TUESDAY-THURSDAY RADIO STUDIES
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church West Covina, Calif. It is clear that the heroes of faith mentioned in chapter 11 are the wit nesses which the author has in mind. They, too, in their day faced sore trials in their efforts to fulfill their destiny in the purpose of God. But despite that fact they placed their trust in God and went on to victory. What they have done we can do. Our problems are no greater than those of our fore fathers in the faith. 2. T he I nspiration of a G reat P urpose ( v . lb ) “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” The cloud of witnesses had a course to run, and they ran it to the end. But their run ning cannot suffice for others. The pic ture is that of a relay race. Those who have run have passed on to us the redemptive purpose of God which must be carried forward in our generation, at the end of which we, in turn, shall pass it on to others. For that reason we are urged to do our best. In order to do this we must lay aside every weight. Track men often train in heavier shoes than those worn in the race. This enables them to be lighter on their feet, thus adding to their efficiency in the race itself. We are called upon to cast aside every handicap such as doubt, pride, laziness, or any other thing which will keep us from doing our best. Furthermore, we are to lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us. The true rendering is “the easily be setting sin.” Runners ran in the sta dium almost naked. They wore no cloak which might entangle and trip them. The sin which we believe that the author has in mind, as often be fore, is the sin of standing off from God in refusing to pursue His purpose for His people. It is unbelief. 3. T he I nspiration of O ur L eader (vv. 2-4) 31
HEBREWS 12:1-13:25 T he call to Christian growth .and service on the part of Christian people is all the more pressing in the light of the motive which moves them onward toward their goal. For this reason this responsibility to God is all the more compelling. That God waits upon His people we have seen. In deed, the unredeemed millions of the earth wait upon us. The millions wait, God calls, and His people must answer. The motive of yesteryears is the pres ent stimulus which calls for a re sponse. The word “therefore” is said by Dr. A. T. Robertson to be a “triple compound inferential participle” and is “a conclusion of emphasis.” I t re fers not only to the thought which im mediately precedes it, but includes the entire evidence of the epistle. Coming to a final conclusion, therefore, the au thor presents in reverse but in climax ing order the threefold inspiration which characterizes the Christian’s motive. I. Inspiration as a Motive ( w . 1-4) 1. T he I nspiration of F ormer T riumphs ( v . la ) “Seeing we also a r e compassed about with so great a cloud of wit nesses.” We are called upon to look about us at the great cloud of wit nesses or martyrs. The word “cloud” is used here only in the New Testa ment and means a great mass of clouds. This metaphor is suggestive of a vast arena surrounded by tier upon tier of seats rising up as a cloud. The author regards these wit nesses (martures — note our word “martyr” ) not as mere spectators, else he would have used the word theatai (note our word “theater”) which means just that. These are testifiers who out of their own experience can testify to the keeping power of God through all their trials.
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