The document provides commentary on Hebrews 12, encouraging Christians to run the race of faith with endurance. It discusses two things needed to prepare: laying aside weights and sin. Christians are told to run with endurance, fixing their eyes on Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith. Jesus endured the cross for the joy of fulfilling God's will and providing salvation. Though Americans don't face persecution, Jesus empowers believers and is the exemplar of faithfulness in suffering. Christians are encouraged to remain faithful like Paul and fix their eyes on Jesus throughout the race.

2. “Faith’sAuthor
andPerfector”

3. Not an athlete…
•I was never a good athlete– circumstances of life
always seemed to pop up that kept me from joining
sports or becoming any good at them
•Loved basketball, but messed up my knees
•I wanted to play baseball, but a hernia
surgery stopped that from happening
•No football
•Track in High School

4. Not an athlete…
•Then I discovered Archery and guns
•I practiced and practiced until my fingers and
forearms were bloody
•When I was a Sophomore, I got the trophy for best
marksman with the M-16 at ROTC camp
•It’s great to work hard to achieve goals, but more
worthwhile to achieve something for eternity– time
to put what we’ve learned into practice
•Chapter 12, Author encourages the Jewish Christians
to endure and win the prize…

5. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every
encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is
set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author
and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.

6. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility
by sinners against Himself, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart. 4You have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding blood in your
striving against sin…”
Hebrews 1:1-4, NASB

7. A. Preparation for the Race
•Vs 1a, Becoming a Christian has all
kinds of perks, but its no rose garden…

8. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside
every encumbrance and the sin which so easily
entangles us…”
Hebrews 1:1a, NASB

9. A. Preparation for the Race
•Vs 1a, Becoming a Christian has all
kinds of perks, but its no rose garden…
•Before we talk about the two things we
need to do to prepare to run…
•Cloud of witnesses surrounding us
•Greek words are “perik’imai nephos
martus”
•Literally, ‘cloud of martyrs encircling,
hampering, bound with us, hanging about

10. A. Preparation for the Race
•Running the race is not a bed of roses
•The Greek word for race is ‘agona’
•Jesus told us plainly in John 16:33
•“These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation; but be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world.”
•This is why I am so tough on Prosperity Theology

11. 2 things to prepare…
1. Laying aside every weight
•Can you imagine an Olympic
runner showing up for a race
looking like this?
•Every weight? Anything that
hinders our Christian progress
•Get rid of Bad? Not enough– the
winner chooses between “better”
and “best?!

12. 2 things to prepare…
2. Laying aside the sin which so easily
entangles us
•Did you notice that it doesn’t say, sins?
• Instead it says the sin
•The author is referring to the sin of
unbelief– oit kept the Israelites out of
the Promised Land, and it keeps us from
our spiritual inheritance in Christ!

13. B. Attitude for the Race
•Vs 1b-2, these two things had to be
done before and continually during the
race

14. “…and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 1:1b-2, NASB

15. B. Attitude for the Race
•Vs 1b-2, these two things had to be done
before and continually during the race
•The author gives us two more hints at how
to do the two preps
1. Run with endurance the race…
•Greek word is hypomone
•In the NT the characteristic of a man who is
not swerved from his deliberate purpose and
his loyalty to faith and piety by even the
greatest trials and sufferings

16. B. Attitude for the Race
2. Looking to Jesus, the Author and
Perfector of our faith…
•Greek word is aphorao
•Not just looking, but fixing your gaze
on Him non-stop while running
•Remember when Peter walked on the
water? What happended?
•Perfector? Finisher?

17. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He
who began a good work in you will perfect it
until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6, NASB

18. B. Attitude for the Race
•V2 says that Jesus endured the shame
for ‘the joy set before Him…”
•What joy?
1) The joy that Jesus fulfilled the
Father’s will and glorified Him.

19. “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished
the work which You have given Me to do.”
John 17:4, NIV

20. B. Attitude for the Race
•V2 says that Jesus endured the shame
for ‘the joy set before Him…”
•What joy?
1) The joy that Jesus fulfilled the
Father’s will and glorified Him.
2) The joy that Jesus opened the Way of
salvation for anyone who accepts His
invitation.

21. “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished
the work which You have given Me to do.”
John 17:4, NIV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To
God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and
majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and
forever. Amen.”
Jude:24-25, NIV

22. C. Enabler and Exemplar
•Vs 3-4,

23. “For consider Him who has endured such hostility
by sinners against Himself, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart. 4You have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding blood in your
striving against sin…”
Hebrews 1:3-4, NASB

24. C. Enabler and Exemplar
•Vs 3-4, American Christians have
never experienced the persecution of
early Christians, as our brothers and
sisters world-wide are experiencing
now
•Jesus never tells us to do something
impossible; He empowers us to do it

25. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, I press
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

26. C. Enabler and Exemplar
•Vs 3-4, American Christians have
never experienced the persecution of
early Christians, as our brothers and
sisters world-wide are experiencing
now
•Jesus never tells us to do something
impossible; He empowers us to do it
•Just remember the sufferings Paul
had– He remained faithful, you can
too!!

27. Take Home!
1. Fix you eyes on Jesus! Don’t let
our short 21st century attention
span hinder you!
2. Jesus is our Exemplar and Enabler! He
went before us to show the way; as we
yield ourselves more to His Spirit more,
He increases our faith in Him and
enables us to do what glorifies Him