Supreme Running
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:16-26
Kid’s Time:
Intro: The faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Jepthah, Sampson, Samuel, David, the prophets are exalted as examples of how to live for God. They didn’t shrink back when it was tough, but they looked forward to the promises of God. They were in it for the long game that would not be realized by generations far removed from them. And so the author of Hebrews challenges professing believers (some who were truly believers, others who had just shown initial interest in Christ) not to go back to Judaism which was a shadow, but to persevere in faith.
In Chapter 12 this perseverance is compared to a race.
Proposition: We are to run our race of faith like the saints before us.
Interrogative: How are we encouraged to run?
Transitional Statement: 4 Necessities to run our race of faith well.
Get your running shoes on, and Let’s Run!…
I. As They Ran
I. As They Ran
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
approval —
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.263 μαρτυρέω
33.263 μαρτυρέωb: to speak well of a person on the basis of personal experience—‘to speak well of, to approve
How do we gain God’s approval? Why should He speak well of us? through faith!
We have the promise that they longed for…
32 “And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’
17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
What was provided was the coming of the Messiah. But even though we can experience Him now through His Spirit, we do not have the ultimate conclusion of our salvation.
23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
So, we all wait until the last of the elect are saved by God and Jesus returns for the rapture of the church.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 11
The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the full number of the elect shall be accomplished, and all together, no one preceding the other, shall enter on the full glory and bliss
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Faith—The Greatest Power in the World (Hebrews 11)
Faith is possible to all kinds of believers in all kinds of situations. It is not a luxury for a few “elite saints.” It is a necessity for all of God’s people.
Lord, increase our faith!
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us… let us run…the race that is set before us,
Witnesses — They are not watching us. They were not those type of witnesses. What the author means is, they were witnesses to their generations of the Messiah, witnessing to us what it means to live by faith no matter the obstacles, not witnesses watching us in the stands. But, they and their faith does surround us like a cloud. Here is the encouragement we need to run. If they could run without a full knowledge of the plan of God (in the completed Scriptures), and without the revelation of the Messiah (in the person of Jesus Christ), then we can run too.
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Encouragement to Run
They are not looking at us; we are to look at them
It is their example of faith that surrounds us and that we should look to. Listen, They had great races but they are done. Our event of living in faith started when we believed in Jesus. We are in the event and we cannot quit. You can stop when you’re dead and you’ve joined the previous winners.
II. Without Weights
II. Without Weights
1 … let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Lay aside:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.37 ἀποτίθεμαι
68.37 ἀποτίθεμαιb: (a figurative extension of meaning of ἀποτίθεμαιa ‘to put away,’ 85.44) to cease doing what one is accustomed to doing—‘to stop, to cease.’ ἀποθέσθαι
Weight:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 13.149 ὄγκος, ου
13.149 ὄγκος, ου m: that which serves to hinder or prevent someone from doing something—‘hindrance, impediment.’
Athletes today wear weighted belts and ankle weights when they train, but they drop the weights when they compete.
Hebrews: Verse by Verse Persevering in the Race (12:1–3)
For the believer, this means all distractions, anything that will encumber one’s walk with God. These impediments both hinder and entangle us and so must be eliminated as quickly as possible
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
What is holding you back in your faith? Maybe it is sin. alcohol, pot, lust, bitterness, pride, etc. Maybe it is not inherently sinful but is distracting you because it has become too much of a focus. success, riches, sports, gaining knowledge, hobbies, pursuit of comfort, etc.
III. With Endurance
III. With Endurance
1 … and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
So, let’s run! The way that we run is to have faith. Our opponents are not fellow christians, but Satan and the strongholds of false doctrine that he and his demons have made to trip us up and cause us to stumble.
Race:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 50.4 ἀγών, ῶνος
50.4 ἀγών, ῶνος m: a race involving competition and struggle—‘race.’ We get our word “agony” from this word.
Endurance:
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.174 ὑπομονή, ῆς
25.174 ὑπομονή, ῆς f: capacity
This race is a marathon, not a sprint.
IV. With the Goal In View
IV. With the Goal In View
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.
