for you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and  burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, (19) and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.  (22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is unknown. However, he/she is writing to Christian Jews who, for fear of persecution, were in danger of renouncing Christ Jesus as their Savior.  The letter makes much use of the Old Testament to show that all of the Bible was about the appearance of Jesus Christ in history.

In our verses today, we are reminded that God gave Moses the Law at Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai was a “real” mountain that may be touched and the Jews (just freed from Egypt) at the mountain could see, hear and feel the physical manifestations of God – there was darkness, thunder, fire and the blast of trumpets and the sound of God’s word. But the author compares this to the unseen Mt. Zion, or the heavenly new Jerusalem which cannot be seen while we are of this world. At Mt. Sinai, Moses and Aaron were the only mediators God allowed. But now we have Jesus as our forever high priest and we have left Sinai and come to Zion – the new covenant of grace in Jesus’ blood. The readers of the letter to the Hebrews are being told that Jesus is superior in every way.

The author of Hebrews also uses the example of the unbelief and immorality of Esau.  He did not believe what he could not see and his desire for present pleasure as opposed to delayed blessings is the contrast again between the reality of Mt Sinai and Mt Zion.  We are not invited to come to Sinai where men learned the consequences for rejecting God’s word, but to the greater Zion where we will heed the words of Jesus which were not written in stone but on our hearts. We are warned to not return from grace but to remain unshakeable in Jesus Who has set us free from the Law.  The Law could never make us right with God – nothing man can do would accomplish that. The Father’s wrath is satisfied by the  sacrifice of the Son – our sin is covered by His blood

The spectacular does not produce endurance – suffering does. This life is short but Mt. Zion is eternal.

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; (6) For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives”. (7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  (11) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  (12) Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, (13) and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is unknown but it was written to converted Jews to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith in Christ Jesus in the face of persecution. In the verses we study today we are being reminded that God hates sin and the verses are viewing suffering from Gods perspective. Clearly the Bible – the word of God – approves of discipline and presents it as not for destruction but there for the purpose of righteousness and reward in the end.  Christ endured the wrath of God and became sin so that we might be saved. Our suffering is minimal compared to this – our sure hope of the future will give us motive to endure.  We have to strive against our sinful nature and put away the sin that besets us.

Discipline is presented here as the lot and privilege of all sons of God. God requires fitness of character which results from endurance and submission. The fruit of enduring brief earthly conflict (suffering) is peace with God.

I have a close friend who is right now enduring the last phase of ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease. I have watched her deal with this terrible slow way of dying and marvel at her joy and patience. Instead of thinking of her suffering she has shown all of those who love her how to endure and triumph in  face of terrible adversity.  The Apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy  – “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”.

Therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (2) 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is unknown but the audience is a Jewish community which has converted to Christianity – and now in the face of escalating persecution, they are tempted to abandon Christ. The author makes use of the Old Testament to argue the centrality and sufficiency of Christ Jesus for salvation. And to warn against backsliding.  the author has just written of faith in chapter 11, commending flawed human beings for their perseverance in faith – they were not perfect but trusted in God who is perfect.

The Jews of ancient times believed that prosperity was visible proof of living well – and suffering was the fate of sinners. And now these people are reading in the letter to the Hebrews that as faithful of Christ, they are to expect to suffer as Jesus suffered. The great faithful of the Old Testament are the great cloud of witnesses – some of those referred to were probably still alive but many had gone before – but all had lived by faith. The point is, the faithful are all in a race with the goal of eternal salvation AND God has set the course.

The hindrances to a successful race are not sins but encumbrances that draw on our time and energy.  These can be spiritual encumbrances as well as materialistic.  The goal in our text today is not evangelism but perseverance leading to the completion of our race for salvation   We need to live in such a way to facilitate our life of faith, not to drag us down – to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus with no distraction.

We are also warned of our besetting sin – our darling sin – which is the other hindrance to the successful completion of the race.  We are challenged to walk by faith and faith is a gift from God. It is not earned by mans works but faith is a calling from God.  My granddaughter is a highly gifted runner and I have seen firsthand the endurance and perseverance of the successful runner. I have also seen the single mindedness of bob, the wonder dog, who wantEd to retrieve his  ball. Nothing distracted him.  Nothing.

So, We have everyday models of behavior but our great high priest, Christ Jesus, is the only example of perfect humanity. We are told to think of Jesus when discouraged or fearful or tired and we will gather strength to run the race with endurance.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2) For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  (8) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (10) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  (11) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude – innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is unknown but he/she is writing to Jews who had been converted to Christianity, but now, in the face of persecution, were thinking of reverting to the Jewish religion. Chapter 11 which we study today clearly assumes the audience to have a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament and the author of Hebrews is teaching fundamental  saving faith by going back to Abraham. Abraham lived before the Law was given to Moses and Scripture makes it clear that Abraham was saved by faith not by man’s works. The apostle Paul wrote that all who have faith are children of Abraham, not just his genetic descendants.  Rather than focusing on what or what not man can do, faith focuses on God’s power and faithfulness.

The purpose of Hebrews was to establish the foundation for our faith – faith based salvation is based on Christ, not on man. There were plenty of failures of biblical saints recorded in Scripture – and the reason that Hebrews only mentions  faith and not failures is because the gospel tells us that by Christ Jesus God has forgotten our sins. In the Old Testament there was the law and annual reparation led by the High Priest. Now we have the perfect, once and for all sacrifice of our new high priest, Christ Jesus – God will remember the sins of the faithful no more.

The author of Hebrews has just answered the wavering Jews of that ancient time.  Why would anyone prefer the old system with the inferior priesthood to essentially abandon salvation. The author is showing his/her audience that we don’t have to be perfect to be saved. Abraham was faithful but he wasn’t perfect. The gospel does not rely on our performance but on the perfection of Jesus.

This overwhelming message of Hebrews is for all the faithful – perserverance in faith is the answer to life.  We don’t deserve it; we could never deserve it.  Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Amen

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  (9) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, (10) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (11) where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised not uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul.  The first two chapters of the letter refute the errors of false teachers who were telling the Christians at Colosse that salvation was not only by grace but also by human regulation and ceremony – what I think of as Jesus, AND.  Paul argues that Jeaus Christ is sufficient – that “Christ is all and in all.”

In chapter 3 of Colossians Paul moves to ask his readers to live daily to reflect the indwelling Christ – their union with Christ by grace through faith. Paul tells the reborn that they are dead to sin – their sins are covered by the completed work of Our Lord. We are dead to the world’s way of thinking and acting. This is a mystical experience but real. We are to set out minds on heavenly things; to live on a different plane in Christ. Paul is not saying we are to withdraw from the world but to live with thoughts of eternity – our lives in Christ should be expressed in all our thoughts, actions and relationships.  Christians have had a radical experience through faith – we are renewed, reborn, with a true knowledge of reality. In this realm of the new self all distinctions are removed and all are equal in the eyes of God.

We are new men and women through faith in Christ Jesus and we had better act to reflect this new reality.