“Winning The Race Of Faith”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Sermon Series: “Give Me Faith”
Introduction: The Apostle Paul, who I believe wrote Hebrews, was fond of using athletic imagery in his writings. In this passage of Scripture, he compares living by faith to running a grueling race. He says, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” He challenges us to finish the race and finish well. God wants us to get in the race by receiving Christ, and then He wants us to run well and win the race of faith. It seems like a lot of professing Christians are not really running the race but are just going through the motions. Others are dropping out of the race. Still others are just limping along without enthusiasm or victory. So, how can we run, finish, and win in the race of faith, which is really the race of life? Here are 4 keys to victory.
1. Realize that others were victorious before us so we can win too. Chapter 12 starts off by saying, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” This is a reference back to the examples that are used in chapter 11 and particularly refers to the closing phrase, which says, “That they should not be made perfect apart from us.” It is saying that we are in this race together with all believers of all ages, and we can be encouraged by the fact that they kept believing through their trials and made it to the end. Chapter 11 records several great examples of faith, but verse 40 says, “God having provided something better for us,” which refers to the fact that we have revelation and atonement completed in Jesus. Practically, this means that if they won, we have no reason or excuse not to win in this race as well. These men and women of faith are examples and encouragements to us.
2. Lay aside the weights and sins that hinder us. Have you ever tried to run while wearing ankle weights and/or chains? It really slows you down. It would be really hard to win a race while wearing them. Well, the point is that it is extremely difficult to win
the race of faith while carrying sin and weights. Therefore, the victorious Christian life is a life of daily repentance. Sin obviously refers to confessing and forsaking the sins in our lives. I believe that weights refer to things that may not necessarily be sinful, but they hold us back from being everything Jesus wants us to be.
3. Refuse to give up. Verse 1 tells us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” John MacArthur writes, “Endurance is the steady determination to keep going, regardless of the temptation to slow down or give up. The athletic metaphor presents the faith- filled life as a demanding, grueling effort.” It means to keep on keeping on and to get back up and get going again when we stumble and fall.
4. Stay focused on Jesus. I believe this is the ultimate key to living by faith. We live by continually looking to Him (Galatians 2:20). He is the One who carries us through to victory because:
A. He is the author and finisher of our faith. In other words, He is the source and beginner of our faith, and He is also the One who will carry us through to perfection. It is wonderful news to know that the endurance of my faith rests on His power and ability instead of mine. 1 Peter 1:5 tells us that we “are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
B. He is the ultimate example of endurance. Jesus endured much more than we ever will because He endured the cross. He did it for the joy of glorifying His Father and saving us. Verse 3 says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
C. He has secured our victory. When He was enthroned at the right hand of the Father, it showed that the work of atonement was completed, that He rules as Lord, and He is interceding on our behalf. We are running as victors instead of trying to find victory. In Him, we have everything we need to be everything God wants us to be.
