Fixed on Jesus!
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Review: The writer of Hebrews is unknown. There is no identification by name of this writer although comparisons of writing style has led some to speculate Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, and many others. I simply conclude that it was written by the Holy Spirit. The audience is clearly Jews who had adopted a new faith in Christ and their community in the early church. As they faced persecution for that faith, the author spurs them on to hold fast to their faith in Christ no matter what trouble or pain it may bring upon you. Christ is the center of this book and the overlying study and preeminence of Christ in this book points all of us to rest in Him for He is worthy of our worship.
The author spends the first 11 chapters showing how Christ is the promise of the OT Scriptures and devotion to him is devotion to God himself. Beginning in verse 12, the theological focus turns to application as the community of believers are challenged to hold tightly to that belief in Christ as God in the flesh no matter the tough times that they face.
The author begins chapter 12 with a metaphor of the Christian life as a race, a race in which the believer must run effectively while keeping their sight focused on Jesus as their strength. Paul uses this same picture throughout his epistles. This afternoon, let us examine this race set before us and how we might run it well!
Chapter 12 begins with a transition from chapter 11 so let’s begin in Ch 11
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
What the writer is defining for his audience in chapter 11, is that a full devotion and trust in God and his promises is what brought about acceptance or approval for the OT saints. As they displayed a confidence in God’s trustworthy name and word, their faith accounted to them their righteousness. Spurgeon gives us a helpful illustration of faith in his commentary on Hebrews,
Hebrews Exposition
Suppose there is a fire in the upper room of a house and the people gather in the street. A child is in the upper story; how is he to escape? He cannot leap down—he would be dashed to pieces. A strong man comes beneath, and cries, “Drop into my arms.” It is a part of faith to know that the man is there; it is another part of faith to believe that the man is strong. But the essence of faith lies in the dropping down into the man’s arms. That is the proof of faith, and the real pith and essence of it.
The remaining verses of chapter 11 detail ways that OT Jews put their faith in God’s promises regardless of what they could see or understand fully about God’s plan. They trusted God based on his character and his person as a faithful and good God. Examples in chapter 11 include
the trust in God demonstrated by the offering of Abel
the relocation of Abraham
the sacrifice of Isaac,
the hope in Jacob for his sons,
the courageous trust of Moses’ parents,
Moses’ trust in YHWH over Pharaoh,
Rahab trusting God would care for her family,
and many more.
Now the writer begins chapter 12, by painting the scene of this great race for his audience to see!
The Scene of the Race (1a)
The Scene of the Race (1a)
“Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”
Imagine that you are back in and around the Roman occupation in the early church. You are familiar as a Christian with the Greek games that would be held in large coliseums or stadiums as we know them today. The gladiator matches brought blood shed, the chariot races brought speed, the boxing matches displayed strength, and the foot races endurance.
We are not told in the context of this chapter what type of race was being referenced for the GK word stadia which was used elsewhere by Paul is not seen here. This word in GK AGON is the root word that means to fight or struggle. Used here it is simply a contest with the added command to run revealing that it is some form of foot race. Look with me at Paul’s use of the metaphor of racing in the Christian life on earth.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
You are there in a large stadium, some that held some 20, 30, or 50 people, but instead of the stadium filled with everyday civilians, all of the 30,000 attendees are former competitors. They are now retired after suffering the pain on their bodies, the near death experiences in the ring, but they cheer on the contestants that day in a different way than a mere spectator. They know that same fear. They know that same pain and they cheer knowing the motivation that gives to the competitor.
This is the initial image painted by the author of Hebrews as he encourages these Christians in their walk of faith. These are not spectators in the stands, they are those of a good testimony of faith in God and his promises, and they surround the body of Christ affirming what we are continually learning, that God’s promises are true and He is faithful in every way.
He also sets the scene by stating at the end of verse 1 that this is a race that is set before us. Like I stated earlier, agon is a contest, fight or battle and it is the general term for a race between competitors. It is also the root word for words like agonizomai which Paul uses in
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
But the writer, using the beauty of GK language makes us aware that the race which brings about a struggle for us, is a race that is set before us. The divine passive is used here to direct our attention to God’s intentional calling of his people to salvation which includes the struggle in this new Christian life. God has placed this before us, as the God of all creation and he guides us through this struggle. The reality of the race as a struggle is why faith is the predominant theme of this section.
The Goal of the Race (1b)
The Goal of the Race (1b)
1 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,
Two commands surface in the second section of verse 1. Continuing with the idea of racing, the runner of the christian life is called to “lay aside every weight” and you can visually understand in your mind how difficult obstacles are to the runner. The idea might have been cumbersome clothing that would hinder the movement of the runner or weights used for training that would be removed before a race.
I know athletes train for speed enhancement by using a small parachute that drags behind them, forcing them to push harder and faster as they build speed and muscle in their legs. How odd would it in a championship race for that runner to come out to the starting line with his parachute on, dragging behind him as he races.
The writer identifies that weight as “sin that clings so closely” to us. This is the very issue that trips us up and slows us from faithfully finishing the race of faith well. The command is that “all weight” must be removed because it clings closely or entangles the runner from completing the course before him/her. This falls perfectly in line with our recent sermon from Ezra about the Jews removing the weight from their lives that kept them from obedience to God’s commands. It required a radical removal of sin to be faithful to God’s will for their lives. Therefore, one goal of the race is to ...
Faithfully remove the sinful obstacles that stand in our path
Paul makes this connection in Col 3 which we have taught many times. It requires the believer to PUT OFF/ PUT ON. Removing those obstacles to the Christian race is the putting off of sin from our former lives....
Colossians 3:5–9 (ESV)
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Faithfully Run to the Goal line for God' glory
The PUT ON of this practice is to daily dress yourself with the promises of God and the truth found only in God’s word. As you out aside those things that dishonor God, they must be replaced with those truths and practices that honor him. Again looking at Colossians 3:10-17
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
For us to be faithful as runners in the race, both the putting off of sinful practice and the putting on holy habits is necessary. This is what the writer of Hebrews means when he encourages his audiences to “run with endurance the race set before you.”
As a runner trains his body and mind for a race, there is technique in his running style. There is equipment that is needed for him to run well. There is a healthy diet that he/she must maintain. There is a strategy to his completion of the race. All of these things are intentional steps that must be committed to both mentally and physically for their to be success.
All of the race is accomplished not in any strength or ability that is in and of ourselves. This is what makes our spiritual race in life different from that of the physical world. The spiritual race is founded upon a work of God in us through the person of Jesus Christ. He is the source of the race of this life and He is the source of power for our completion of that race. Without him, we never make it to the starting line.
Hebrews 12:2
2 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 phrase “looking to Jesus” is again a connection to the race where the runner is fixing his gaze on the goal line. He is not looking at the other competitors for he might fall back into a runners pace with them. He is not looking to the crowds cheering him on for his speed may be distracted by his pride. Instead, he looks intently at the finish line.
Let’s be real clear that looking to heaven as the finish line for the Christian life can be the wrong motivation for the runner. Heaven is a place described as leisurely and peaceful. Its where many of our loved ones currently reside and if we are not careful, our motivation is simply to be where they are or where peacefulness flows abundantly.
None of those blessings we seek could have anything to do with Jesus. That is fixing our eyes on the gifts from Jesus and not on Jesus himself.
The race CAN ONLY BE RUN EFFECTIVELY if Jesus is our prize
This is what I mean when I say we must run to the goal line of God’s glory. God is most glorified when our greatest desire is to know and to be with Jesus forever. Giving our focus and attention to Jesus above all is what blesses the Godhead supremely.
Why is fixing our gaze on Jesus the only way?
this is what the reformers were fighting for during the reformation. The statement Solus Christus meant that only Jesus and not Jesus plus anything else was the source of salvation and eternal life. There is nothing in oursleves that is capable of accomlishing salvation for our own benefit or the benefit of others. Look at what the text tells us:
He is the author of our faith
The word translated author a few different ways across english translations.
ESV- founder of our faith
NASB-author of our faith
HCSB- source of our faith
NLT- champion
The idea is that our faith originates in Christ for he is the one who went before us to acquire faith by his sacrifice on the cross. He is the source of our faith because He is the champion of salvation. His work on the cross provided salvation and therefore makes our faith in hIm tangible.
But he is also the source of faith because of His faithfulness in carrying out the plan pf redemption set before Him. Notice in v 2 that there was a “joy set before Him, just as the race was set before us.” This mission was the ordained for the Son by the Godhead in which He would become a man and faithfully carry out the faith that we also would demonstrate.
Some disagree as to what the “for joy set before him” means. The preposition for is the GK word ANTI which oftens translates against or instead of. One thought with this interpretation is that Instead of the joy set before him, meaning the glories of heaven and the worship in eternity, The son set that aside and endured the cross. Another interpretation retains the prep “for” and interprets the phrase to mean that the joy of the honor of heaven, awaited the Lord Jesus as the prize for his work of redemption. In others words, both ideas are true, but in context of this passage, the joy of honor and glory at the conclusion of his suffering was the prize for the Lord in the same way that his presence is the prize of the believer when they finish the race well.
He is the finisher
Secondly, Jesus is the finisher meaning that He completes our faith. Notice that places Jesus as the source and the culmination of our faith through out our lives. Every stride of the race we run is given by the power of Christ. He completes the work in us because He finished the work of redemption. He did not leave any work left to do on our part. He did not slack in his work or do anything half way at Calvary. He completed all he set out to do.
In our race of faith in this world, as we lay aside hindrances, put on holiness, Jesus will carry us to the end. He will leave anyone behind and he will not stumble as we stumble to the finish. He will be with us. Therefore these words by Spurgeon are a perfect summation of our worship of Jesus as the founder and perfector of our faith.
Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.
We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.- Spurgeon
Notice finally the accomplishment that gives us hope for our enduring the race. It is because of the work that was finished that Jesus can be fixed upon.
He endured so we can endure
Three times in v 1-3, HYPOMENO is used which is translated endure. One is the cause and the other is the effect. Jesus remained faithful and endured the difficulty of suffering and dying as the substitute for sinners. He faced the shame of sin placed upon his perfect nature. He faced the rejection of his brothers and sisters. He stood firm under the crushing weight of the wrath of God upon the cross. He defeated death, rose valiantly from the battle against sin and He is truly our champion of the faith.
As He remained so you will last through it all. You will be brought safely home as you love Him and serve Him the race of the faith.
His suffering led to his glory. He is now seated at the right hand of God. He is now in the place of honor that the Father bestowed on the Son. We too look toward the end goal of this earthly life, knowing that no matter what suffering we face, on the other side is an eternal glory that awaits us in the presence of Christ.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Let me close with the story of Derek Redmond, the British Olympic Sprinter who became famous in 1992 for one of the greatest failures of his life. Redmond and the British team had shocked the world in 1991 by ousting the American team who were picked to win the World Championships in the 4x400 relay but instead finished second behind the Brits. That following year, Redmond was primed to gain his gold medals in the Barcelona Olympics. Redmond had no trouble in his qualifying and quaterfinal races. But in the semi-final, Redmond tore his hamstring with 250 meters left in the race. He was in utter agony and pain but dteremiend to finish the race. Clearly after the rest of the group finished the race, Redmond, burst through medical personel, hobbling his weight on his good leg, committed to finish the race. The pain written on his face communicated how every step was sheer agony for him but he was not going to quit.
Then in an unforgettable moment of Olympic history, Derek’s dad forced his way onto the track, through security, coming up to his son from behind. His son, recognizing his father coming to help, burst into tears as his Father trotted alongside him, helping him finish the race. The Olympic committee officially announced Derek as disqualified, but that moment compassion and determination could never be forgotten again.
No matter how injured and battered you may be in this race that you run, Jesus Christ is your source, your finisher and your glory in the end. He is with you, not just at your start the race, not just when you need him, but he is with you always, even to the end of the age. May you run your race well with these truths so that in the end he might say “well done good and faithful servant.”