Ye Did Run Well!

PP0614 DATE

YE DID RUN WELL!

Gal 5:7. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (KJV)

INTRODUCTION: Much of the first five chapters of this epistle is Paul instructing the Galatians to not turn back toward the law. Some of the traditional Jews had influenced them to divert back to following the law for their justification. He is attempting to get them to see their error.

Listen to the tone of Paul’s voice in these following Scriptures.

Ga 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (KJV) That sounds like today.

Ga 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (KJV)

Ga 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (KJV)

In our text Paul is commending the Galatians for running a good race. They apparently started off good, but did not finish well, because Paul chides them for having been hindered and not obeying the truth. Something happened that caused them to not run well, or to quit running.

We must learn that our race must be run well. We must be sure that we run with all diligence.

Today’s Christian must be equally alert in running the course given each of us by God. To not run well will bring no honor to the runner nor the Master. We must all run with the one goal in mind and that is to finish the course well.

God didn’t save you just so you could go to heaven. Nor did He save you just to keep you from going to Hell. He saved you so you would bring glory to God. Anything short of that would be failure.

We have but one command: “Run well” – According to the Word of God.

And “Finish well” – according to the Word of God.

Our objective today is to run well.

There are some rules that must be followed if we are going to run well.

You listen as we talk about running well.

I. MUST RUN ON THE RIGHT ROAD.

Mt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (KJV)

No one can run on two roads at the same time. The greatest problem in churches today is to get the members to stay on the right road. We must choose the right road.

A person must be saved to run on the right road.

There are a lot of roads a person may run on.

A. The Road Of “Good Intentions.”

They mean well – they intended to do certain things for God – but never got around to it. The road to Hell is paved with “good intentions”. I have talked with hundreds that have been on this road. They never get saved.

B. The Road Of Religion.

James deals with religion - Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (KJV)

Successful religion is: A bridled tongue – Actively ministering to the orphans and widows – and to live holy.

Most people who are religious practice religion expecting their religion to take them to Heaven. They missed the road James tells about in this passage.

C. The Road Of Good Works.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (KJV)

I would estimate that at least 90% of people who claim to be religious would believe that salvation comes from things they do. Or good works. They will mow the neighbors yard, baby set the neighbor’s dog. They will participate in school functions. They will even take food to the sick or needy – all along they think they are accomplishing righteousness that will take them to heaven. That is the devil’s lie. If he can cause people to think they are saved by their own doing then all that believe that will go to hell.

What about the “good road?”

The Road To The Cross. Have you traveled that road? 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (KJV)