4/21/76

DOCTRINE OF RUNNING

A. By way of definition, running is the believer’s advance to maturity. While walking connotes the modus operandi of the Christian life, running connotes the advance.

B. Running is related to the blessings of maturity, 1 Cor 9:24-27. The believer has to keep studying doctrine so that he doesn’t lose his spiritual growth and therefore his rewards.

C. Running is contrasted with reversionism in Gal 5:7. “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the doctrine?”

D. Running is related to doctrinal teaching.

1. Gal 2:2, “And I submitted to them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.”

2. Phil 2:16, “Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

3. Heb 10:25. You stop running when you forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Neglecting teaching results in loss of rewards.

E. Running is related to the advance to maturity, Heb 12:1. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the easily entangling sin, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

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