SurroundedByAGreatCloudOfWitnesses….

Heb.12:1-3

Introduction• Chaptersweidentifywithtopics.

– Creation– The10Commandments– Love– Resurrection– TheTongue– O.T.prophecyofJesus’sdeath– SermonontheMount– Thebeginningofthechurch– Faith

Introduction• ThelifeoffaithisstressedfromthebeginningtotheendoftheepistletotheHebrews.– Chapter1:1-2à Godhathspoken– Chapter2:1-4àWemustheedHisword– Chapter3:12,19àMustholdfasttohopeandavoidtheevilheartofunbelief

– Chapter4:2,11à Hearingthegospelisofbenefitonlyifitismixedwithfaith

– Chapter5:11-6:1àMustgrowinfaith– Chapter6:10-12à Throughfaithandendurancearethepromisesinherited

Introduction

• ThenecessityoffaithpermeatestheletterasthewriterimploreshisreadersnottoreturntoJudaism,toholdontoJesusChristastheirgreathighpriest,andtheNewCovenantwithitsmuchbetterpromises.

• Ashecontinuestoencouragetheminthiscourse,warnsofapostasyandencouragesthemtoencourageoneanother tofaithfulnessandsteadfastness.

Heb.10:19-25;36-40• 21 And having an high priest over the house of

God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Heb.10:36-40• 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which

hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

TheGreatCloudOfWitnesses…• Heb. 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are

compassed about with so great a cloud of 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,– A succession of examples, who by their lives

bear witness to the necessity, nature and power of faith – a persistent, forward looking faith.

– They encourage us as we see that they by faith obtained God’s approval. We are encompassed by them and they are many.

Introduction

• OneofthegreatemphasisintheHebrewletteris“faith”.– Whatfaithisà Heb.11:1– Thenecessityoffaithà Heb.11:6– Illustrationsoffaithà Abel,Enoch,Noah…

Abel• Abel.(Heb.11:4;Gen.4:1-9)

– Abelofferedapleasingsacrificebyfaith.• Rom.10:17à 17Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod.

• Jn.4:24à24GodisaSpirit:andtheythatworshiphimmustworshiphiminspiritandintruth.

Abelstillgivesspeaks:--HowweworshipmatterstoGod.--Pleasingworshipisbyfaith.--Godacceptsthebestwehavetooffer.

Enoch• Enoch.(Heb.11:5;Jude14;Gen.5:22-24)EnochwalkedwithGod.– HadtherightrelationshipwithGod.LivedinclosefellowshipwithGod.

– WalkingwithGod:• Eph.4:17-20à doesnotliveandthinkliketheworld.

• Eph.5:2àwalksinsacrificiallove• Eph.5:6à aschildrenoflight• Eph.5:11à hasnofellowshipwithdarkness.(IIIJn.4)

• Eph.5:15-17à walkscircumspectly– carefully;takesadvantageofeveryopportunity.

EnochtestifiesthatthelifethatpleasesGodconformstohiswill.(Gal.1:10)

Noah• Noah(Heb.11:7;Gen.6-9)

– Believedwhennearlyallelsedisbelieved.(6:5-7,13;IIPet.2:5)

– HeededGod’sWarning.(Gen.6:13)

– FollowedGod’spattern.(Gen.6:22;Matt.7:21;IIJn.9)

– IllustratedGod’ssalvation:• Grace(Gen.6:8)• Faith(Heb.11:7)• Obedience(Gen.6:22)

21Thelikefigurewhereuntoevenbaptismdothalsonowsaveus(nottheputtingawayofthefilthoftheflesh,buttheanswerofagoodconsciencetowardGod,)bytheresurrectionofJesusChrist: