The Christian Race Hebrews 12:1-2

Introduction: Has anyone ever ran in a race?

Now I want you to think about our Christian walk.

In Hebrews chapter 12, we see the writer talks about out faith is like running in a race.

First, we will see we need to Remove stumbling blocks (Hebrews 12:1A).

Second, we will see we need to Remain Steadfast (Hebrews 12:1B).

Finally, we will see we need to Remember the Saviour (Hebrews 12:2).

Thesis: To finish our race, we must remove all stumbling blocks and remain faithful to the end by keeping our eyes focused on Jesus.

I. Let us Remove stumbling blocks (Hebrews 12:1A).

a. “Wherefore” seeing we also are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses.

Original Aidience-

ii. Heb 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

iii. Examples: the witnesses

1. Noah- Built an ark.

2. Abraham- Called to a place he knew nothing about.

3. Sara- had baby at old age.

4. Abraham- offered Isaac knowing God was able to raise him from dead.

5. Joseph- His bones.

iv. Now all of these are examples of a working faith.

v. Now think about the Christian life- it is a walk of faith. We all strive to get to a final destination which is Heaven even though none of us have ever seen it.

vi. Our life from the moment we are born again till our departure is a life long race. To be successful we must:

b. Let us lay aside every weight.

i. A professional runner……..

ii. We need to take off any weights that will slow us down, just like a weight for a runner is not a bad thing but something to make them better.

1. We can have good things in life that slow us down in our spiritual life.

a. Job

b. Hobbies- fishing. Hunting. Golf.

c. Family

i. Some may think well if only I had a better job or made more money than I could be more dedicated!! Matt 6:33

2. We need to really evaluate our life and remove anything which is taking our focus off God. There are good things in life that distract us, but there are also bad things.

c. Let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us.

Sin Seperates us…….. Isa 59:1-2 : But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

iv. There are a lot of bad things which can distract us on our race.

v. These are all stumbling blocks: they can be deceiving at times, it may seem like they will make your race easier but cause you to fall.

1. We must put sin to death. Rom 6:23

II. Let us Remain Steadfast (Hebrews 12:1B).

a. Let us run with Patience.

i. Think about the original audience, they were being persecuted. They were tired and wore out and wanting to drift back to the old law and works.

ii. Now the writer is saying be patient, don’t lose focus.

iii. Now patience is able to endure, to be able to finish the race which he has started.

iv. If a runner does not finish the race they will receive no reward.

v. What would be the point of life if we only run ¾’s of the race?

vi. We do not want to go idle in our Christian walk.

vii. Some sign of losing endurance:

1. Not important to go to Worship/Bible Class.

2. Not wanting to talk to others about Spiritual matters.

3. Not wanting to get involved with our church family. Acts 2:46-47

4. Having thoughts I'm to old to evangelize.

b. The race that is set before us.

i. We have work to do.

ii. We must endure to the end for the reward Rev 2:10 “ be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

We will all face trials, tribulations in life , but the important thing is we stay on course. we do that by:

How we can remain:

III. Let us Remember the Saviour (Hebrews 12:2).

a. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

i. Think about the original audience they were turning back to the law and works of it!!!

ii. The author is telling them to stay on course, and finish strong.

iii. Stay focused, because It is Jesus who gives us Hope.

iv. We now have a light at the end of the tunnel.

b. Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.

i. Do you think the cross was going to be a joyful experience? NO

ii. Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so they persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

c. Despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

i. People in this time period viewed the crucifixion as shameful, because it was a place for criminals to be embarrassed, shamed in front of the public. Their nakedness exposed as their cloths and skin was ripped off.

ii. Jesus did not find it shameful for people to mock, beat, scourge, crucify Him.

iii. Many times, Christians will feel ashamed to talk about their faith, to talk about Jesus. Part of race is encouraging others to join the race.

iv. He Knew He was fulfilling the Will of the Father.

1. His whole life was focused and centered on God.

2. Jesus was completely committed to God; He knew the obstacles in His race and He went to the cross and let them crucify Him.

v. Now He sits on the right hand of God. His reward.

Conclusion: We seen the Hebrew writer is telling the Christians in the 1st century and us today that we are in a race.

Christianity is a race that we started the moment………

Our race is not easy, there is a lot of hills, slopes, puddles, mud along the way. Sometimes we are going to trip and fall.

But the important thing is we get back up and in the race again.

The older we get the harder the race will be, but there is no retirement in Christianity.

We need to use the time that God has given us wisely, redeem the time.

Anything that we see in our Christian race that is distracting us, and taking our focus off Jesus, then we need to remove those roadblocks.

Sometimes trees fall into the path, we have to find a way around it or cut the tree up and press on. But it is our hope that we have which can get us through the tough times.

We must remain focused on Jesus and remember the reward, the day we can hear well done thou good and faithful servant.

First, we saw we need to Remove stumbling blocks.

Second, we saw we need to Remain Steadfast.

Finally, we saw we need to Remember the Saviour.

Have you found yourself in a pothole in your Christian race?