Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 12:1-3 October 30, 1994 Hebrews 12:1-3 Introduction The importance of faith The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. But the writer has over and over again stressed the importance of faith, of trusting and continuing to trust in Jesus. The writer has been drawing from the Jews' own history of heroes to show that the great men of old all lived by faith. 1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, :1 Wherefore... The writer is going to give us an athletic analogy. He's going to use language similar to what he would use if he were describing an Olympic race, describing the crowd around us, the way to run, the strategy to winning. :1 so great a cloud of witnesses cloud Lit., a vast mass of clouds Why cloud? Why not "crowd"? RWP: The metaphor refers to the great amphitheatre with the arena for the runners and the tiers upon tiers of seats rising up like a cloud. witnesses Could be the angelic watchers around us Most likely the examples of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 All these people who have gone before us are now in the stands, watching us in our race. When you think about how difficult it is to go out into new things, think about Abraham sitting up their in the stands cheering you on (Heb.11:8-10). When you face the temptations and evils of this world, and you are struggling when you choose to suffer affliction with God's people, think of Moses up in the stands, cheering you on (Heb.11:24-25) When you face persecution at work or at home for believing in Jesus, remember the multitudes of saints who have gone before you, some who were stoned, some sawn in two, some killed by the sword (Heb.11:37). :1 let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us] The picture is that of describing what a runner might be wearing for his championship race. You don't go out to win a race dressed up in a Tuxedo, or a full-blown wet suit! You don't go out to win a boxing match while you're still wearing your robe! There are going to be things that are inappropriate for racing, there are going to be things that are inappropriate for our Christian life, things that will hinder us from getting to our goal. Two things that slow us down: 1. Sin which doth so easily beset us easily - "readily, deftly, cleverly" beset - "to place itself around" Sin sure is like that, it is quick to pop it's head up and wrap itself around us, tripping us up. RWP: The verbal adjective reminds one of the ring of wild beasts in the jungle that encircle the camp-fire at night each ready to pounce upon a careless victim. We need to lay aside our sin, it's going to affect our race. We get discouraged because sin does so easily beset us. Samson's example He had a problem with sin concerning women - Philistine women, prostitutes. Judges 16:4-21 His sin led to bondage Don't think that because you can get by for now keeping your sin on the backburner that everything's okay. There came a day when Sampson was blinded and bound with chains. 2. Every weight There are things in our life that aren't really sinful, but they slow us down. 1Corinthians 10:23-AV All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. That kind of things might this be? Being a news junkie: TV, newspapers, magazines, etc. Maybe a hobby that takes up too much of your time - the man who spends all his free time out in the garage rebuilding an old car, a woman who spends all her free time at the mall... There's nothing wrong in these things by themselves. But sometimes too much of any one thing isn't good for you. These are things that can become "weights" Imagine running a 100 yeard dash with 25 pound weights attached to each ankle. How would you do? Daily Quiet Times - learning to spend time with the Lord each day. What's keeping you from doing it? Not enough time? Too tired? Find out what's causing these excuses and you'll find some "weights" in your life. 1Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. :1 let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Patience hupomone (under + to remain = to remain under) 1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance 1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings The ability to remain under the pressure, to stick it out without calling it quits. This is the greatest quality to have in our lives during trials. This is the quality that trials produces in our lives. James 1:2-3 AV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. the race that is set before us This is the life that God has given to each of us. Ephesians 2:10-AV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. God has a special race course for each of us, specially designed for you and me, that we should then run. Like the arcade games where you choose your own course to race in, except that God has wisely and carefully chosen for us which race we are to run. I run my race, you run yours. 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. :2 Looking unto Jesus RWP: {Looking unto} (aphor“ntes eis). Present active participle of aphora“, old verb to look away, "looking away to Jesus." Looking away from all the other distractions in the world and looking to Jesus. One thing is important in a race, to keep your eye on the goal. If you start looking at the other racers around you, you'll get off step, you'll goof up your race. You'll even slow down. Jesus is our finish line, we must keep our eyes on Him. He's also our example, we are to do what He did. Philippians 3:13-14 AV Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. :2 the author and finisher of our faith archegos 1) the chief leader, prince 1a) of Christ 2) one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer 3) the author teleiotes 1) a perfector 2) one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith Jesus is the one who starts our faith, and He's the one who brings our faith to it's completion. Living the Christian life is all about living by faith (chapter 11!) Living by faith is all about staying with Jesus, who starts and completes our faith! :2 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross We often look at this verse and think, "Jesus was able to handle going through the cross because He kept His eyes on the joys of heaven". But I'd like to suggest an alternate view of this verse: It lies in how you understand the little word "for". We often use the word "for" to show an exchange taking place. "I'll buy this hat for ten dollars" ie - I exchange ten dollars for the hat. Many Greek scholars agree that this is the way the word "for" is used in this verse. RWP: "in exchange for" Wuest: The predominant use of "anti" is "instead of"...The word "set" is literally "lying before". Vincent: "The joy was the full, divine beatitude of His preincarnate life in the boxom of the Father; the glory which He had with God before the world was. In exchange for this He accepted the Cross and the shame." I think that what this verse is possibly saying to us is that we need to keep our eyes on the example of Jesus. Jesus already had the complete joys of heaven, yet he willingly put it all aside, in exchange for bearing the cross for us. Philippians 2:5-8 NIV Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! These Jewish Christians who were suffering persecution needed to be reminded of this, just what Jesus willingly did for them. Think of what Jesus has done for us! Just think of the glories of heaven, from eternity, and then willingly laying it all down, for a bunch of ungrateful, yucky, sinful people like us. What love He has for us! Endured same word as patience in verse 1. Jesus has demonstrated real endurance. :2 is set down ... The Greek verb is a perfect tense. Something happened in the past, with it's effects still continuing into the present. Jesus, after His work of providing a salvation was finished, sat down, and remains seated. He need never arise and repeat His work on the Cross for sinners. It is a finished work. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. :3 consider him {Consider} (analogisasthe). First aorist middle imperative of analogizomai, old word to reckon up, to compare, to weigh, only here in the N.T. See katanoˆsate in #3:1|. Understanding Jesus is the key to the whole problem, the cure for doubt and hesitation. This is it! Consider Jesus! Think about Him and His example. :3 that endured same word for patience ... {Endured} (hupomemenˆkota). Perfect active participle of the same verb hupomen“ used in verse #2|. :3 wearied and faint running analogy