Everything I need, Everything you need,…is found in Christ, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2”Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so many witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith;….”
We have a race to run….a Way to complete….our part in the Battle of the Ages, to fight…..and we must be equipped….by the Holy Spirit.
There must be a “putting off” (let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily beset us)
And there must be a “putting on” (put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14)
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(Paul was showing by the games they were so fond of….a picture of our “race”. A race which we are to finish. We are not to stop because someone is ahead,….nor “faint” because these races were long….but continue on, to finish….looking to the end, and the reward.)
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Paul did all this,….that he might preach about Christ Jesus his Lord, to others.
Philippians 2:16 “Holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”
Everything I need….everything you need is found in Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith…..and we will have it of His Spirit,….if we will continue on with Him.
Galatians 5:5-7 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
(Here, is faith, hope, and love. Faith is the foundation, which gives hope….which is the confident expectation that God will do what He has promised.
Faith is the foundation, which works through love. Faith justifies, and we are energized to work, by love for Him.)
These Galatians had begun to run their race, well,….in faith, hope, and love.
But, they were “hindered”…….”hindered” here, means “breaking up a road”.
(Imagine running down a street when all of a sudden it crumbles beneath us.
If we put our trust in anything beside Christ Jesus, we are running on a crumbling road.)
So Paul corrects them, to get them back in the the right way….to finish their race.
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
In Peter’s second epistle (second books always deal with apostasy, a falling away from the truth.)….Peter says:
2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having the escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Twice, knowledge of God and Jesus is mentioned. How much we need to read HIs Word, and have fellowship with Him!
Twice “divine” is mentioned:
His divine power….this is grace by the Holy Spirit.
Partakers of the divine nature (character)…….this is Christ’s character worked out within us, by the Holy Spirit, because we belong to Him.
Twice “given unto us” is mentioned…..In Christ Jesus, we are given….we do not barter for His Spirit….
……we are given power to do (grace) by His Holy Spirit…that we might run with patience….in faith and love.
….we are given exceeding great and precious promises…..and part of our race is having that hope in Him…….that confident expectation that He will do what He says….
….and to see the fulfilling of them….in us…as we run.
We have escaped the corruption that is in the world….a way out of the twists and perversion of the world’s system….He gives us liberty!
Through faith in Christ, we have been given a race to run.
He gives us the divine power, and the divine character if we follow on.
Yes, we need to “keep under” ourselves….that we might use all our energy to finish our course…
….that we might place the reward we get…at Christ’s feet.
Everything I need, everything you need,…..is found in Christ Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith….
….and faith brings the victory in our lives.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 