Loss of Salvation View.Loss of Salvation View.

Loss of Rewards View.Loss of Rewards View.

Tests of Genuineness View.Tests of Genuineness View.

Hypothetical Loss of SalvationHypothetical Loss of SalvationViewView

Gods Means of Salvation View.Gods Means of Salvation View.

Five Views on

Warnings &Assurance


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Hypothetical Loss of Salvation View ofWarnings & Admonitions

The Prize is

salvation,

eternal Life

Warnings &admonitions

only cautionwhat would

happen if onecould fail to

endure to theend.

The race track represents salvation. One who is already saved cannot abandon the race.

AlreadySaved


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Loss of Salvation Means of Salvation

Tests of GenuinenessLoss of Rewards

All

believ

ers

willperseverein

faithfulness

to

Christ

Not

allbelieverswillper

severe

infaithfulnesstoChrist

Retrospective view of Salvation

Salvation already

Salvation already but not yet

Prospective view of Salvation

Assurance is not of theessence of faith. Presentassurance is possible butonly as good as onesperseverance

Assurance is of theessence of faith. Presentassurance of finalsalvation, but not apartfrom perseverance

Good

works

aren

ecessa

ryforf

inals

alvati

onGoodworksarenecessaryforfinalsalvation

GoodworksarenecessaryonlyasevidenceofsalvationGo

odwo

rksha

veno

necessary

relati

onship

tosalva

tion

Warni

ngs&Admon

itions

areProsp

ective

Warni

ngs&Ad

monit

ionsareP

rospec

tive

Warnin

gs&AdmonitionsareProspective

Warnings&Admonition

sareRetrospective

Assurance is not of theessence of faith. Presentassurance is possible butonly as good as onesperseverance

Assurance is of theessence of faith. Presentassurance is final andabsolute certainty, withoutany relation to onesperseverance.


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The Race Set Before Us--MMEBS 2

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