Having made many discoveries and clarifications concerning how God saved His people during the times of the Old Testament, I think we should now do what the apostle to the Hebrews does once he had done the same. In Chapters 11 and 12 of Hebrews, the apostle holds up before his readers’ eyes some great examples of Old Testament believers who lived by faith, and then he directs our gaze firmly toward Christ. He does both of these things in Hebrews chapter’s 11 and 12 in order to exhort us to patiently run the race of the life of faith for God’s glory and our good.

DOCTRINE. Believers should learn from Old Testament saints, and they must look to Christ in faith, in order to run the race of the life of faith with patient endurance.

I. YOU AND I SHOULD LEARN FROM OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS SO THAT WE MAY PATIENTLY RUN THE RACE OF THE LIFE OF FAITH (Hebrews 11:1–12:1).

John Owen helpfully clarifies the meaning of faith as it is used in Chapter 11, when he writes, “The nature of justifying faith…is not here at all spoken unto. For the apostle treats not in this place of justification, or of faith as justifying, or of its interest in justification; but of its efficacy and operation in them that are justified, with respect unto constancy and perseverance in their profession, notwithstanding the difficulties which they have to conflict withal. . . . Faith can do all things that belong unto the life of God; and without it nothing can be done. Spiritual life is by faith (Gal. 2:20); victory is by faith (1 John 5:4); perseverance is by faith (1 Pet. 1:5); salvation is by faith (Eph. 2:8, 1 Pet. 1:9): and so they were from the beginning.”

Read Chapter 11 in Hebrews before examining the specific exhortations of Hebrews 12:1-2.

Here is the bridge between Chapter’s 11 and 12. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1a). “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” either as witnessing our lives, as the crowds would do as athletes competed in the great games, or as bearing witness to us what lives of faith look like, or both. I think it is the latter. We have these examples before our eyes to spur us on to live lives of faith here and now. Yet both views are permissible.

Now Chapter 12 gives the application concerning the instruction we received in Chapter 11. John Owen rightfully remarks, “Chapter 12 contains an application of the doctrine, declared and confirmed in the foregoing chapter, unto the use of the Hebrews. Doctrine and use were the apostle's method; and must, at least virtually, be theirs also who regard either sense, or reason, or experience, in their preaching. It would be an uncouth sermon (a sermon lacking good manners) that should be without doctrine and use.” Amen and amen. Would that more pastors today would learn and commit to uses (application) in their preaching. Without application, we make fat brains, weak hearts, and feeble hands.

I) Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let each one of us lay aside everything that keeps us from total devotion to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1b). “let us also lay aside every weight.” Calvin clarified, “There are various burdens which delay and impede our spiritual course, such as the love of this present life, the pleasures of the world, the lusts of the flesh, worldly cares, riches also and honors, and other things of this kind.” He is right. Like foolish hikers who load their backpacks with heavy trinkets and complain that the path is hard, are Christians who weigh themselves down with worldly loves and grumble that the Christian life is just too difficult.

What are you clinging to that is truly hindering you from living a life of faith for Christ’s glory and your good? Oh how many professed Christians are weighed down by habits or luxuries or commitments or entertainments that keep them from being faithful and fruitful. These weights keep you from glorifying and enjoying God. Dear brothers, do not waste your life weighed down by honorable distractions; make the best use of the time, for the days are evil. Let us also lay aside every weight and take heaven by storm (Matthew 11:12).

II) Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let each one of us be killing sin or sin will be encircling us (Hebrews 12:1c). “and sin which clings so closely.” Sin is an enemy so clever that you will be outflanked before you even know what is happening. Sin, like Jael in the book of Judges, provides a nice place for you to lie still, then drives a tent peg through your head when your guard is down.

If you do not make it your daily business to put to death your sin and temptations then you are sitting down in the trenches of battle, allowing the enemy to surround you. You may be so weak and immature simply because you do not fight. What sin clings so closely to you? What besetting sins or lazy habits or time-wasting commitments are in fact allowing you to be encircled by sin? Beloved brothers, stand up in the trenches, cast down any weight, cut the throat of sin every day; fire back at the enemy with the Word of God, prayer, meditation, singing, making the best use of the time, self-examination, and serving!Paul urges Timothy, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on your doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16).

III) Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let each one us patiently run the race that God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1d). “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The race has been set before us! God determines where and how you run. Through His prophet, the Lord says in Amos 6:1 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion.” You must not be a spiritual spectator; you must be a spiritual athlete. You are not in the stands or on the couch; you are in the game. Are you seated in the coliseum, watching the other athletes, perhaps even cheering them on? Or are you running the race that God has clearly revealed in the Scriptures that He created and redeemed you to run?

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ). The Christian life is not a sprint that will be over in a few minutes. The Christian life is not a relay that someone else can complete for you. The Christian life is a marathon. You and I have need of patient endurance, and our triune God is the only source of strength.

Now, how are you and I going to get the strength to patiently endure to the end?

II. YOU AND I MUST CONTINUALLY LOOK TO JESUS IN FAITH SO THAT WE MAY PATIENTLY RUN THE RACE OF THE LIFE OF FAITH (Hebrews 12:2).

I) You and I must continually look to Jesus in faith for both salvation and strength (Hebrews 12:2a). “looking to Jesus.” John Owen comments, “The Old Testament believers’ faith is only proposed unto us for our imitation; but Jesus’ person is proposed unto us as a ground also of hope and expectation.” Apart from Jesus you can do nothing, yet all things good you can do in Christ who infuses you with strength (Phil. 4:13; John 15:5). Christ must be the North star your eyes are fixed on; He is true North. If you will not look at Jesus, you will walk in darkness.

You and I can learn from other believers, but we must lean on Christ alone! To what or to whom are you looking? On what or on whom are you leaning? There is no salvation nor is there strength in yourself. There is no salvation nor is their strength in any of our Old Testament brothers and sisters. Oh but there is an endless supply of salvation and strength in Christ Jesus, in whom all the fullness of God dwells!

II) You and I must continually look to Jesus in faith because He is the Founder and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2b). “the founder and perfecter of our faith.”The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the founder of your faith, buying you back from sin and death by His death and resurrection for your justification (Rom. 4:25); He is not only the founder of your faith, effectually working the grace of faith in you by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:8); He is also the finisher, guarding you by faith for a salvation ready to be revealed the last time (1 Pet. 1:5); He is the finisher, preserving you by His Spirit all the way to your glorification (Rom. 8:29-30).

Jesus does not lay the foundation of the house then subcontract the rest of the work out, hoping it will be finished. He is the foundation, He builds the house, He makes His home there, He protects his dwelling. What an assurance producing joy it is to know Jesus is the founder AND finisher of our faith! Oh look at the glorious Jesus who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, not only of the entire universe but also of each particular saint He redeems.

Consider Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you (FOUNDER) will bring it to completion (FINISHER).” Are you looking to Jesus in faith, trusting Him as Founder? Are you continually looking to Jesus in faith, trusting Him as Finisher? Weary brother, Christ has paid too high a price in founding your salvation to let you slip through His fingers and remain unfinished.

III) You and I must continually look to Jesus in faith, who patiently endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2c). “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” What was the joy? To glorify His Father by redeeming His saints. Therefore, what makes Jesus happy? Forgiving you of your sin and making you part of His family, at great cost to Himself, thereby magnifying the glory of God.

Now, the apostle sets this before the eyes of faith not only to incite our love and praise to Jesus, but also to encourage us by Christ’s example. He sets before us Christ’s patient endurance for the joy that was set before Him so that we may learn from our Founder and Finisher how to patiently endure the grueling race of the life of faith that is set before us. John Owen again comments, “The Lord Jesus is not proposed here unto us as a mere example to be considered of by us; but as him also in whom we place our faith, trust, and confidence, with all our expectation of success in our Christian course. Without this faith and trust in him, we shall have no benefit or advantage by his example.” You and I must look to Christ in faith both as Savior and as Example, never leaving one out of the mix, and never getting the order wrong.

IV) You and I must continually look to Jesus in faith, who endured the shame He despises for even you (Hebrews 12:2d). “despising the shame.” Does it make you sick to your stomach to feel the shame that comes from sin? Do you hate the shame that comes from your sin against God? Jesus hates it more. Yet He endured the shame, even your shame, believer, on the cross, for the joy that was set before Him!

Think about the Lord Jesus Christ having nails driven through His hands and feet, suspended on the wood of the cross, suffocating to death as He hung there naked and exposed. Does it make your stomach turn thinking how shameful and embarrassing that must have been, and how He must have felt bearing our sin? It made Jesus’ stomach turn more. He was the one naked. He was the one mocked. He was the one pierced. He was the one cursed by being hung on a tree. He was the one crushed for our iniquities. Yet He endured the shame of the cross, for the joy that was set before Him.

Beloved brothers, if you continually look to Jesus in faith, who endured the shame He despised for your sake, you will be able to endure any shameful treatment that comes upon you on account of His name.

Now look at the end of verse 2, where the Apostle gets our eyes not only up to Jesus but to where Jesus is seated in glory.

V) You and I must continually look to Jesus in faith, remembering that He speaks from heaven as Prophet; He pleads His wounds as Priest; and He holds the scepter as King (Hebrews 12:2e). “and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is where the race ends for us. In glory. Reigning with Christ forever. All hail the power of Jesus’ name.