Sermon
#83 Hebrews
Notes
Title: How
Goes The Race?
Text: Hebrews 12:1-4
Subject: Perseverance
Date: Tuesday Evening –
Tape # W-2a
Introduction:
The Book of Hebrews, from start to finish, is an
inspired admonition to perseverance. It is an inspired motivation to faith,
constantly holding before us both the example of Christ as our guide and the
accomplishments of Christ as our motive. In the face of trails and temptations
on every hand, we are called upon to endure unto the end and persevere in the
faith, to go on following Christ. We must not quit. We must not give up. We
must not go back, though…
·
Heresies abound on every side.
·
Temptations of every kind allure us away from our Savior.
·
Trials come one on the heels of another.
The believer’s life is compared to many things that
picture the absolute necessity of perseverance in faith. We are in a warfare
that will not end until we have left this world and entered into heavenly glory
with Christ. We are engaged in a work, a labor, a cause from which there is no
rest until our work is done. In Hebrews 12 it is compared to a race.
Our life in this world is a race, a race with a
starting point, a finish line, and a prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24) "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
(Philippians 3:14) "I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Contrary to what most seem to think, the
prize is obtained not when the race is begun, but when it is done (Phil. 3:3-14). It is not
he who begins the race and runs well for a season that wins the prize, but he
who finishes the race. It is not he who runs fast, or even he who runs well,
but he who runs to the end who wins the prize. “The race is not to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong” (Ecc.
The Book of God teaches both the preservation of
God’s elect by grace and the perseverance of all believers in grace, eternal
security in Christ and the endurance of faith.
Yes, it is true, the Lord Jesus Christ gives his
sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish. All who are born of God are
kept by God. All who are saved by the grace of God are kept saved by the grace
of God. Not one of God’s elect shall fail to obtain eternal glory with Christ
(Ecc.
·
We have been chosen and predestined to it.
·
Christ purchased it for us and purchased us for it!
·
Our Surety has taken possession of it for us.
·
We are sealed by God the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption.
Yet, the Word of God is crystal clear. We must
persevere unto the end.
(Job 17:9) "The righteous also shall hold on his
way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."
(Matthew 10:22) "And ye
shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to
the end shall be saved."
(Hebrews 3:14) "For we are
made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast
unto the end."
(Hebrews 10:35-39) "Cast
not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that
shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by
faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul."
Proposition: The purpose of this passage,
the intent of the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 12:1-4 is to show us the necessity of
perseverance in faith.
(Hebrews 12:1-4) "Wherefore
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, 2 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. 3 For consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your
minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against
sin."
Here’s the question I want you to consider. It is a
question I’ve been trying to ask and honestly answer for myself. Now I want you
to ask it of yourself and answer it honestly—How goes the race? Are your hands hanging down? Are
your knees growing feeble? Have your feet been turned aside? Are you tempted to
give it up? Oh, may God the Holy Spirit now burn his Word into our hearts!
"Wherefore”—Be sure you get the connection between Hebrews 12
and what has gone before. This word “wherefore” looks back to Hebrews
10:35-36.
(Hebrews 10:35-36) "Cast
not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise."
Paul here urges us to patiently, doggedly continue in the faith,
assuring us that we will need much grace to give us the patience and fortitude
with which to endure unto the end. Then, in chapter 11, he gives us those great
examples of faith, patience and perseverance drawn from Old Testament history.
In Hebrews 12 he picks up the admonition.
(Hebrews 10:35-39) "Cast
not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that
shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by
faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul."
(Hebrews 12:1) "Wherefore
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"
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses”—There is an allusion here to the ancient Olympic games of
These witnesses are our brothers and sisters who have gone before us
into glory. Specifically, these witnesses refer to those Old Testament saints
mentioned in chapter 11. But it certainly includes all who have gone before us
into heaven, because the body of Christ, the people of God are one.
These are not merely spectators at a game. They are men and women who
have run the race before us, finished their course, and won the prize. Now,
they are a cloud of witnesses urging us on in the race.
The word translated “witnesses” is really the word from which we
get our word “martyr.” It is a word full of meaning and instruction. These
witnesses are people…
·
Who laid down their lives in the cause. Some were martyred by the hands
of others. All were martyred by their own hands—They all voluntarily laid down
their lives for Christ.
·
Who bear witness to Christ—His grace—His faithfulness—His sufficiency!
·
Who are witnesses of those still running the race!
“Wherefore 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."
The charged given in this verse is threefold.
First, Paul calls for us to join him in laying aside every weight that hinders
us in our race. He says, “Children, let us, like those who have gone before us into
heaven, lay aside every weight.” Obviously, he is talking about those things
that weigh heavily upon us, those things that press us down and hinder us from
running the race.
·
Lay aside the terrible burden of the law that you cannot bear. The Lord
God has laid it aside. Let us lay it aside.
·
Take the weight and burden of your sin and lay it down, lay it on
Christ, and quit carrying it. Our God has laid it aside. Let us lay it aside
(Rom. 6:11). Literally, Paul says, “Having laid aside every weight and the
sin which doth so easily best us, let us run with patience the race that is set
before us.”
(Romans 6:11) "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
·
Take all the weight and burden of your heart’s care and lay it upon his
broad shoulders. “Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you!” –
It is both foolish and wrong for us to spend our energy and time dwelling upon
and carrying burdens that we can do nothing about. – Really, the text should
read—“Having laid aside the weight!”
·
Let us also, with deliberate purpose, lay aside every earthly care that
would keep us from running the race set before us—“The care of this world”—“The
deceitfulness of riches.”
(Matthew 6:25-34)
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the
fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into
barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto
you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and
to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall
we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For
after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof."
Second, he says, “Let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset
us.”
No doubt, these words may be applied to many, many things, many
besetting sins. Indeed, we must not let sin have dominion over us. We must say
no to the flesh and to all worldly lusts. But, if you read the words carefully,
you will see that Paul uses a definite article “the” and refers to “the
sin” that so easily besets us all as one sin. He uses the singular form of
the word “sin,” not the plural. He is talking about one, single sin that
besets us all, one sin that constantly wraps around us, entangles, and trips us
up. It is the same thing Jeremiah said about himself (Lam. 1:14).
(Lamentations 1:14) "The
yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come
up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me
into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up."
The sin that so easily besets us, that is so easily and constantly
committed, that so much hinders us and dishonors our God is unbelief. Unbelief,
more than anything else, hinders us in our race.
·
Unbelief caused the disciples to cry, “Master, carest thou not that
we perish.”
·
Unbelief caused Martha and Mary to question the Lord’s goodness.
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Unbelief caused Peter to sink, as he walked across the stormy sea.
·
Unbelief keeps us from seeing the glory of God (John 11:40)—In Grace—In
Providence!
·
Unbelief causes our hands to hang down, makes our knees weak, and turns
our feet off course!
Third,
the Apostle calls for us, laying aside every weight of care and the sin that so
easily trips us up, to “run with patience the race that is set before
us.”
The Amplified Version paraphrases this admonition in a
very good way.
“Therefore, then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses {who have born testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw
aside every encumbrance—unnecessary weight—and that sin which so readily
(deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient
endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course
of the race that is set before us.”
The race that is set before us is the course of our individual lives. Each course has its own
obstacles, hills, valleys, and difficulties. But it is the course set before us
by God our Father and Christ our Redeemer.
·
The arena is this present evil world.
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The course is set before us in the Word of God—and by divine
providence.
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The race is a race that must be run. – It requires effort—constant
strain—relentless endurance—perseverance—patience—and determination.
·
The Prize is Christ!
(Philippians 3:7-14) "But
what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and
the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 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."
Now, look at verse 2. Here we are told how to run this race…
“Looking Unto Jesus”
"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."
The word “looking” would be better translated “looking away!”
The only way to run this race is to look away from ourselves, our weaknesses,
our troubles, the world, the cares of the world—everything! Look away unto…
·
“Jesus”—Our Savior—Our Redeemer—Our Covenant Surety—Our Lord! –
Look unto him by faith. Look into him. Dive into the mystery of
his person, his offices, his works, and his grace!
·
“The Author of Our Faith!”
·
The Object of Our Faith!
(2 Timothy 1:8-12) "Be not
thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made
manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished
death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the
Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day."
·
“The Finisher of Our Faith!”
Now, look at verses 3 and 4 for just a minute. When you are tempted to think things are just too great, that you just can’t go on…
“Consider Him”
Keep looking away to Christ. Because of his great love for you, he
refused to give up his race. He refused to quit on you.
"For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and
faint in your minds. "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving
against sin."
May God give us grace not to quit on him. The snail, by patient
perseverance, finally reached the ark, and we shall too, as we look away to
Christ.
(Hebrews 12:1-4) "Wherefore
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, 2 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. 3 For consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your
minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against
sin."