Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS, USA

Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.

“…Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1b-2)

The peril of discouragement was much on the mind of the writer of the book of Hebrews. It is a peril which we too often face, one which can rob us of our joy and vitality, one which can steal our zeal for the Lord’s work and cause us to forget what great things God has done for us in Christ. In the opening verse of Hebrews 12 we are exhorted to “run with patience the race that is set before us”. The word “patience” has the literal meaning of “patient endurance” or “steadfast endurance”. Now the great example that is set before is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to “run with patience… looking unto Jesus.” In Hebrews 10:36 we are reminded “For ye have need of patient endurance…” In Chapter 11 we see some Old Testament saints who patiently endured. Finally in Chapter 12 we are to “run with patience” remembering that Christ “patiently endured the cross…” Then we are told to “consider him who patiently endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself least ye become wearied and faint.” How easy it is to become weary and faint whether it is under the chastening of the Lord or through the trials and tribulations of this life. However, we can patiently endure if we keep looking unto Jesus.

First, we are to look to Him because of who He is. He is the “author and finisher of our faith”. He is the originator and completer of our faith. Jesus Christ’s work on the cross is the basis of our faith. Without Him we have no salvation. We “love him because he first loved us”. He was “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The Father purposed to send Him and He willingly agreed to come and purchase our redemption by giving His life a ransom for many. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of His person. He is so much like the Father in His essence that He could say “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” The Father is holy, so is the Son for in Him is no sin at all. He only could say “I always do the will of my Father”. The Father is omnipotent, so is the Son for “all things were created by Him and for Him.” The Father is loving and merciful and full of grace and so is the Son. He loved us and gave Himself for us. One by one we could go through all the attributes of the Father and we would see them perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ for He was the Eternal Son of the Eternal God. There is no one like our Jesus.

Second, we are to look to Him because of what He did. He endured the “Cross”. Some act as if sin is no big thing. Some think that God is like a kindly grandfather who overlooks the transgressions of his grandchildren, believing that they intended to do better. Others think that all we have to do is just say we are sorry for our sins and everything will be all right. No, sin is an awful thing which deserves an awful penalty. The wages of sin have never changed. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Spiritual and physical death are the natural outcome of sin. If we were to be redeemed, the penalty must be paid. This Jesus did for us bearing the punishment that should have been ours. He died the innocent in the place of the guilty. The Father did not lessen the punishment one ounce. The suffering of Jesus were real physical, mental, and spiritual sufferings. All that we should have suffered for an eternity Jesus suffered for us there on the cross. Immense, infinite sufferings were the lot of our dear Savior. Yet, it pleased the Father to bruise Him, to make His soul and offering for sin (Isa. 53:10). He endured the cross and the shame, being made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), for the joy that was set before Him. The object of that joy was the Father’s will, the complete salvation and eternal happiness of His people. To save millions of fallen souls of every race, kindred, and tongue from the guilt and penalty of sin and lift them to the enjoyment of holiness and eternal happiness with Him was His great delight. To destroy the works of the devil, He was willing to suffer indescribable agonies for a time. He kept his eye on the conversion, sanctification, and glorification of His people, by which the Father would be glorified, and this sustained Him. He is now reaping the fruits of His obedient suffering, and waits the time when all for whom He suffered , bled, and died will be made like Him, stand complete before Him, and be with Him in His kingdom forever.

Third, we are to keep looking to Jesus because of where He reigns, at the “right hand of God. The right hand is the place of honor and of authority. Jesus Christ has the highest honor in heaven and the Father has decreed that one day “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10). At the right hand of the

Father He ever lives to make intercession for us (Rom. 8:34) When Satan accuses us, Jesus pleads His shed blood, and the Father finds no fault in us. When Satan attacks us fiercely, He prays for us that our faith fail not and gives us grace and help in our hour of need. He is directing all things to the desired end that He will reign in righteousness over this world and His people will be there with Him to share in His reign.

Instead of depression and discouragement, we are to keep looking to Jesus. Look at the cross and see how He suffered for you. Can anyone look at the savior on the cross and doubt His love for sinners? Can anyone look at His resurrection from the grave and doubt His mighty power to conquer our greatest enemies, to conquer even death itself by changing our vile bodies to be like His glorious body? Can anyone look at His fulfillment of prophecy and doubt His fulfillment of the promises He has made us? Can anyone look at the bliss he promises and is preparing for us and quit just a few days from our eternal bliss? Truly, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Let us patiently endure the trials and tribulations of this world and the needed chastening of our Lord and keep looking to Jesus. He who began a good work in us will see us through. Let us seek to lay aside that sin which does hinder us in our walk and fellowship with Him. He who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures will never leave us or forsake us. By His grace, we can run with patience the race that is set before us.