Run with ENDURANCE

Pray

Peace

Forgiveness

Endurance

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The Christian life is a race of endurance that can only be finished by fixing our eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12 is one of the clearest pictures of the Christian life. Paul moves from Hebrews 11 which is full of examples of faith to the ultimate example - Jesus Himself

The progression is intentional

Be encouraged by the saints who have gone before you

Remove what slows you down

Run with endurance

Focus on Jesus

Remember how Jesus endured suffering

Keep going because he finished his race and now reigns

History

hebrews was written to Christians who were tired, discouraged, and face persecution. Some were considering abandoning their faith because following Christ has become difficult.

The writer spends all of Hebrews 11 Showing people who trusted God despite

Uncertainty

Suffering

Promises they were still waiting on

Persecution

Death

He follows that up by saying “Now you run.”

Don’t look at this like a chapter break this is the application to Hebrews 11

The “Cloud” refers to the massive number of faithful believers throughout Hebrews 11

These witnesses are not primarily spectators watching us, rather they are witnesses to God’s faithfulness

Take away from from their lives

God keeps His promises

God sustains His poeple

Faith is worth it

Abel said “God accepted my faith”

Noah said “God preserved me”

Abraham said “God fulfilled His covenant”

Moses said “God was worth following”

Together they for a “Cloud” of testimony

“The sin that so easily entangles”

Sin wraps itself around a believer like vines around a runners legs,

The author likely has unbelief especially in mind because that has been a major theme throughout Hebrews

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Dont Drift)

Hebrews 3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (Beware of unbelief)

Hebrews 4:11 “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Dont fall through disobedience)

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hold fast)

Any sin can entangle us, but unbelief is the root that often feeds many other sins.

“Run with Endurance”

The Christian life is not a sprint

The word for endurance (hypomonē) “Steadfast, Constancy, endurance.”

The Christian life requires

Patience

Consistency

Faithfulness

Many start fast. few finish well, The goal is not simply conversion. The goal is perseverance.