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Sermon Introduction

The author reminded the recipients of the letter who Christ is. Christ is God, He is the fulfillment of the prophets, He is better than Moses, His priesthood is forever, and He is the perfect sacrifice. The author intended to encourage the believers to continue in the faith despite suffering, persecution, and discrimination. The author also warned that it was a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Therefore, they should persevere in faith.

Dr. Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

Hebrews 11:39-12:2 NASB

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the 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.

Notes

The author reminded the recipients of the letter who Christ is. Christ is God, He is the fulfillment of the prophets, He is better than Moses, His priesthood is forever, and He is the perfect sacrifice. The author intended to encourage the believers to continue in the faith despite suffering, persecution, and discrimination. The author also warned that it was a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Therefore, they should persevere in faith.

1. The author mentioned that the OT people of faith were commendable, but God provided something better for those in Christ. The heroes would not be complete without Christ and His people (11:39-40). Thus, the recipients of the epistle should stand firm in the faith.

2. The author encouraged the letter recipients to endure the race by laying aside every sin that weighed them down (12:1). One reason being, the heroes of the faith in the OT looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. They longed for what the believers already had, Christ.

3. The way to endure and lay aside all sin was to fix their eyes on Christ. Christ is the author and perfecter of faith. Christ endured the cross, despised the shame, but is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (12:2). Thus, believers should fix their minds on Christ alone, the Sovereign One.

Application

1. The OT heroes of faith looked forward to the coming of Christ. But now, we look back to what Christ did on the cross. By grace, through faith, we are saved, not of the works of the law, not through our merit, but faith in Christ alone.

2. By faith, let us set aside every sin that slows us down. We should run the race with endurance. Let the heroes of the faith inspire us, both the Old and New Testaments. But most of all, may our faith be anchored on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ

3. Our eyes must be fixed upon Jesus our Lord, the author, and the perfecter of our faith. Christ looked to the joy awaiting Him than suffering and shame. Now, He is seated at the right hand of the Father. We should lay aside the sin that easily entangles through faith, and we may endure the race.

Discussion / Reflection

1. In what way were the OT heroes commendable? In what way were they incomplete?

2. What should we do with the sin the weigh us down? How may we run the race with endurance?

3. How did the author describe Christ in the text concerning faith? What does that mean to us?