Running the Race
Preached by Mike Aiken
January 1, 2017
We are going to start the new year where we ended the old year and that is in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12 vv. 1-3.
Hebrews 12:1-3
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, 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. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
My desire this morning is to encourage you in your walk with the Lord for 2017. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I want you to know clearly what God has called you to do and I want to encourage you in that calling. If you are not a Christian, I am delighted you are here and I hope and pray you will seriously consider the gospel message. I want you to consider Jesus (he is the gospel) as the Bible portrays him. He is the God-man who came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In a sinful, dark world he is the light of the world and I trust you will turn from your sin and to him today.The calling that every Christian has is to “run the race.” This is God’s call for you-running the race of faith. “Let us run” (Heb. 12:1b) is the main verb and only verb in verses 1 and 2. The race is the Christian life. In describing the Christian life, Paul said “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7a). The writer to the Hebrews is exhorting us to “run by faith, not by sight.” He defines faith in 11:1 as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” and tells us without it God is not pleased (11:6). This race of faith is a marathon, not a sprint. It is long, hard, grueling, arduous, sweaty and painful. When we run it the way God wants us to run it, we experience joy amid the pain and suffering we go through. The exhortation is to run the race “with endurance.” To borrow a children’s story analogy we are to persevere like the turtle not the rabbit in the race. The recipients of this letter to the Hebrews were Jewish believers who were probably living in Rome or somewhere in Italy (cf. 13:24). Probably written in 66-70 A.D. These Jewish believers were facing persecution and were tempted to forsake Jesus as the Messiah. To turn their back on Christ and go back to the Old Testament sacrificial system was appealing to some Jewish Christians. Hebrews is a theological treatise of exhortation to show them that “Jesus is better.” To forsake Christ and go back to Judaism would be, as Benjamin Vrbicek described to me, like in your car going over the spikes in an airport parking lot where you may go forward, but to back up over the metal spikes would flatten the tires. You may go back but at great expense. To persevere and endure in continuing to believe in Jesus Christ is a major theme in Hebrews- “Jesus is better, don’t go back!” There are two things about running this race I would like you to see today found in our text.
1. The Spectators (or context) of the Race- v. 1a
The race we are called to run began the day you trusted in Jesus Christ to save you from yours sins and began to follow him as your Lord. It is important we see that others have run this race before us (the O.T. saints in Hebrews 11) and they have passed the baton to us, so to speak, and they are watching and encouraging us to run this race by faith. They are the spectators of the race. Richard Phillips highlights the importance of being aware of the context in which we run this race. He says, “how you conceive of the context or arena of your life will dramatically shape your manner of living.” Just like context is important in interpreting a passage of Scripture, so context is important in interpreting your life says Phillips. Your context is going to interpret your life! Does secular society define who you are? If it does, you will be guided by the relativism and materialism of secular society. You will be “free” to live however you want without any regard for what the God of Scripture wants you to be and do. The context is the arena where you are running the race of faith, and it is to whom you belong. Our context as Christians, or maybe it is better put, the spectators to whom we belong and who are encouraging us, are believers of the past, the great cloud of witnesses found in Hebrews 11 and believers in Christ who have gone before us and whose bodies are in the grave but their spirits (or souls) are with Christ. Though they died they are still living and speaking to us today and we need to listen to what they are telling us. Richard Phillips calls them “living witnesses.” Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. One figure I want to draw your attention to is Martin Luther. It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the church door of Wittenburg wanting to debate the legitimacy of the practice of indulgences. It was Luther’s study of Scripture which God used by his Spirit to open Luther’s eyes to the corruptions of the church at that time. Luther was used by God to bring about a recovering of the gospel which was lost. Luther and many others who were men and women of faith have been faithful in proclaiming and living the Word of God, and they are encouraging us to run this race of faith.If you don’t know much about the Reformation I would like you to listen to a brief summary of it by Stephen Nichols. He writes, “On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses for debate on the church door at Wittenberg, Germany. The preface to the document reveals his motive in posting the theses: ‘Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light.’ By the end of his truth-seeking expedition, Luther was certain of one thing: his church, latter medieval Roman Catholicism, had lost its way. Quoting Scripture, Luther declares in Thesis 92, ‘Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, ‘Peace, peace’ and there is no peace!’ So proclaimed the thesis that would be heard around the world, and so began the Protestant Reformation.”Nichols continues: “The Reformation was an ecclesiological, theological, political, and cultural movement of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that reacted against the errors of the Roman Catholic church and the Holy Roman Empire, resulted in the emergence of Protestantism, and coincided with the Renaissance and the rise of the modern nation state.”“In short, the Reformation was a rediscovery of the life and light found in Christ alone. This story of rediscovery gets told again and again during the Reformation. One such telling is found in the writings of Lady Jane Grey, who ruled as queen of England for all of nine days. Her reign ended when Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII, assembled an army, deposed Jane Grey, and imprisoned her in the Tower of London. On February 12, 1554, Jane was martyred. While in the tower, Jane was granted permission to keep a New Testament. On the morning of her martyrdom, she wrote an inscription on the flyleaf, asking the guard that it be delivered to her younger sister. She inscribed these words: ‘Rejoice in Christ, as I do. Follow the footsteps of your master Christ, and take up your cross. Lay your sins on his back, and always embrace him. And as touching my death, rejoice as I do, good sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption and put on incorruption.’ Jane’s resolve in the face of death was grounded not in any confidence in her own self, nor in following the rituals of the Roman Catholic church. Her confidence came in, through, and by Christ alone.”1 With that in mind, as we think about Lady Jane Gray and the others of the great cloud of witnesses watching and encouraging us, lets look to the encouragement we have in Christ to run the race. Jesus is our primary and ultimate example while these human witnesses are secondary.
2. The Encouragement (or Exhortations) of the Race- v. 1b-3
We are first encouraged to run lightly just as those who went before us also ran (v. 1b- “let us also lay aside every weight”). Notice that our text says also. This is referring to the O.T. saints who lived by faith before us. They also “threw off” every weight or encumbrance. “Lay aside” is like taking a garment off so as to run better. What is a weight? It is anything that will slow us down from “running the race.” When you run a race such as a marathon you don’t want to have unnecessary clothing on. For example, you don’t want to dress up like Gumby if you are trying to win the race! (Show a picture of someone dressed up as Gumby who did run such a race). A weight is not a sin in itself but it may be something you need to “throw off” (like clothing) so you may run better. The questions to ask about weights (or hindrances) is it help? Or is it a hindrance? Phillips again gives wisdom regarding identifying weights: “This exhortation helps us with all sorts of decisions about our lives. People will say, ‘This is not technically a sin, so it must be all right for me.’ But here we read that anything that weighs you down, anything that hinders your spiritual progress, should be discarded. Perhaps it involves your lifestyle. For instance, many Christians today have bought into the entertainment culture, giving vast hours to mindless television, unwholesome literature, and objectionable movies. We should ask ourselves, ‘Is this a help or a hindrance to me spiritually?’ Hindrances can be career ambitions, hobbies, associations and friendships, habits and preoccupations. Any of these may or may not be a problem, and will vary from person to person. But each of us should look at the things in our lives ask, ‘Is it a help? Is it a hindrance?’ If it is the latter, then the wise believer will let the hindrance go, not wanting to be weighed down in the race.” As we are at the beginning of 2017 it is good for us to ask are there hindrances we need to throw off so that we can run for Christ better.We are further exhorted to throw off sin. Sin is described as that “which clings so closely.” Other translations say sin “so easily entangles” (NIV). Sin is a constant enemy for the Christian. Though we are forgiven of all our sins the moment we first trusted in Christ, we will have a battle with remaining sin till we are glorified with Christ after death. Sin want to trip us up as we are running for Christ. Remember this my friends, sin brings death and we need to put it to death by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we American Christians take sin seriously? We need to heed the words of the English Puritan theologian, John Owen (17th century) who said, “If you don’t kill sin, it will kill you.” The immediate context shows us two sins the Hebrew Christians struggled with which were bitterness (v.15) and sexual immorality (v.16). We need to take sin so seriously that we flee it, ask God for help and seek the help of other brothers and sisters who will keep us accountable and pray for us. Another sin we all struggle with is controlling our tongue. Gossip doesn’t carry with it the shame of other “big sins” but it is destructive and will slow you down in your running the race of faith for Christ. Anger is another sin we all can relate to and by God’s grace can put to death (Adult Ed. Class on Anger in January). If you are struggling with bitterness and not forgiving, or sexual sin (possibly pornography? Read Benjamin’s book on the subject), gossip, or anger, my pray for you is to flee these sins in 2017.We are secondly encouraged to look to Jesus as the prime example of what it means to persevere through suffering. His death on the cross was first and foremost an atonement for our sins but it also serves as an example to be followed. As an atonement, Christ’s vicarious death, removed the guilt of our sin- expiation; it also satisfied the justice and wrath of God- propitiation, and furthermore, it gave us the righteousness of Christ- imputation! This is certainly the emphasis of Scripture, but Scripture also tells us to look to Christ as our supreme example. 1 Pet. 2:21,22 says, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” As disciples we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. In athletics coaches often emphasize the importance of “keeping focused.” For example, when I was a youth I swam every summer for my local swim club. I was coached often to keep my eye on the goal and not to be distracted by the other swimmers I was competing against. Running in any footrace is also the same. Keeping focus is crucial to moving forward at your best speed and winning. With the race we are all in as Christians, we are not competing against others, so that part of the illustration doesn’t apply, but what does apply is how losing focus will keep us from running the way God wants us to run, with a strong persevering faith. Keeping our eyes on Jesus is what we need to do every day. What are some of the distractions to keep us from looking upon Jesus? What are some of the distractions we need to avoid as believers? A big one is the “world” which is a term in Scripture which refers to the beliefs of unbelieving humanity. They are a powerful distraction. Connected with that are the opinions of others. Fear of man in it many forms can distract us. Peer pressure is something adults still struggle with not just teenagers. The voices around us in our culture are calling us to a different goal and purpose in life. They want us to live for the moment of pleasure, to be famous and acquire material possessions and find satisfaction in them. This is why we need to focus on Jesus. 2 Cor. 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Jesus is the object, the example, and the source of our faith.2 At the moment of our conversion we looked to him by faith, trusting in him alone to save us from our sins. We continue to look to him to be changed (transformed) by his Spirit and Word. 2 Cor. 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this come from the Lord who is the Sprit.” Looking to Jesus will keep us running the race and not falling down and getting off the path.Finally, a word to the weary of heart who are discouraged. Hebrews 12:3 is the medicine we need for our discouraged hearts. We all can relate to being weary in life and getting depressed. Life itself has been called a “rat race.” We get real busy with our jobs and get tired. If you are a stay at home mom you have one of the most difficult jobs in the world. You have children who need your attention often and then on top of that you have days where you don’t feel well but you still get things done. Keeping a house is difficult work but it is one of the most important jobs in the world. The result of this busyness can be discouragement. God is telling us in Hebrews 12:3 to “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” To consider is an accounting term meaning to “think over, ponder, consider.” We are to meditate upon our Savior Jesus constantly throughout the year. He was mistreated by sinners and yet he didn’t quit but went to the cross to please his Father and to secure the salvation of those he came to save- sinners like you and me. How can we consider Jesus? By reading the gospels and then reading the epistles of the New Testament to see how to apply the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to your life.I want to close this message with a short story about a man by the name of Hugh Peters.3 He lived and ministered in England during the 1600’s (1598-1660). The end of his life is a good illustration of perseverance- endurance. When Charles II came to the throne the political tide changed and Hugh was convicted of high treason for his part in the execution of Charles I during the time of the Commonwealth. In the last two days of Hugh’s life before his execution he was given permission to preach the gospel to the inmates at Newgate prison. Here was a man who was tired but faithful in proclaiming the gospel till the end of his life. He endured till the end where he met Jesus at the finish line of the race of faith. May we do the same in 2017.
1 Stephen J. Nichols, “The Reformation” in The Reformation Study Bible, p. 2379
2 Richard Phillips, Hebrews, p. 535.
3 This story of Hugh Peters is told by Mark Dever in The Westminster Directory of Public Worship page 70 and published by Christian Focus Publications.
