Run the Race
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Now that the writer of Hebrews has clearly laid out the fact that salvation has always and only ever been by faith, he now gives us a picture of what that faith looks like in the life of the believer.
The New Testament gives us many analogies to help us understand our relationship to God in the Christian life. Throughout the New Testament Christians are described as soldiers (), boxers (, ), light and salt (), slaves and bondservants (, , ), and here in Christians are described as athletes who run.
In these few verses, we are given several aspects of the race of the Christian life: the race, encouragement to run the race, hindrances in the race, an Example to follow in the race, and the goal of the race.
The Race
The Race
The most important phrase in verse 1 is let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
First, because we know everything we need to know in order to be saved we are called to enter the race. The writer is saying that if you are not a Christian, get in the race. You cannot hope to win a race that you are not even in. If you are a Christian the writer is saying, “Run with endurance; never give up.”
The word translated race is the Greek word ἀγών. Does this sound like any English word that we use? I’ll give you a hint: it is a word that I (and maybe you) use to describe running. This is the Greek word from which we get our English word agony. The race we are called to run is not a race of ease or luxury. It is demanding physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and yes it can be agonizing at times.
Question: How can you have any hope to finish a race that is long and agonizing?
In order to run the race with endurance, it will require discipline, effort, and perseverance.
God warned Israel that they were not called to a life of ease.
Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,
And trust in Mount Samaria,
Notable persons in the chief nation,
To whom the house of Israel comes!
God’s people are not called to lie around and take it easy. We are called to run the race that is difficult.
And because the race is difficult we are called to run it with endurance. What is endurance? Endurance is the determination to keep going. Endurance is continuing even when everything in you wants to quit.
Example: 400m race
Many people start the Christian life like I started out that race. They start well but begin to slow down as the race goes on. The Christian race is a lifelong race and God wants runners that can make the distance.
Question: Why do you think many people slow down in their Christian race?
Many Christians slow down as they lose enthusiasm and face problems
Question: However, is that how athletes face opposition?
Example: Crossfit Games athletes who face injury
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 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.
Nothing makes less sense than to enter a race that you have no desire to win. We are not called to float down a lazy river to the end.
Example: Pooh sticks
We are called to run an agonizing race.
Now the race of the Christian life is different than an athletic race. We do not compete against our fellow athletes, but rather we compete against sin and Satan. Only one will win the prize.
The race of the Christian life is also different because we do not run in our own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit. We are called to endure, but not in ourselves; we are called to endure in Him.
The Christian life has only one way to endure - by faith. We might sin and fail, but when we do it is because we are not running by faith. Our protection from sin and Satan comes from God.
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
As long as we are trusting God and His Word Satan and sin has no power over us.
Encouragement to Run the Race
Encouragement to Run the Race
Now all of us needs encouragement and motivation in order to endure.
Example: broken arm in baseball
One of the great motivations we have as believers is the massive cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. This cloud of witnesses is made up of all believers who have faithfully run their race, and this long line of believers spans all the way back to the beginning. We are to run our race like they did. Now, can you remind me, how did they all run their race? Yes! We run our race the same way they did - by faith.
They knew how to run the race. By faith they forsook the pleasures of Egypt, passed through the Red Sea, shouted down the walls of Jericho, conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, recieved back their dead, were tortured, mocked, beaten, imprisoned, sawn in two, stoned, and dressed in animal skins. And they did all of these things not in their own strength, but by faith.
And having lived by faith, the bore witness that all believers can run their race because God is faithful. In all of their trials God was faithful. No matter how impossible it seemed at the time God enabled them to endure. Throughout history their voices have witnessed that God is faithful to bring you to the end. You just need to trust Him by faith.
Hindrances in the Race
Hindrances in the Race
One of the biggest problems for a runner is weight. When you watch the Olympics, do you ever see a 300 lb. sprinter? Why not?
A weight is just a bulk or mass of some kind. It is not necessarily bad, but it weighs us down.
Question: What are some weights that you think have the potential to keep Christians from running at their best?
We do not know exactly what things the writer might have had in mind. Maybe that is a good thing because it allows us to not be distracted and to examine our own hearts and consider our own weights.
Another type of weight can be fellow Christians. Some Christians not only have slowed down in their race but are trying to get others to slow down with them.
An even more problematic hindrance to Christian living is sin. Now all sin is a hindrance to Christian living, but since the writer just got finished writing about faith and since he uses the definite article when referring to sin I believe he may be referring to the sin of doubting God. The sin of a lack of faith. A believer who doubts God cannot run. The legs to run the Christian race are the legs of faith, but when we doubt God our feet are taken out from beneath us. We must be careful to continually give our hearts to faith and trusting the Lord because it is so easy for us to doubt and it becomes easy for Satan to keep us from running.
An Example to Follow
An Example to Follow
In running, where you look while you run is extremely important. Some Christians get preoccupied with how they are running or how others are running., but we must look to Jesus.
We are to focus on Jesus because He is the author and finisher of our faith.
First, He is the author or source of our faith. He was the source for Abel’s faith, and Noah’s, and Abraham’s, and David’s, and Paul’s, and ours.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
1 Corinthians
all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
As author, Jesus is also our primary example of faith.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
The cloud of witnesses is a wonderful witness, but the life of Jesus is an even better witness. Their faith was acceptable to God, but Jesus’ faith was far more acceptable. In reality, without Jesus’ faith no one else’s faith would count for anything.
Second, Jesus is the finisher of our faith. Jesus is the one that carries our faith through to completion.
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
The world has always despised faith, and the faith of Jesus was no different.
He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
But in faith, Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame. Jesus has set such a high example that it is on Him that our eyes should be fixed as we run our race.
The Goal of the Race
The Goal of the Race
What are some reasons you might run a race?
The race that is being spoken of here is a race of agony. In other words it is that race that seems like it is never going to end. So, why run it? Well no one would run it if there were no goal, and no one would run it if they had no expectation of reaching those goals.
Jesus did not run His race of faith for the pleasure of the race itself. Surely, he took pleasure in the work He did here, but He did not come to accomplish temporary work. The real pleasure was found in what was at the end of the race, not in it.
Jesus ran for the joy that was set before Him. He ran for the joy of exaltation as He sat down at the right hand of God.
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The prize we run for is not the prize of heaven. If we are in Christ, heaven is already ours. We run for the same prize Jesus did: the joy of exaltation for glorifying the Father. We glorify the Father by allowing His attributes to shine through us and obeying His will in everything we do.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
What brings us joy in this life is our confidence of reward in the next.
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.
Conclusion: When Jesus went to the cross he endured all that was demanded. He despised the shame and willingly accepted it so that the Father would be glorified. As we run our race, we also run with joyful anticipation of that same reward- the crown of righteousness which we will one day cast at His feet as evidence of our love for Him.