Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,[SUP] 2 [/SUP]Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to run that race in laying aside every weight & sin by LOOKING to the author & finisher of our faith to help us do that.
Believers are not doing that when they run that race by doing the best they can in keeping their commitment or promise to God to do that. Either you trust Him as your Good Shepherd to help you to follow Him or you don't.
Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]For by it the elders obtained a good report.....[SUP]6 [/SUP]But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jesus spoke against making any commitment or promise to follow Him, because that means it is on you to finish it and that is why it is of evil for you cannot make one hair white or black; meaning you cannot do God's work in you.
Matthew 5:[SUP]33 [/SUP]Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:[SUP]34 [/SUP]But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:[SUP]35 [/SUP]Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.[SUP] 36 [/SUP]Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.[SUP]37 [/SUP]But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Jesus gave instructions on how any one wanted to follow after Him.
Luke 9:[SUP]23 [/SUP]And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.Deny yourself as able to follow Him, pick up your cross daily in acknowledging you are crucified with Christ, that it s not you who live, but Christ in you; and the life you now live, you live by faith in the Son of God that gave Himself for you and that is HOW you are following Him.
As it is, too many believers have been led astray by the Graham's Crusades by that altar call to make a commitment to follow Christ as if keeping it can gain a believer an assurance of salvation. And as if that was not bad enough, the Promise Keepers' program went across the nation into all the denomenational churches, inspiring men to make promises to be good husbands and good fathers and when failing, to believe that God would give grace to keep trying. God will not.
Read His words below to see why God will not.
Galatians 2:[SUP]17 [/SUP]But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.[SUP] 18 [/SUP]For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.[SUP] 19 [/SUP]For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.[SUP]20 [/SUP]I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.[SUP]21 [/SUP]I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Romans 10:[SUP]2 [/SUP]For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.[SUP] 3 [/SUP]For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.[SUP]4 [/SUP]For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.[SUP]5 [/SUP]For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 3:[SUP]19 [/SUP]Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.[SUP]20 [/SUP]Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God will forgive you when you realize you cannot keep that commitment or promise to follow Him or do anything for Him in making yourself good or to do good, and He will set you free from those commitments & promises so you can rest in Him and all His promises to you in the New Covenant that He will help you to follow Him by faith in Him alone.
Otherwise, He will forgive you, and He will continue to let you keep trying to do something you refuse to rest in Him for, but do not think for one moment, that you are pleasing God by your lack of faith in Him alone to finish His work in you which is to His glory; not yours. The crowns believers receives in Heaven are His crowning achievements in us which is why the saints in Heavens will cast their crowns at His feet for no flesh shall glory in His Presence.
1 Corinthians 1:[SUP]29 [/SUP]That no flesh should glory in his presence.[SUP]30 [/SUP]But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:[SUP]31 [/SUP]That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:[SUP]21 [/SUP]Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;[SUP]22 [/SUP]Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;[SUP]23 [/SUP]And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Ephesians 2:[SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:[SUP]9 [/SUP]Not of works, lest any man should boast.[SUP]10 [/SUP]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:[SUP]6 [/SUP]Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:....[SUP]11 [/SUP]Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.....[SUP]5 [/SUP]For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
So are you running that race by the flesh? Ask Jesus to forgive you & set you free to rest in Him that He will finish it.
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.[SUP]3 [/SUP]For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.....[SUP]9 [/SUP]There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.[SUP] 10 [/SUP]For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Matthew 11:[SUP]28 [/SUP]Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.[SUP] 29 [/SUP]Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.[SUP] 30 [/SUP]For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
So trust Jesus Christ today in being your personal Good Shepherd today to rest in Him & His help for following Him, because that is the only way you can run that race which is by faith in Jesus Christ; not by doing the best you can.
We are to run that race in laying aside every weight & sin by LOOKING to the author & finisher of our faith to help us do that.
Believers are not doing that when they run that race by doing the best they can in keeping their commitment or promise to God to do that. Either you trust Him as your Good Shepherd to help you to follow Him or you don't.
Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]For by it the elders obtained a good report.....[SUP]6 [/SUP]But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jesus spoke against making any commitment or promise to follow Him, because that means it is on you to finish it and that is why it is of evil for you cannot make one hair white or black; meaning you cannot do God's work in you.
Matthew 5:[SUP]33 [/SUP]Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:[SUP]34 [/SUP]But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:[SUP]35 [/SUP]Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.[SUP] 36 [/SUP]Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.[SUP]37 [/SUP]But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Jesus gave instructions on how any one wanted to follow after Him.
Luke 9:[SUP]23 [/SUP]And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.Deny yourself as able to follow Him, pick up your cross daily in acknowledging you are crucified with Christ, that it s not you who live, but Christ in you; and the life you now live, you live by faith in the Son of God that gave Himself for you and that is HOW you are following Him.
As it is, too many believers have been led astray by the Graham's Crusades by that altar call to make a commitment to follow Christ as if keeping it can gain a believer an assurance of salvation. And as if that was not bad enough, the Promise Keepers' program went across the nation into all the denomenational churches, inspiring men to make promises to be good husbands and good fathers and when failing, to believe that God would give grace to keep trying. God will not.
Read His words below to see why God will not.
Galatians 2:[SUP]17 [/SUP]But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.[SUP] 18 [/SUP]For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.[SUP] 19 [/SUP]For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.[SUP]20 [/SUP]I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.[SUP]21 [/SUP]I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Romans 10:[SUP]2 [/SUP]For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.[SUP] 3 [/SUP]For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.[SUP]4 [/SUP]For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.[SUP]5 [/SUP]For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 3:[SUP]19 [/SUP]Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.[SUP]20 [/SUP]Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God will forgive you when you realize you cannot keep that commitment or promise to follow Him or do anything for Him in making yourself good or to do good, and He will set you free from those commitments & promises so you can rest in Him and all His promises to you in the New Covenant that He will help you to follow Him by faith in Him alone.
Otherwise, He will forgive you, and He will continue to let you keep trying to do something you refuse to rest in Him for, but do not think for one moment, that you are pleasing God by your lack of faith in Him alone to finish His work in you which is to His glory; not yours. The crowns believers receives in Heaven are His crowning achievements in us which is why the saints in Heavens will cast their crowns at His feet for no flesh shall glory in His Presence.
1 Corinthians 1:[SUP]29 [/SUP]That no flesh should glory in his presence.[SUP]30 [/SUP]But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:[SUP]31 [/SUP]That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:[SUP]21 [/SUP]Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;[SUP]22 [/SUP]Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;[SUP]23 [/SUP]And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Ephesians 2:[SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:[SUP]9 [/SUP]Not of works, lest any man should boast.[SUP]10 [/SUP]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:[SUP]6 [/SUP]Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:....[SUP]11 [/SUP]Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.....[SUP]5 [/SUP]For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
So are you running that race by the flesh? Ask Jesus to forgive you & set you free to rest in Him that He will finish it.
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.[SUP]3 [/SUP]For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.....[SUP]9 [/SUP]There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.[SUP] 10 [/SUP]For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.[SUP]11 [/SUP]Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Matthew 11:[SUP]28 [/SUP]Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.[SUP] 29 [/SUP]Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.[SUP] 30 [/SUP]For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
So trust Jesus Christ today in being your personal Good Shepherd today to rest in Him & His help for following Him, because that is the only way you can run that race which is by faith in Jesus Christ; not by doing the best you can.