The Christian Race

Hebrews 12:1-4

I believe so many churches today live under the motto, “get em in, get em saved, get em serving,” rather than, “Lord, lead them to come—Lord, lead them to the cross, and lead them to be discipled.” I believe, within the walls of so many churches, a dangerous and unspoken way of existence has crept in, one that silently teaches that salvation is the end of one’s journey—that the race is to become a Christian, rather than to run AS a Christian

For so many people, when it comes to salvation, the understanding is restoration is the completion of their life’s journey. In some way, this is right—b/c the journey of the “old man” has ended—the race and walk, of who a person was, before Christ has come to an end. However, a misunderstanding exists in the thinking that once a life is surrendered to Christ, a person can just, “put their lives in neutral.”

The Biblical truth is, salvation is the beginning of a journey, it’s a sojourn (a temporary stay), a pilgrimage of sorts, of which the author of Hebrews call the Christian’s race. This race according to Scripture, has an aim, a goal, and a purpose—to see the quality (not quantity) of one’s faith grown & one’s life be more and more conformed into the image of Jesus Christ (see 1 Thess 4:3).

God knew this in His foreknowledge, He knew those who would surrender their lives to Christ—would enter this race and pilgrimage—and He knew the goal/aim/purpose, because He established this. Pauls teaches this to us in Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God didn’t & doesn’t deliver a person from their sin to walk/run/sojourn this race alone—rather He provides a person ALL they would ever need to run the Christian race; to run in such a way when Christ returns or call them home, the runner can hope to hear these words, “well done my good and faithful servant.” Again, Paul in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

In relation to tonight’s Scripture we see a vital part of God’s provision. Within God’s Word we read/see/learn about those who’ve already gone before us, who’ve participated and finished the Christian race. In context, these are the O/T saints found in Hebrews 11, known as, “the heroes of faith,” those who believed, trusted, and followed after God and His promise to send the One who would set man free from their sin. Their trust and belief spurred them to live fearlessly, boldly, and courageously in their faith, and serve as “the great cloud of witnesses,” who are the believer’s inspiration in running the Christian race…b/c their focus was on God and His promises.

(READ HEBREWS 12:1-4)

I (v.1) We have inspiration for the Christian race—a great cloud of witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...”

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ,

There is a race we run; a goal/aim we live to, and a purpose for which we were saved:

To grow more and more in the image of Jesus Christ, and

To allow God to grow and develop the quality of our faith, not the quantity (quantity of faith lends itself to legalism, measurements, and comparisons)

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the course of our race is no Sunday stroll. While there may be seasons of peace and blessing, the Christian life

Is not:

A life in “neutral,”

A life filled with ease and no problems.

It is however a life where we will experience,

Trials & tribulations,

Temptations & persecutions,

Brokenness & loss, and

So many things which only serve to hinder and hold us down in our race.

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, we need inspiration

These are those we read/study/learn about in Hebrews 11, referred to as the, “Heroes of faith.”

Here’s what we need to know about them for the purpose of our discussion tonight

These saints are the, “great cloud of witnesses,” the author speaks of in verse 1

They were the participants who entered, ran, and finished the race, yet

They are more than mere participants—they are spectators—they actually witness the race a believer runs—they are vitally interested in how we run our Christian race

The faith of the O/T saints is remarkable—b/c they

Believed God and believed His promises,

Stood fast for God;

They trusted in Who was promised to come, though never seeing this fulfilled..they trusted in the something better.

As we go through tonight, my prayer is that each of us will recognize you and I have the blessing and privilege of looking back at the cross, see that the something better, was the Someone better, who came and accomplished the great work of God’s salvation for you and is the focus of Christian race

These witnesses had the same focal point any believer must have—Jesus Christ

These witnesses endured for Christ, they

Endured against great temptation, against looking/touching/tasting/thinking/feeling anything that would hinder their race (They weren’t perfect by any stretch, but they didn’t give in to temptation—not for long—not as a lifestyle—not permanently)

The endured against great trials/problems/trouble/suffering/loss/brokenness

They endured opposition/persecution/mockery—even from family/friends/neighbors—not just from the systems of this world

These witnesses and their faith and endurance should

Stir and inspire the surrendered heart to believe God, and

To run holding fast to this belief in God

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)

We cannot finish a race, let alone run a race, we haven’t yet entered—a person must be born again, must be surrendered, must be a believer and follower of Jesus Christ—otherwise there’s another race they are running—a race/life given over to the flesh:

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Once in the race, we must know and grow in how God calls us to run the believer’s race—we must know and grow in how He calls us to live

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

This must begin, encompass, revolve, and involve a devoted relationship with God’s Word, a relationship that goes beyond knowledge and involves reverent obedience to His Word

James 1:21-25 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

In reading the Word, we discover and learn of those who’ve gone before, who have fought the good fight, and have finished the race: note Paul in his 2nd letter to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

There is no such thing as a “lone-wolf Christian”

There is no such thing a developing relationship with God, if you have non-existent or deteriorating relationship with His Word

II (v.1) Required disciplines of the Christian race (two-fold)

Hebrews 12:1 “...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Note:

“Lay aside” means (Greek) to take off, strip off, and to remove as in taking off clothes

Biblical example: Bartimaeus

Mark 10:50 “And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.”

Practical example: Sprinter/runner

We must lay aside every weight

“Every weight” (Greek) means any excess weight and bulk of body—and refers to things which may be legitimate an innocent in and of themselves—but they end up hindering the race you are running. A natural question is, what might be included in these things, what are some things that do not help a believer grow, develop, and run the race as fast/best he can?

Seeking entertainment as a priority over:

Fellowshipping and communing with God

Delighting in and meditating on God’s Word (Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”)

Being desperately devoted to prayer

Worshipping and witnessing

(Resting is not wrong—in fact it’s Biblical—the problem is most people take advantage of this and relax far more than we need/should/ought to—and we end up neglecting our fellowship and communion with God)

Seeking the possessions and things of this world instead of seeking God

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Listening to music/sounds or other things which do not:

Build up our spirits

Focus our minds upon the truth and upon God

Strengthen the quality of our faith and walk in Christ

The list is not exhaustive—of the things which may be legitimate/innocent, yet hinder, but the point is this:

Anything which does not build up our faith, strengthen our dependency, focus our minds on Christ, or make us stronger, is excess weight which slows us down

What is this for you? What is (are) the areas/habits/activities in your life, which have more value to you than your relationship with God?

We must not participate, allow, hold on to—ANY THING which might hinder your relationship with God and the Christian race you are running.

Jesus to the rich young ruler: Matthew 19:21-22 “Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

“Sin that so easily ensnares”

“Easily ensnares/besets” (Greek)—means the sin which clings, distracts, entangles, and trips up the Christian runner

The picture is of clothing flapping around, while the runner is running—it serves to trip him and entangle him, to the point the runner falls.

What is this sin? There are various sins which are suggested as common to all believers, but what the language of the Bible is speaks strongly to

Every believer and to the particular sin that entangles and throws the believer

What is this sin for you? This is a question each believer must ask of themselves

Pleasure/Lust

Drugs/alcohol/Pornography

Pride/Indulgence

Greed

The flesh/Possessions

Worldly friends/TV/Sports

Biblical help with this: There are many Biblical truths to combating/overcoming these weights and sins, but for the sake of time—here’s one

Begin by asking yourself, what has your flesh/your sin/your “weight” or “sin” ever done for you?

Romans 8:12 “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”

Second, put this Spiritual discipline into practice—beginning now

Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

We must run with patience---“Patience” (Greek) means: endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, constancy, perseverance; it is active—not passive; it does not sit back and put up with the trials of life—taking whatever comes,

Biblical patience means

Actively going about conquering/overcoming the various trials of life

“Buffalo example”

Biblical patience requires understanding of trials/temptations (James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” )

Trails/temptations—as used in James, are derived from the Greek word meaning to try, to test, to prove—they are used to qualify our faith—not destroy and tear it down

Biblical patience produce

A more pure person—more holy, righteous, and just

A more stronger person—more steadfast, enduring, and persevering

A more dynamic witness for Jesus Christ--

III (v.2) Our supreme focus: Jesus Christ

Hebrews 12:2 “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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

***Believers who have trusted God and endured in their faith are great examples for us (as seen in Hebrews 11 and even in our own lives, we can look back and see those who’ve gone before). As great as these people were—there is ONE supreme example—one in which those who have gone before us gazed upon—Jesus Christ***

***Note the word “looking”—it means to fix your eyes upon Jesus and to fix your minds upon Jesus. The Christian runner is to focus his/her eyes and mind upon Jesus Christ. Why? Because He ran the race Himself—and He ran in perfectly—He shows us exactly to run it**

(Four things about the race Christ ran)

Jesus Christ participated in the race Himself

The Author (Greek) means: He authored, began, originated, created, and gave birth to the Christian race

The Finisher (Greek) means: He perfected, completed, and consummated the race—He ran the race to the finish

He finished what He established in perfect obedience and perfect righteousness and in perfection

He finished the race as the blazing example of faith in God—in utter dependance of God

Jesus Christ had a great inspiration— “the joy that was set before Him.” What was this? The great day of redemption

The glorious day when

He would be united and exalted with all believers of all ages

He would realize all the glory and joy for which He had died and for which God had purposed His death

The new heavens and the new earth would be recreated and all the redeemed would be worshipped and serving God as all in all

The salvation of all believers of all generations would be completely and perfectly fulfilled—that He and all those who loved Him would be ruling and reigning with Him forever

(Ephesians 1:18 vs Ephesians 2:18)

What I think of in this section of Scripture—I think of the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15

The son (a picture of us) ran as far as he could from his father, his father’s house, land, and rules

The son (a picture of us) wasted all he had on this world—to the point he was wishing he could eat the pig slop he was hired for

The son (a picture of us) came to the end of himself—decided to go back to his father

The son (a picture of us) was amazed to see that the “work” his father was tending to, was seeking Him out to restore him

Luke 15:20 ““And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

The son (a picture of us) was amazed to see his father run to him, with a heart of compassion, falling on his neck, kissing him and sheltering him from the shame/guilt/condemnation of prodigal living

How this related to me as a wayward sinner and how this relates to everyone here (saved or lost)

Jesus Christ did not go to the cross

Begrudgingly,

Regretfully, or

Half-heartedly

Jesus Christ went to the cross with joy, b/c He knew

The prodigal/wayward sinner who would surrender to Him---would become His inheritance one day

The heart lost in addiction/bondage/immorality who would surrender to Him—would have the right to be called a child of God

The heart lost to a heritage and generation of idolatry and false worship who would surrender to Him—would have the joy having their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life—given a new heritage, a new name, and an eternal future

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of discipline

He started, endured, and finished the race with perfect obedience

He endured the same temptations that befall man (you and I) today and perfectly

Jesus Christ is the supreme example of receiving the reward of faith

IV (v.3) Our controlling factor: focusing and keeping our mind’s on Jesus’ endurance

Hebrews 12:3 “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

The Christian race, as we’ve mentioned before, is not an easy race

We will grow weary, b/c of having to

Endure trials and temptations

Fight/war/battle our sinful nature

Endure persecutions and loss we are sure to face

We will become distracted;

With the things of this world, whether it be

Money/fame/fortune

Allurement/pleasures of sin

Immoral relationships

Addictions/strongholds

The Christian runner, therefore needs to focus one’s mind on and in the right place---the endurance of Jesus Christ.

“Consider” (Greek) means—to compare, reckon, count up, and weigh; and it tells us, as believers we are focus upon Jesus Christ and His sufferings and compare and weigh them against our own, b/c Christ had to endure so much more than we have or will.

Any sufferer, no matter the reason for the suffering needs to remember all of the following, Jesus bore all of this

Being born to an unwed mother

Being born in a stable, the worst of conditions

Having His life threatened as a baby

Being the cause of unimaginable sorrow

Having to be moved and shifted as a baby

Being reared in a despicable place

Having His father die in His youth—thus having to support His mother and siblings

Having no home, not even a place to lay His head

Being hated by opposed by religionists

Being charged with insanity

Being opposed by His own family

Being rejected, hated, and opposed by those He with spoke with, those who witnessed His healings/miracles/and teachings

Being betrayed by a close friend

Being left alone, rejected, and forsaken by all His friends (minus John)

Being tried for treason

Being executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death

Why? Why compare---b/c

It keeps us from becoming weary, tired, exhausted, worn out and relaxing

It keeps our minds from fainting, from losing heart and becoming discouraged, from giving up

There is an Old Testament account and a New Testament account of our need to focus on Jesus Christ as we run our race, b/c there will be times we may take our eyes off of Christ, b/c of our own sin and because of the brokenness (waves) of this world:

(Numbers 21:1-9) This section of verses depict a time when the Israelites complained (again) against God and Moses. Because of their sin, “fiery serpents” entered the camp and began to bite people, who subsequently died. In the Israelites’ confession of their sin, God instructed Moses to construct a pole with a bronze snake, that whoever was bitten could look on the snake/poke and live

Amidst the context of Numbers 21, is a reminder that as we are running our race, as we are sojourning through this world, we will fall into sin, we will, “run in the wrong lane,” so to speak—and we NEED to remember to focus on the grace, mercy, and forgiveness afforded to us through the cross of Christ—in confessing, repenting, and focusing on God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness— we remember the life we’ve been given in the joy of our salvation—and we keep persevering in the Christian race

(Matthew 14:22-33) This account in the N/T depicts Peter hopping out of the boat and walking on water. Note what happens

(REVIEW STORY)

Keeping our minds/hearts and lives focused on Christ gives us the spiritual sweat and grit to run the Christian race with endurance/patience.

V (v.4) Our race’s great demand—resisting temptation—even to blood

Hebrews 12:4 “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”

(CONTEXT)

This verse directs us to Christ’s ordeal/prayer in Gethsemane and upon the cross. Christ resisted the temptation to choose some other way, to the point of blood

(See Matthew 26:36-36; Mark 14:32-42; or Luke 22:39-53)

(CONNECTION—You and Me)

Our intentionality must be to fight/war/battle against temptation

to the point of sweating blood, if necessary

to the point of death

1 Corinthians 9:25 “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Hebrews 12:4 “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

(WORSHIP TEAM)

The Christian race can be described in many ways:

It is the race for heaven

It is the race for life, for both abundant and eternal life

It is the race to live with God forever

It is the race for perfection, a perfect life and world in which there is no suffering/sin/corruption/evil/death

It is the race to commune with God and fellowship with God both now and forever

The goal/aim of a believer’s race is so wonderful/amazing we could go on and on and in reality, man’s words couldn’t fully describe the joy that awaits the believer at the end of his/her race.

Maybe the greatest of all things about the race a believer runs is the belief and knowledge of this:

For the believer:

We know God’s promise to the Old Testament believers—the promise of the “promised land,” shall be a living reality

We know God’s promise beyond question, b/c God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ

To die on a cross meant for me (for you), to take and bear

Your sin and shame

Your wage/judgment/condemnation

The separation from God you were set to experience

To rise 3 days later, to

Remove the sting of death

Remove the victory the grave thought it had over you

For this reason, a believer runs the Christian race

Questions as we close and sing:

Are you running the right race? Have you entered the right race? COME AND CRY OUT TO JESUS CHRIST

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Are you the believer who’s grown weary, tired, worn out b/c you’ve slipped into sin, are experiencing trial/temptation that seems to much to bear---COME AND CRY OUT TO JESUS

Are you the believer who’s stepped in the wrong lane, stepping into sin and need a reminder of the joy of salvation—COME AND CRY OUT TO JESUS