The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Race

  • Learn to Walk Faithfully

    “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”

    Colossians 2:6

    Christians are to understand that once becoming a Christian there must be a moving forward in the Christian life. It begins with a consistent walk, becoming established in the faith. “6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). Reading the Bible, is a great place to learn how to walk as a Christian (see 1 Peter 2:2). Then, one begins to grow in that Christian life.

    Paul compared the Christian life to a race. “24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). These verses instruct that a Christian life is to be continually moving forward, striving for the goal at the end. With that moving forward, Paul said he kept his body in subjection. He understood the importance of keeping his life true to the Word of God so that he would never lose that Christian testimony. However, he also understood it took much work, and he knew it was a continual process of moving forward in his relationship with Jesus. “13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul continually moved forward in his growth in Christ. Have you ever heard the saying that “if you are not moving forward, you are moving backward”? It is very true. If Christians do not continually read their Bible, pray, and live according to God’s Word, they digress in that growing process, becoming ineffective Christians.

    Peter also reminded Christians that scoffers will come. “3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4). Scoffers means “to deride; to mock; a mocker, scoffer, spoken of impostors or false prophets.” Not only will there be mockers, impostors, and false prophets, but also there will be men who question Jesus’ promise of returning for the church. Nevertheless, read the assurance we find in God’s Word. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus will come again, but He is waiting for any, and all who will, to be saved. Remember also what Paul wrote: “12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). See also: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). There is even a crown for Christians who love Jesus’ appearing.

    These teachings are not new, just reminders. “17. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18). Grow means “to exceed; increase.” God’s Word is full of warnings: to beware, and to not be led away by error, or even by complacency (remember: “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” Hebrews 2:1.) Instead, Christians are called to continually “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” When one grows in grace, that life is transformed. This then causes that Christian to love and seek after God and the things of God. By growing in the knowledge of Jesus, one is continually moving forward in that relationship. That is what Peter was encouraging Christians to do. Read the warning for one who does not grow (or ceases to grow): “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).

    Christians are to understand that once becoming a Christian, they are not finished – for there is a growing process that must take place. Remember also the examples we have in Peter and Paul. Paul understood that he became the mighty man of God he was because of the grace of God (see 1 Corinthians 15:10). However, it also took the labor of Paul to endure, thereby growing in Christ.

    Remember: A Christian is never to stop growing in the Lord.

    Have you progressed in your Christian life, becoming more like Christ?

  • Precious Promises

    “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

    2 Peter 1:4

    As Peter began this second letter, read how he introduced himself. “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). Also, take note to whom this letter is written: Christians.   

    • Like precious means “equally precious or valuable.”
    • Faith means “appropriating what God in Christ has for man, resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life (a.k.a. Christian faith, Christian doctrine, gospel); meaning the doctrines received and believed; all that Christianity stands for.” 

    All who become a Christian are saved in exactly the same way – only through faith in Jesus. However, with that faith is to come a transformation of one’s character and way of life. This is what Peter was calling to mind in his readers. He was affiliating himself with them in like faith, character, and lifestyle. This laid the foundation for what he wanted to teach them.

    God gives the power to live a Christian life. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). According as means “implying quality, character, circumstances as known in any personal thing; something which is a matter of belief or opinion.”  By this, we understand that Peter is talking about something Christians have, or they should know they have: that is, God’s divine power that has given us all things we need for the Christian life (“all things that pertain unto life and godliness”). We find the “knowledge of him” in the Bible.

    Understand the two things into which God called Christians:

    • Glory means “spoken of that which excites admiration to which honor is ascribed as in the divine perfections as manifested in the power of God.”  
    • Virtue means “superiority or being pleasing to God; moral excellence; perfection; goodness of action.” 

    Recognize that God has called Christians, and they are to be excited about the prospect of being able to become more like Jesus, which is pleasing to God. Moreover, Peter called to mind God’s promises to His people. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). Christians are to “be partakers” because of these promises. God gave many, but think of two specific promises: His Son, Jesus, who was promised from the beginning of time, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would comfort and teach Christians until Jesus returns (see John 14:26). Remember what we should have learned in Second Corinthians. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). (See also John 14:21-23). The message has not changed. Christians are compelled to become more like Jesus – not like the world. 

    As Peter continued, he wanted them to understand that once becoming a Christian, one was not finished – for there is a growing process that must take place. Recall to memory what we should have already learned about Christianity: Paul compared it to a race. See the following to remember this. “24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Notice that it implies a continual moving forward, striving for the goal at the end. With that moving forward, Paul said he kept his body in subjection. He understood the importance of keeping his life true to the Word of God so that he would never lose that Christian testimony. However, he also understood it took much work, and he knew it was a continual process of moving forward in his relationship with Jesus. See the following to remember this. “12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). He continually moved forward in his growth in Christ. Have you ever heard the saying that “if you are not moving forward, you are moving backward”? It is very true. If Christians do not continually read their Bible, pray, and live according to God’s Word, they digress in that growing process, becoming ineffective Christians.

    Peter and Paul both recognized the importance of Christians continually striving to become more like Christ.

    Have you made a commitment to strive to become more like Christ?