Page 14 - August 2025 - Truth & Tidings

eternal security, and should not be taken us that we are surrounded by a great
as conditional or forfeitable despite the cloud of “witnesses” (12:1, martys), many
language of the warnings. of whom are listed in Chapter 11. It is not
To grasp the meaning and personal that they are presently observing us but,
significance of the warning for genuine rather, they have borne testimony (11:2,4-
Christians, we will consider it in the con- 5,39, martyreo) to the life that pleases God
text of the chapter over four articles. – the life of faith. None were immune to
The Context of the Warning sin, failure, or lapses in faith, but these are
(12:1-24) not mentioned (cf. 10:17). They endured
tremendous hardships, but they neither
The Race to Be Run (v1) recanted nor abandoned faith (e.g., 11:25-
Commencing with “therefore,” the 27,33-38). They all “died in faith, not hav-
writer resumes his exhortation to “go on ing received the promises.” By faith, they
unto perfection” (6:1), for which he sees beheld the promises “afar off” and were
himself and his beloved brethren (note “persuaded of them,” giving evidence
“we” and “us”) as being in a race (12:1). that they longed and hoped for something
Every believer enters this race upon new infinitely better – a heavenly city prepared
birth (Joh 1:12-13; 2Co 5:17). The allotted by God (11:1,13-16,39; cf. 12:22-24).
course “set before us” is predetermined
by God for all believers, collectively and The supreme Example we are to follow
individually (cf. Act 20:24; 2Ti 4:7; 1Co is our Lord Jesus Christ. His perfect trust
9:24-27). The glorious, heavenly goal at in and total dependence upon His Father
which all are destined to arrive is de- in “the days of his flesh” were lifelong
scribed in verses 22-24, immediately prior (e.g., Psa 22:9; 16:1-11; 22:8; Heb 5:7; Luk
to the warning. In verse 22, “ye are come 23:46). By faith, He too saw “afar off” and
unto” is in the perfect tense (i.e., “you have hoped for glorious spiritual realities – “the
come to” or “you came to”) and implies joy that was set before him” (v2; cf. Psa
that all believers have approached the 16:11). By faith, He “endured such hostil-
heavenly scene already (cf. Eph 2:6), prov- ity” (v3 NASB) and “endured the cross”
ing yet again the writer is addressing the (v2; cf. Php 2:8). By faith, He “finished”
redeemed and eternally secure. His course (Joh 17:4; 19:30). Therefore, we
The Example to Be Followed (vv1-3) are to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author
Just as one enters the race by faith, the and perfecter of faith,” and “consider Him
entire course must be run by faith (10:36- who has endured” lest we “grow weary
39; 12:1; 2Co 5:7). Faith is the exercise of and lose heart” (vv2-3 NASB; cf. Isa 40:31).
obedience to divine revelation. It enables
us to discern and appropriate the reality As we run our course, may we be con-
of spiritual promises that are invisible or scious of the pleasure that faith brings to
not yet tangible, and to patiently wait for God, and the besetting sin of unbelief. By
them (6:12,15; 11:1; Rom 8:24-25). Every faith, let us ever be “reaching forward to
hindrance (“weight”) and obstacle (“sin”) what lies ahead,” and to “press on toward the
that impedes faith must be removed. To goal for the prize of the upward call of God
strengthen our faith, the writer reminds in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:13-14 NASB).

238 TRUTH kTidings August 2025