The Race Set Before

Us
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The Race Set Before
Us
Chapter 1
&
Preview of
Chapter 2
3
 What is there to win or lose?
 A dominant imagery for the Christian life in
the New Testament—athletic 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 (Heb
12:1-2).
 What does this athletic imagery portray?
 What does the imagery of the race represent?
 What is the imagery of the prize represent? 4
 Why Do Christians Not
Agree Concerning the
Identity of What There is
to Win or Lose?

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 At Least Two Main Problems
 The athletic imagery poses a
problem of interpretation. We have
to understand symbolic portrayals
of reality.
 Theological commitments bias our

understanding of biblical imagery.

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 Imageries Have Two
Elements
 The thing symbolically
portrayed: This is the subject to
which attributes are ascribed.
 The symbol: The thing from
which attributes are borrowed.
 Three
At Least Two Main Problems
 The athletic imagery poses a problem
of interpretation. We have to
understand symbolic portrayals of
reality.
 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 heavenly8
 How Does Imagery Work?

Sense
The mental response.

Symbol Referent
The figure of speech. The thing portrayed.
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 How Does Biblical Athletic
Imagery Work?

Sense
Conceivable mental responses.

Symbol Referent
The athletic imagery. The heavenly reality
portrayed.
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Five Views on
Warnings &
Assurance
 Loss of Salvation View.
 Loss of Rewards View.

 Tests of Genuineness View.

 Hypothetical Loss of Salvation

View
 God’s Means of Salvation View.
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 Warnings &
admonitions
only caution
what would
happen if one The Prize is
could fail to salvation,
endure to the eternal Life
end.

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

Hypothetical Loss of Salvation View of

Warnings & Admonitions

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 Go
od Loss of Salvation Means of Salvation ion
e lva
t
W wo l sa ctiv
Not all believers will persevere in faithfulness to Christ

ar r
nin ks a Salvation already but not yet a
fin osp
e

All believers will persevere in faithfulness to Christ

gs re f or Pr
& n e
Ad ec
es Prospective view of Salvation ar
y
s
ar
s
mo
nit
sa
ry ce
s
i tion
n e n
ion
s
fo
r r e d mo
ar fin a A
e al r ks &
Assurance is not of the Pro sa o s
s p l v d
w
n ing Assurance is of the
essence of faith. Present ec a o r essence of faith. Present
assurance is possible but tiv tion Go Wa
e assurance of final
only as good as one’s salvation, but not apart
perseverance from perseverance
Assurance is of the Assurance is not of the
i o n G W
essence of faith. Present e t o od ar essence of faith. Present
assurance is final and ctiv alva w nin assurance is possible but
p e s or gs
absolute certainty, without o s t o ks & only as good as one’s
any relation to one’s Pr hip ar Ad perseverance
e ns e mo
perseverance. ar i o ne nit
s t c
ion la es ion
nit re s ar s
o y y ar
dm ar on e
A ess ly Re
& c Retrospective view of Salvation as tr
g s ne ev ospe
n o
ni n ide c
ar v e nc tive
W ha Salvation already e
s of
rk
wo sa
Go
od Loss of Rewards Tests of Genuineness lv at
ion
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