Sermon Tone Analysis

! Opening:

Good morning,  two weeks ago when I was with you we looked at Hebrews 11:20-22,  Three heros of the faith – Issacc who had a surrendered faith – Jacob who had a strengthening faith – and Joseph who had a superior faith.

But they all illustrated a faith in God,  that he would do what he promised – even if they died before ever realizing it.

Today, we are continuing in Hebrews 12, vs 1-5 and looking at what is expected of us.

Let’s look at the text for today.

!

Bible Reading:

Hebrews12

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.

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

! Prayer:

 

! Introduction: 

 

Review Chapter 11,  \\ examples of faith.  . .

.

We see a strong use of the third person,   as we look at the faith of many throughout the OT and Israel’s history.

In Chapter 12,   we see several marked transitions.

1st,  we see the text change from third person to first or second person.

2nd,  we see the verbs change from statements of fact (indicative)  to imperative, or commands.

3rd,  we see the opening word of Chapter 12,  “consequently”, or therefore – directly connects chapter 11 to chapter 12 but directly tells us that we are changing our view.

! Exegesis

!! Vs 1:

“Hebrews12 \\ 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,

We should not be having a chapter break here.

It is there for the editor,  not for helping to study the word.

This vs opens,  moving us into the stadium – like at Ephesus,  or Delphi,  or Aphrodisias, and just about every major city of the day.

600 feet long,   flat at one end and rounded and closed at the other.

They often were filled with 30000 or more “witnesses”  The key competition was always the foot race – they would start at one end, at the starting “blocks”  and look  to the end for the finishing block and never take their eyes of of it.

They would also take off anything that impeded their ability to run.

Their goal was to run and to finish.

In view of this great cloud, of OT witnesses,  believers ought to run with perserverence – endurance.

– Standing ones ground – or holding out.

Perseveranece is talked about 3 times in these opening verses.

.

We should not picture the cloud of witnesses as watching us.

It is not that they are watching us.

Rather, they have witnessed to us of the faithfulness of God.

The word for witness is martyres, witnesses of the ture faith for us because God witnessed to their faith in the pages of the Bible.

As contestants in the race we are to look to their example . .

.

God has given us the whole of the OT for our patience, and comfort – See Rom 15:4

 

 

 

Romans15 \\ 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

\\ \\

Patience = endurance,  and comfort = hope.

\\ \\ A great way to get endurance and hope is by getting to know the OT saints who ran the race and won.

We are to throw off all that hinders.

Any association or activity that handicaps us – and the sin that so easily entangles.

Otherwise we may miss out on the prize, which is God’s gracious gift of eternal life to all who complete the race.

Think of the Bball batter that is in the next to bat circle – swinging with the “weighted donut” on his bat – and then he heads off to bat without removing it.

We would not be able to perform right with that weight on the bat.

When the runners came to run,  they stripped off all their clothing so that they could run unencoumbered by anything.

We are to take off things that may in themselves be good things – but if the encoumber us then they are hurting our spiritual life and must go.

They might even be viewed as OK by some.

A winning athlete does not typically pick between good and bad – they choose between better and the best.

Many believe that the sin here mentioned is the sin of unbelief.

It kept the people out of israel for 40 years.

Note that chapter 11’s key point is :by faith”

 

The word used for sin,  is a word that tells us that this sin clings to us.

Ever ready and present.

It is not THE sin  - but rather sin in general with special emphasis on apostacy and unbelief.

Unbelief often looks trivial to us but Moses was kept out of the promised land because he treated God’s word lightly on one occasion (Deu 32:51) \\ \\

David appears to have thought that his twin sins of Adultery and murder could be covered up – but God sent Nathan who confronted David

 

 

 Hebrews12 \\ 1b  and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

The fact that we are to run with perseverance (endurance) the race that is set before us suggests the race is more of a marathon than a short sprint.

The author used the stronger word for race – it’s greek form is “agon” which is where we get our word agony.

It is interesting to note that running the race is in the present, as is looking to Jesus.

BUT the setting aside of hindrences and sins in AORIST,  indicating they are to be set aside,  and it is a done deal.-

We see in vs 1,  that the author of hebres is telling the people that their duty has two parts – one an preparatory stage and the second one a perfective stage.

Preperatory – laying aside every weights and the sin…

Perfective – run the race with patience that is set before you.

1)      we have a race to run, of service, suffering, and obedience

2)      the race is before us and marked out.

By Gods word and examples of God’s servances

3)      the race must be run with patience and responsibility.

4)      We have a greater example in Jesus – He is the great leaderand perfector of our faith.

a.

He is the precedence and finisher of our faith.

b.

He endured the contradiction of sinners against himself.

c.

He had the joy that was set before him,  to sustain him.

d.

His reward,  he sat down and was done.

He was exalted to a station of thei highest honor, greatest power, influence, and is at the right hand of the father.

e.

Our duty,  \\ look unto him,

f.

Our advantage – a means of preventing weariness and fainting.

We always have a tendency to grow weary – the best way to prevent it is to keep focused and looking unto Jesus.

!! Vs 2:

“Hebrews12

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.

Looking to  - means looking from afar,  fixing our eyes upon the jesus seated on the throne of God.

Our greates encouragement is after looking at the cloud of witnesses,  turning and looking to Jesus.

More than the author, he is the originator, the   captain and finisher of the faith.

He is the initiatior of true faith by opening the way to God and enabling us to follow in his foot steps.

Faith enabled Jesus to endure the cross.

He never used his divine powers for his own personal needs.

It was in looking to him that we were first saved.

Looking to jesus suggests an attitude of the heart,  not just a single act.

We can remember when the people were dying from the snake bites.

They needed to look to the brass serpent to be healed – look to and believe  Jus as we look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

He is the perfect example for us to follow.

He endured the Cross.