THE RACE OF FAITH - Part 1

It's a great privilege once again to join you as we go into the scriptures on an attempt to make an exposition on what the writer of Hebrews wanted us to know from the twelfth chapter. Considering this verse, we read from the new American standard bible.

1 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 perfecter 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 12:1-2, NASB)

Before we go to our studies, I would like to point out some few things. The word race in the Greek is called 'agona' (ἀγών) which literally means agony or pain. It's quite fascinating that the meaning in this passage is contest. So to try to marry these words, we see that it is not a friendly contest. It's a serious one with price at stake.

This race the writer was referring to is the type that requires a serious training and pain. It's the no pain no gain type. There are several theologians who attribute the this book to the Apostle Paul. Maybe these are some of the proofs. We see the apostle making use of
this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:24. Which says that

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24, NASB)
This is the only time the apostle used the metaphor of athletics to represent the Christian life but also in Philipians 2:16.

Also we may consider from the use of the metaphor of athlete that this race is not like a trot or a jog. It's not ran aimlessly. It's a marathon. There is a physical glory at stake. And to explain this further I will go back to 1 Corinthians 9:4 and observe the seriousness of this race. As we have read earlier, we see that the race is ran by several people. But the picture is that only one winner is needed. So everyone in this race decides to emerge as the winner.

Having this idea in mind, everyone undergoes a serious training, the athlete makes sure the fats in his body is broken down and he becomes a muscle machine. That's agonising and it's the analogy of the Christian walk. We must be discipline and build ourselves in the most holy faith. Praying and reading the scriptures. It may be difficult sometimes to pray. But there is no other choice.

We ran to win and not to lose because our Father gave us His Son to win the race for us. There are some people who think that the Christian walk is easy and there is no work because of grace.
But verses like Matthew 7:13 and others debunks that idea. We read;

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. (Matthew 7:13, NASB)

We must understand that sanctification is different from salvation. Christ saved us by grace and we received this salvation by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. But to grow in this grace, to live the Christian life deals with obedience. It's the obedience to the word of God. That's the Christian walk.

Paul, knowing this told the Philippians to 'work out their salvation with fear and trembling'. Which is in other words to say that Christians are to ran this race with discipline and obedience to God, work hard to let their lights shine for all to see. And with this we struggle for there's a battle within. Observe this also from Paul's writing to the Galatians

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (Galatians 5:17,NASB)

Going back to our principal verse, we see that there is a "cloud of witness".

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
This cloud of witness is not like a stadium filled with saints to cheer us up as we run this race. Far from that. There is no shred of scripture to prove that the Saints in heaven have anything to do with what goes on here on earth. That's why I don't believe in prayers offered to saints. They can't hear us. There is a great separation between heaven and earth.

This cloud of witness is what is seen in the previous chapter. To make this clear, let's consider the introductory word in this chapter. He used therefore. Which is to tell us that he's building something from what has already been given. And these clouds of witness is what you may call the examples of faith. So we read about them in chapter 11. We hear the names of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Moses, Rehab, Gideon, Barack, Samson, Samuel and others. One thing that's perculiar about these people is that they believed in what they had not seen.

These people are the cloud of witness that the chapter 12 is talking about. Their faith serve as an example for us. They are our encouragement, knowing that they won the race by the grace of God, we too will win this grace by that same Power that lived in them.
But are these our ultimate witness in the Christian walk? Knowing that these people were mere men and fallible, Isn't there a better example than these?

Join me as we continue with the rest of the exposition through the first few verses in this book. God bless you for your time to go through the scriptures with me. Kindly post your comments and ask questions about anything you're not clear with. God bless you

Link to the introduction
https://steemit.com/christian-trail/@gadol/the-race-of-faith-introduction

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It's Nana Yeboah
@gadol from @sc-g