Sermon#62 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: "The Rules of the Race"

Text: Hebrews 12:1-2

Subject: Perseverance

Readings:

Date:

Tape:

Introduction:


The paragraph before us is highly rhetorical; and its meaning cannot be properly understood, nor its force and beauty properly beheld, if we fail to apprehend and constantly keep in view those historical facts, or ancient customs from which the inspired apostle borrows his imagery.

The reference is not to Jewish history, but to Grecian custom. The allusion, which the apostle makes here, is to those public gymnastic games, which among the Greeks were grave civil institutions, and solemn religious ceremonies, rather than frivolous amusement. The most spectacular form of this custom was probably that which was presented at Olympia, a town of Elis, where games were celebrated in honor of Jupiter once every five years. There was an incredible multitude of people who thronged to these games as spectators from virtually every state of Greece, as well as the surrounding countries. The noblest of the Grecian youths appeared as competitors. In the race, to which the apostle alludes, there was a course marked out for the candidates for public fame. At the end of the course a tribunal was erected upon which the judges were seated. The judges were men who had in former years been successful competitors for the olympic honors. The victors in the morning races did not receive their prizes until the evening. Instead, when they had finished their course, they joined the band of spectators, and looked on while others prosecuted the same arduous labors, which they had brought to an honorable end. By keeping these few facts in our memory, the meaning and force of the apostle’s language will be more easily comprehended.

The apostle Paul is very careful in all of his writings to make Christians sensible of their duties. Christianity is opposed to slothfulness. Laziness must lead to antinomianism. The way to heaven is called a narrow way, which may depict the difficulty of walking in that way. It is called a way of holiness, which describes the prohibitions of that way. Here the apostle compares the way to heaven as an olympic course marked out very clearly for believers who are to run in that course until they reach their goal, the glory of Christ. Now, there is a broad gate and wide way in which the majority of professing Christians are traveling. In that way there is a great deal of time for ease and pleasure, few duties are required, and it takes very little discipline to walk in that way. This is the way that seems right unto men. Perhaps you are walking in that way; but alas, it is the way to hell and it ends in judgment. But the true born child of God has entered upon another way. He has gone into the straight gate of faith in Christ; and he walks in the narrow way of faith, persevering in holiness, denying self, saying no to ungodliness and worldly lusts, but living soberly, righteously, and godly in this evil world, because he sees at the end of that narrow way the glory of heaven, the riches of Christ. It is in this way that we race for heaven. In our text, the Apostle encourages us to persevere in our race, by describing "The Rules of the Race."

Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,

And press with vigor on.

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,

And an immortal crown.

‘Tis God’s all-animating voice

That calls thee from on high.

‘Tis His own hand presents the prize

To thine aspiring eye.

A cloud of witnesses around

Hold thee in full survey.

Forget the steps already trod,

And onward urge thy way.

Blessed Savior, introduced by Thee,

Have we our race begun,

And crowned with victory, at Thy feet

We’ll lay our honors down.

Philip Doddridge

May the Holy Spirit so open this text to us who have begun the race that we may find strength to persevere and not grow weary. And may He open the eyes of those who have never yet seen Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Faith, that they may desire Him above all others, and enter this way of faith.

Proposition:

Believers are required to persevere in a way of holiness, putting off the old man, with the affections and lusts thereof, and putting on the new man. And for those who do persevere there is a crown of life, even the glory of Christ.

Divisions:

I. The principle upon which the exhortation is given.

II. The duty which is required.

III. The means by which we may perform our duty.

IV. The manner in which this duty is to be performed.


I. The principle upon which the apostle gives this exhortation. "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.

A. The Wherefore –

The opening word "wherefore" looks back to 10:35-36. There the apostle had exhorted these Hebrew Christians to continue in perseverance. That exhortation had been followed by a detailed proof of the efficacy of faith to enable its possessors to do whatever God commands, however difficult; and to endure whatever God appoints, however severe; and to obtain whatever He promises, however seemingly unattainable. All of this had been illustrated in the eleventh chapter, as he gave us a concise view of the history of the Old Testament church. Having affirmed the unity of the family of God, the oneness of the Old and New Testament saints, the apostle repeats he exhortation to perseverance in a path of faith and obedience.

B. The Witnesses –

NOTE: The word "witness" has two meanings, "a person who gives a testimony" and "a spectator". I am persuaded that the apostle has reference to those who have finished their race with honor and are now awaiting our finish, as those in the olympian games, for they without us cannot be made perfect. Though they have received their reward in part, the full reward cannot be given until the last competitor has finished his course. They are not beholding as spectators (explain), but their lives are giving testimony to us of the power of faith. Thus, they encourage us to finish our course with honor.

  1. They witness to the nobility of the life of faith.

  2. They witness to the faithfulness of God, who sustained them, enabled them to triumph over their foes, and to overcome their difficulties.

  3. They witness to the power of faith to give as a reality things not seen.


NOTE: The inspired history is turned into an amphitheatre, from which ten thousand times ten thousand voices encourage us to run the race well, not to give up but run onward. "Let us therefore run," says Paul.

II. The duty which is required.

"Let us run the race that is set before us." The whole of our Christian duty is set before us as a race. The central thought suggested in the figure of running a race is not that of speed, but of self-discipline, whole-hearted endeavor, the calling into action of every spiritual faculty of the new man. It is a call to:

A. Vigorous exercise (Tit. 2:11-14).

Christianity is not abstract speculation, or enthusiastic feelings, or even pious talk, but a directing of all of our energies to holy actions.

B. Laborious activity –

We are entirely engaged in heavenly warfare against the flesh, the world, and the devil. It is no easy matter for flesh and blood to deny self, to take up the cross, to follow Christ, to cut off the right hand, pluck out the right eye, to "mortify our members which are on the earth."

C. Regulated exercise –

The racer must keep to the course prescribed. Our duty is the law of Christ.

D. Progressive exercise (2 Pet. 1:5-7).

E. Endurance, perseverance, as the word patience implies.

We must be faithful unto death if we would obtain the crown of life. We must endure to the end if we would be saved.

III. The means by which we may perform our duty.

A. We must lay aside those things which encumber us in the performance of our duty.


  1. Family

  2. Business


B. We must put away those sins which entangle us.

  1. Cares of this world.

  2. Pleasure.

  3. Love of riches.


IV. The manner in which this duty is to be performed.

A. What is the life of faith?

  1. It is a life lived in complete dependence upon God (Prov. 3:5-6).

  2. It is a life lived in communion with God.


Don Fortner