Run Christian Run - [Hebrews 12:1-9]

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What motivates you to keep on running the Christian race, even in the midst of opposition?
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What keeps you from throwing the proverbial towel in when you've grown weary in running the
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Christian race? Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, who do you look to to keep running the
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Christian race with endurance? Turn with me in your
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Bibles to the New Testament, the epistle of Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews chapter 12.
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I believe Pastor Mike has coined some of you Ruthies, is that not correct? How many Ruthies we have here?
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Next week we'll be returning to the drama, not to worry. But today,
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Hebrews chapter 12, beginning in verse 1. Verse 1 is the main point, the main thrust of this passage.
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Follow as I read. 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 here's the main point, the main thrust, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
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Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
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That is the major theme here in this text, running the race, running the Christian race.
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Notice, if you will, in our text in verse 1, the author says, let us.
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He includes himself. What's so significant about that? It's not a competition.
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We're not competing against each other in running the Christian race. We are running the same race.
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Actually, earlier in the book, in Hebrews chapter 10, familiar verse, the author says, verse 24, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.
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One another, let us run. There's a sense of humility there. We're not in competition like other human races.
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We're in this race together. And notice in verse 1, he says, let us run.
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The verb there, run, is in the present tense. It means it's a continuous action.
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It means that the Christian race is a lifelong race. This is not a sprint.
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This is a marathon. In essence, the author is saying, let us keep on running with endurance.
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This is no Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, even in cold New England. This is no couch potato
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Christianity. This is running a lifelong marathon, the
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Christian race. And how are we to run? Verse 1, the author continues, let us run with what?
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Endurance. This is a major theme in this section, endurance. Verse 3, he says the same thing, referring to Christ.
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Consider him who? Endured. Verse 7, it is for discipline that you have to endure.
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It's a Greek term, ipomone, which is taken from two words, to remain under.
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It's the same root word that our Lord used in John 15. I'm the vine, you're the branches. Remain in me.
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To remain under the pressures of the Christian life and to be steadfast and to endure.
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Why are we to run this race with endurance? Simply, our author says in our text, so we don't grow weary.
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Verse 3 again, consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint hearted.
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Verse 5, have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the
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Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. We run with endurance, so we don't grow weary in this race.
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And the author says this is truly a race. It's the Greek term, agona, which we get the
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English term to agonize. It's an agonizing race. After all, it's a marathon. It's a lifelong race.
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For sure, there is joy in the Christian life, is there not? But the author's point here is to run this marathon with an agonizing attitude.
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I'm going to date myself and maybe some of you. Except the old Jim McKay of ABC Wild World of Sports, right?
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Some of you are smiling. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But the other author here is not talking about defeat.
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Back then, the race was a reference to the Greeks gathering together to see their countrymen battle it out in sports.
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And it had to do with strenuous effort and strict discipline. That's what running this race is all about.
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Actually, the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6, verse 10, uses the same Greek term where it's translated, fight the good fight of faith.
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The race is a fight. It's to be run with endurance. But notice also in verse 1, let us run with endurance the race that is what?
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Set before us. We're not running away from something.
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We're running toward something. Paul said it best in Philippians 3, 13 to 14.
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One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
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I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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As we run this race that is set before us, we're running toward something, not away from something.
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Well, the author in this text, that is his major thrust to run with endurance. But he gives us here three biblical motivations.
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And brethren, let me tell you, in order not to grow weary and in order to run this race with endurance, you need to be biblically motivated.
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Let me walk you through these three biblical motivations for running the
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Christian race. Number one, the persevering faith of the saints.
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The persevering faith of the saints. Verse 1, our author, as we read, begins, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.
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What are these clouds of witnesses? Who are these? Well, the therefore forces us to chapter 11.
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Where in chapter 11, no less than 24 times, our author uses the term faith.
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By faith. By faith. Turn with me to the previous chapter, chapter 11.
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Let me highlight some of these cloud of witnesses, their persevering faith.
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After mentioning Abel and Enoch, the author, beginning in verse 8, I will read, says this.
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By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.
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And he went out not knowing where he was going. Really? How was he going not knowing where he was going?
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He obeyed what God told him to do. It's persevering faith. Verse 11.
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How was her faith persevering? Because she considered whom? God. Who was what?
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Faithful. Jump to verse 17. As our author continues to talk about Abraham.
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By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son.
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Of whom it was said, through Isaac shall your offspring be named. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead.
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From which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. Persevering faith.
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Why? Because as verse 19 said, Abraham considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead.
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Verse 24. By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
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Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
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He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.
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For he was looking to the reward. By faith, he left Egypt. Not being afraid of the anger of the king.
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For he endured at seeing him who is invisible. Moses' persevering faith.
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Why? Verse 26. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.
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And the story goes on in verse 30. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down.
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After they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient.
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Because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.
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Who through faith conquered kingdoms and forced justice. Obtained promises.
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Stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the power of fire. Escaped the edge of the sword.
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Were made strong out of weakness. Became mighty in war. Put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.
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Some were tortured, refusing to accept release. So that they might rise again to a better life.
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Others suffered mocking and flogging. And even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned.
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They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats.
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Destitute, afflicted, mistreated. Of whom the world was not worthy. Wandering about in deserts and mountains.
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And in dens and caves of the earth. Doesn't sound like couch potato
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Christianity to me. This is the
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Christian race. The persevering faith of the saints.
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It's like IBS Old Testament History 101. But notice in our text, chapter 12, verse 1.
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Our author describes them as being surrounded by these, a cloud of witnesses.
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Some have said, because of the metaphor of sports. That they are like the spectators sitting in the stands.
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As if Moses and Abraham are up in heaven, cheering us on. Good job,
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Bob Andreze. Keep running the Christian race. Really? The author earlier in the book said in Hebrews 4.
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Only of God. And no creature is hidden from his sight. But all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him.
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To whom we must give account. That is why the psalmist said in Psalm 33. The Lord looks down from heaven.
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He sees all the children of man. From where he sits enthroned. He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth.
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Only the Lord is looking down. Not Abraham. Only the
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Lord is looking down. And everything is exposed to his eyes.
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Not Moses. He alone is omniscient and omnipresent. Well, if that's not what it means, what does it mean?
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It simply means that this chapter 11. Is a testimony of their persevering faith.
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They're not looking at us. We're looking to them. As examples of persevering faith.
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To motivate us. To continue to run the race. With endurance. To say, pastor.
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These are spiritual giants. I'm just your average Joe Schmoe Christian.
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I don't compare with those of Hebrews 11. Isn't it after all called. The hall of faith. The heroes of the faith.
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Maybe it's a misnomer. The author is trying to say. Here is what God said to Joshua.
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When Moses passed away. He said to Joshua. Just as I was with Moses. So I will be with you.
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These caught of witnesses of chapter 11. God is saying to us. In order to run with endurance. The Christian race.
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As I was with Enoch. I will be with you. As I was with Abraham. I will be with you.
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John MacArthur put it well. Quote. We can run as well as they did.
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It has nothing to do with how we compare with them. Watch this. But in how our
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God. Compares with theirs. Because we have the same
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God. He can do the same thing through us. If we trust him. End quote.
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Remember as I read Hebrews 11. By faith. They were considering whom faithful. Who that could raise from the dead.
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God. It's the object of their faith. The same God. We have today.
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And in this first motivation. Our author continues in verse 1. And he says.
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Let us also. In reference. To chapter 11. The saints. Let us also lay aside.
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Every weight and sin. Which clings so closely. The term lay aside is in the air is tense.
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And it is significant. Because. What he means by that. You must first do this. Before you run with endurance.
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Having laid aside. Every weight or encumbrance. Having laid aside. The sin which clings so closely.
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Only then. Can you run. With endurance. The term weight is a
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Greek term. Ongo. Which where we get the English term. Oncologist. Like a tumor. It is a weight.
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It is an encumbrance. The athletes. Back then. Would train with. Bronze bands.
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Around their biceps. And thighs. For training. For the games. That is why the
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Greeks. Were so buff. Now you're awake.
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But for the race. They would strip themselves. Of these bronze. Weights.
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Because they would be an encumbrance. To the run. Many have speculated.
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What might the author mean. With these weights. He doesn't specify. As Lewis Johnson. Says for example.
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It could be referring. To the pleasures of life. The simple pleasures of life. Calvin said.
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Possibly the loss of the flesh. Worldly cares. Riches. John MacArthur. Because of the.
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Context of the entire book. Of Hebrews. It's possibly referring. To Judaistic legalism. But the point here.
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It's not something. That sin. That is separate. As we will see. In a moment. It's something. That is helpful.
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For training. But in the race. If it takes. Priority. It could be. An encumbrance. So notice.
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He says. Let us also. Lay aside. Every weight. Every weight.
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And he continues. Our English text. Doesn't do it justice. The Greek says.
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And thus. Sin. Which clings. So closely. The definite article. The sin.
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Which clings. So closely. And based upon. The context. Since he's taken us.
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Through chapter 11. Therefore. These cloud of witnesses. That sin.
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Has to do with. Unbelief. Doubting God. Not. Trusting.
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In him alone. S. Lewis Johnson said. Quote. Every sin.
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Is a product. Of the attitude. Of our. Heart. Whether it's faith.
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Or unbelief. Every sin. He said. Is a product. Of our attitude. Toward God.
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Whether faith. Or unbelief. That is. The fundamental nature.
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Of sin. Unbelief. Unbelief. Is the root. Of all sin. He says. It shows itself.
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In independence. Of God. Selfishness. And rebellion. Our author.
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Saying. You want to run. The Christian race. With endurance. You must first. Lay aside. The sin. Of doubting
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God. And follow. The example. Of these persevering. Saints. Who by faith. Considered.
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Him. Who was faithful. Considered. Him. Who is able. Second motivation.
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To run. The Christian race. The premier. Example. Of Jesus. The premier.
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Example. Of Jesus. Verse. Two. Looking. To Jesus.
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The founder. And perfecter. Of our faith. Who for the joy. That was set.
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Before him. Endured. The cross. Despising. The shame. And is seated.
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At the right hand. Of the throne. Of God. I asked. A family member.
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Recently. Why did Jesus live. A full life. Of 33 years. Why not just come. And be killed.
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Instantly. And pay. For our sin. Debt. Well. The person's response. Was well. He needed. To give us.
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An example. Okay. Well. He needed. To preach. And teach. Okay. But.
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Ultimately. He came. To fulfill. The father's will. Is as. The writer. Of Hebrew. Said throughout. His entire book.
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To provide. The once. For all. Sacrifice. To satisfy. The wrath.
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Of God. And to live. The perfect life. That you and I. Could not. In obedience. To God's law.
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After all. Here. In this verse. He even mentioned. The cross. The only time. In this epistle. He exhorts us.
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In order. To run the race. Is to look. To Jesus. It's on that banner. Behind here. In our church building.
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Looking to Jesus. What does that mean? It means two things. First of all. It means to look.
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To Jesus. Exclusively. Only. To Jesus. Not. To anyone else.
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Exclusively. The Greek. Literally. Means. To look. Away. From something. To look.
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Away. From those things. That will distract you. From looking at Jesus. Steadfastly. And intently.
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And the runners. In a race. Could be easily. Distracted. By the spectators. By the crowd. By everything else.
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Rather than focusing. On the goal. The author is saying. To run the Christian race. You've got to look.
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Away. From everything else. And look. Only. To Jesus. The expositors.
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Commentary. Put it this way. We are. To run this race. With no eyes.
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For anyone. Or anything. Except. Jesus. It is. He. Toward whom we run.
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There must be. No. Divided. Attention. You see.
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Looking to Jesus. It's not a. Passing glance. It's a. Fixed gaze.
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Looking to Jesus. Is not a. Distracted look. It's a. Laser like. Focus. It's. Extremely.
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Exclusive. But. Not only. Do we look. To Jesus. Exclusively. But. Secondly. We are.
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To look. To Jesus. Continually. The verb. Form is. In the present. Tense.
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It's a. Continuous action. Literally. The author. Is trained. Saying. Keep on. Looking to Jesus. Don't look.
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To him. Just for a moment. You're running. A race. An agonizing race. With endurance. So. In order.
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Not to grow. Worry. Keep on. Looking to Jesus. 17th century.
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Puritan. Thomas Wilcox. Put it best. Quote. Don't persist. In looking. Upon sin.
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Look. Upon Christ. Instead. And don't look. Away from him. For a moment.
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Look. At Christ. Exclusively. And. Continually. End quote.
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The author. Gives us. Two reasons. Why we are. To look. To Jesus. Not only exclusively. But continually.
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The first reason. Is. Because of who. Jesus. Is. Verse two. The founder.
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And perfecter. Of our faith. The founder. Greek. Archigos.
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Literally means. The first one. To take the lead. The. Pioneer. The forerunner.
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It's used. Elsewhere. In the book of Hebrews. Hebrews. Two. Ten. For it was fitting. That he.
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For whom. And by whom. All things. Exist. In bringing. Many sons. To glory. Should make.
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The founder. Of their. Salvation. Perfect. And that is why.
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The writer. Of Hebrews. Also says. In Hebrews. Five. Verse nine. That Christ.
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Is the source. Of our salvation. He is the originator. Of our faith. The cause of it. The initiator.
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Of it. After all. We can initiate. Anything. Especially dead. People. In sins.
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And trespasses. And he sums it up. In Hebrews. Chapter. Six. Verse.
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Twenty. That Christ. Is the forerunner. Into the heavenly sanctuary. That is what it means.
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For him. To be the founder. And author. Of our faith. But we had to look. To Jesus. Because he's also.
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The perfecter. Of our faith. He is the one. Who completed. The assigned task.
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That he received. From the father. Of redemption. And that is why. He could say. It is finished.
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It is similar. To the title. Of Christ. In the book. Of revelation. He is the first. And the last.
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The alpha. And the omega. The perfecter. From beginning. To the very end.
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That is why. We are to look. To Christ. We have. These.
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Old testament. Saints. Who have. A persevering faith. That we are. To emulate. We have.
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Jesus. That we are. To look. To also. But Arthur. Pink. Does a great job. In describing. The difference.
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He says. And I quote. The cloud. Of witnesses. Is not. The object. On which.
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Our heart. Is fixed. They testify. Of faith. And we cherish. Their memory. With gratitude.
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And walk. With a firmer. Step. Because of the music. Of their lives. Our eye. However. Is fixed.
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Not on many. But on one. Our eye.
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Is fixed. Not on the army. But the leader. Our eye.
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Is fixed. Not on the servants. But the Lord. Jesus. And he says.
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We see. Jesus. Only. And from him. We derive. Our true strength. Even as. He is. Our light of life.
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In all things. Christ. Has the preeminence. He is placed. Here. Not. Among the other.
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Racers. But as one. Who instead. Of exemplifying. Certain characteristics. Of faith. As they did.
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He is the author. And finisher. Of our faith. In his own. Person.
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And quote. But we had. A look. To Jesus. Not only. Because of who he is. But secondly.
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Because of. What he has done. Our text. Says it. In verse two. Who for the joy. That was set.
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Before him. He did. What he endured. The cross. The joy.
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That was set. Before him. The joy. Of his exaltation. As we will see. In a moment. That's why.
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He was able to. Endure the cross. And the writer. Of hebrews.
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Describes. Even though. This is the only time. He mentioned. The term cross. The significance. Of the cross. That christ.
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Endured. Hebrews chapter. Seven verse. Twenty seven. He says. Of christ. He has.
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No need. Like those. High priests. To offer. Sacrifices. Daily. First. For his. Own. Sins.
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And then. For those. Of the people. Since he did. This once. For all. When he offered. Up himself. Hebrews.
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Nine. Twelve. He entered. Once. For all. Into the holy. Places. Not by.
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Means. Of the blood. Of goats. And calves. But by. Means. Of his. Own blood. Thus securing. An eternal.
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Redemption. Hebrews. Nine. Twenty five. Nor was it. To offer. Himself. Repeatedly.
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As a high. Priest enters. The holy. Places. Every year. With blood. Not his. Own. For then.
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He would have. To have. To suffer. Repeatedly. Since the foundation. Of the world. But. As it is.
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He has appeared. Once. For all. At the end. Of the ages. To put. Away. Sin. By the sacrifice.
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Of himself. He endured. The cross. Once. For all.
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Time. In taking. On the wrath. Of the father. For those.
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Who would believe. In him. And as a result. Our author. Says. In verse. Two. After he endured.
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The cross. Despising. The same. Is seated. At the right. Hand. Of the throne.
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Of god. That is a position. Of authority. That is a position. Of power. It's a position.
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Of it. Is finished. When the writer. Of hebrews. Mentions. This term.
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This phrase. He is seated. At the right. Hand. Of god. It's always. After. The finished. Work. Of christ.
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For example. Hebrews. One. Three. After making. Purification. For sins. He sat down.
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At the right. Hand. Of the majesty. On high. Hebrews. Ten. Verse. Twelve. But when. Christ.
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Had offered. For all. Time. A single. Sacrifice. For sins. He sat down. At the right. Hand. Of god.
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He endured. The cross. Fulfilled. His. Assignment. From the father. And therefore.
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He sat down. At the right. Hand. Of god. And the author. Continues. In verse.
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Three. As we are. To look. To jesus. What does. That mean. He says. In verse. Three. Consider.
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Him. Consider. Who endured. From sinners. Such hostility. Against himself.
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So that you may not grow. Weary. Or faint. Hearted. Consider. Him. Consider.
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Him. With. Intentional deliberation. Accurately. And distinctly. The author.
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Is saying. Do this. Now. Give this. Your utmost. Attention. There's a note. Of urgency.
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Here. Consider. him because he endured from sinners why as we mentioned early purpose clause so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted verse 4 in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood he just finished delineating the
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Old Testament Saints and their persevering faith how they suffered and how they died some of them he's saying here to his audience you have not gone to the point of martyrdom so keep running the
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Christian race he had actually said at the end of chapter 10 in the Hebrews verses 32 and 33 he said but recall the former days when after you were enlightened you endured a hard struggle with sufferings sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction they had gone through suffering they had gone through affliction but as he reminds him in verse 4 not to the point of martyrdom therefore look to Jesus because he is the author and perfecter of your faith because he endured the cross look to him exclusively looking away from everything else and look to him continually the third motivation our author gives us for running the race with endurance is from verses 5 to 11
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I call this the purposeful discipline of the father the purposeful discipline of the father brethren did you know that your heavenly father has a purpose and discipline you as I read 5 to 11 notice with me how many times the word discipline is mentioned and have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons my son do not regard lightly the discipline of the
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Lord nor be weary when reproved by him for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastises every son whom he receives it is for discipline that you have to endure
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God is treating you as sons for what son is there whom the father does not discipline if you're left without discipline in which all have participated then you are illegitimate children and not true sons besides this we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them so we not much more be subject to the father of spirits and live for they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them but he disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant but later it yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it how many times is discipline mentioned did you cast that any numbers 9 9 is good actually not in English text 8 in the
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Greek actually have to tell you that this shirt motivation for running the Christian race is my children's favorite passage in scripture there are two reasons why
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God the father disciplines us according to the text the first reason is the proof of sonship the proof of sonship and that's versus 5 through 8 the term son is mentioned no less than six times here and notice how he begins verse 5 have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons let me tell you there's a disease in evangelicalism you know what it is spiritual amnesia have you forgotten this is consistent throughout the whole
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Bible all the end of testament in Deuteronomy 8 Jehovah God says to the people of Israel when your vats are filled and you are multiplied don't forget me who led you out of Egypt and don't grow a hottie as a result of it the
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Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15 where he delineates the gospel the death burial and resurrection of Christ he said
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I'm writing this to you as a reminder of the gospel the Apostle Peter in 2nd
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Peter chapter 3 said that the reason he wrote both of his short epistles was to remind them because we have spiritual amnesia but here what have we forgotten his audience he says you forgot what the exhortation that God the
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Father addresses you as a son and he continues by quoting from Proverbs 3 the
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Old Testament my son do not regard lightly the discipline of the
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Lord have you regarded lightly the discipline of the Lord his audience was and that's why said don't regard it lightly and he continues nor be weary when we prove by him why for the
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Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastises every son whom he receives question whom does
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God love all you might say the whole world yeah in the common grace kind of way he loves everybody because he bestows blessings of weather the sunshine and the beautiful snow and he bestows fame and friends and food to enjoy but the author is not talking about that here he's talking about a special love that the have father has for his own children whom he has saved and how does he love them notice the text through both a preventive discipline and a corrective discipline the term discipline that I asked you to count eight or nine times in this passage is the preventive discipline it's the term that means to educate to train or to nurture the sons the children but he also has a corrective discipline verse 5 nor be weary notice what it says when reproved by him at length or it's the
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Greek term used of the Holy Spirit in John 16 when the Spirit says Christ said the Spirit will convict it's the same term used of scripture 2nd
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Timothy 316 all scriptures breathed out by God and is useful for reproof there's a corrective kind of discipline and even in verse 6 it says in the second part he chastises literally the
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Greek term must he means to whip your heavenly
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Father loves you so much that he will discipline you both in a corrective and a preventive kind of way and the author continues in verse 7 it is for discipline that you have to endure watch this
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God is treating you how as sons why are you surprised in other words he addresses you as a son he's simply treating you as a son and he continues with a logical question for what son is there whom his father does not discipline and climatically finishes in this section verse 8 if you are left without discipline in which all have participated then you are illegitimate children and not sons the first purpose the father disciplines is to prove a person's genuine sonship in salvation in Christ and he does it out of love the second reason he disciplines us the purposeful discipline of the father is because of progressive sanctification progressive sanctification turn with me briefly to chapter 10 couple of chapters earlier verse 10 little
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IBS theology class here chapter 10 verse 10 and by that will we have been watch this sanctified through what through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all what a second
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I thought sanctification was a lifelong process how is it that we're sanctified through the offering of Christ on the cross the author there in Hebrews 10 is talking about what's called a positional sanctification that God the
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Father has declared us holy through the offering of the body of Christ but what he's talking about here in our text in chapter 12 is a progressive sanctification once we've been declared holy now
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God is in the process as we run this Christian race to make us holy day by day from one glory to another isn't it great that's his purpose the question is what should our response be our response should be to submit not because our hand is twisted behind our back okay
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Lord I guess I have to submit it is a willing submission a willing submission because after all what he's doing for us is motivated by his love for us and he gives three arguments why we are to submit the first one is in verse 9 besides this we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them shall we not much more be subject to the father of our spirits literally in the
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Greek and live he uses the argument from lesser to greater from our earthly fathers to our heavenly father and he says look our earthly fathers who are not infinite in their wisdom far from it and amens from children no but our earthly fathers who are finite in their wisdom but seek to do
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God's will and training their children yet we respected them for it if we did that how much more shall we submit to our father it's the same idea
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Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 7 9 to 11 which one of you earthly fathers if his son asked him for bread we'll give him a stone or if he asked for a fish we'll give him a serpent if you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more there's the argument lesser to the greater how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him we're to submit to our father second reason we're to submit he gives in verse 10 for they are earthy fathers disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them but he our heavenly father disciplines us why for our good purpose clause that we may share in what his holiness this is progressive sanctification
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God's goal is to make us holy because ultimately when we get on that side we're going to see him as he is first John 3 and we shall be like him but until that time our father who loves his children in his family which he saved will discipline us with a preventive means and a corrective means that we may share in his holiness the third reason we are to submit he gives in verse 11 as we conclude with this text for the moment all discipline seems painful a man rather than pleasant but he doesn't end there but later it yields a peaceful fruit of what righteousness to those who have been what trained by it that discipline that's nurturing that's training doesn't seem pleasant at the time but look
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God our father has a divine purpose that we may share in his holiness so it will result in the peaceful fruit notice it's not just fruit it's the peaceful fruit of righteousness
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Bible church my exhortation to you this morning is run
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Christian run why you have three biblical motivations you have the perseverance faith of the
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Saints to look to as an example not because they were just giants of the faith but because their faith within the same
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God that you and I have today you run with endurance secondly by looking to Jesus the author and perfector of your faith and you run with endurance day by day week by week month by month because your
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Heavenly Father loves you and because of that he will discipline you to share in his holiness you might be here this morning and you're not even in the
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Christian race Jesus said in John 6 verse 40 for this is the will of my father that everyone who looks on the
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Sun and believes in him should have eternal life and I already described what kind of look this is that means you have to look away from everything that you think is good in and of yourself because actually there is nothing good in and of yourself even your goodness is as filthy rags that means you have to look away from your morality that means you have to look away from your religiosity in order to exclusively look to Jesus Christ for salvation you can't just add
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Jesus to the mix so before you leave this building tonight today and as you put your head on your pillow tonight make sure for your eternal life you are looking to none other than Jesus Christ alone let's pray
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Heavenly Father thank you for your word this morning we thank you for enlisting us in the
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Christian race and it is a joyful race but as we reminded this morning is in an agonizing race that we are to run with endurance and we thank you for the cloud of witnesses that we can look to their persevering faith in the
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God who is able we thank you that we have Jesus the founder and author and perfecter of our faith that we are to look to exclusively and continually and we thank you father that you love us so much that you will discipline us so that we may share in your holiness and I pray if there's anyone here today who has never looked at Jesus with saving faith that you would stir their heart that you would through your spirit regenerate them so they can turn to Jesus Christ abandoning everything else that they hold dear and embrace