Staying In the Race (Hebrews 12:1-3)

1. Staying In the Race (Hebrews 12:1-3)

2. “Let us run with endurancethe race that is set before us”  “The race” is a metaphor for the life of faith.  The race is set before us. We don’t define it ourselves. God’s call defines it.  Everyone’s race is somewhat unique.  The race is difficult (αγωνα = “agona”).  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Ti. 4:7; cf, 1 Co. 9:24-25)

3. Let us run with endurance … Why do people quit the race? • Apathy because of personal sin (11:24-25) • Disillusioned over others’ sin • Disillusioned over personal loss/trials (11:35-40) • Love of the world (Demas; 2 Tim. 4:12) (11:8-10)

4. Let us run with endurance This is the governing imperative of the passage. The Lord is encouraging us to not lose heart and quit the race.

5. Keys to Running with Endurance • Listen! • Lay aside! • Look!

6. Listen! “so great a cloud of witnesses”  Those that witness to us by their lives; “though dead, he still speaks” (11:4) “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Ps. 119:24)  Joseph (faith that forgives)  Daniel (faith that is contra Babylon)  Paul (faith that values souls and God’s reward)  Jesus (faith for provision; Matthew 6:25-33)

7. Listen! “so great a cloud of witnesses”  Corrie & Betsy Ten Boom (faith that sees God’s love even in great trials)  William Tyndale (faith that sees the worth of God, His Word, and His people)  Athanasius (faith to be bold; “contra mundum”)  Bartels, Conrads, Bloods (power of prayer)

8. Lay aside … ! • every encumbrance (weight) This is anything that might hold you down in your spiritual life.  Associations (even friendships)  Places fraught with temptation

9. Lay aside … ! • every encumbrance (weight) • the sin that so easily entangles  Not one unique personally besetting sin  Put away sin, which entangles and trips us up.  This is a call to repentance. “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiamagite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.” (Luther’s 1st Thesis)

10. Look! • Person of Christ • Perseverance of Christ • Perspective of Christ

11. Look at the Person of Christ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. (John 1:14-18)

12. “No man ever spoke like this man.”(John 7:46) “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”(Matthew 12:41-42)

13. Look at the Perseverance of Christ Jesus endured the cross, its shame, and hostility from sinners. When I Survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride!

14. Look at the Perspective of Christ “Who for the joy set before Him”  Present sacrifice for future joy and glory (His and ours)