No Pain … No Gain … No Glory

Dale WellsPalm Desert Church of Christ

October 22, 2006

The distorted gospel vs. the true gospel • Distorted

gospel: • “Come to

Jesus and be happy.”

• “To be a Christian guarantees prosperity.”

• True gospel:

• “Come to Jesus and struggle.”

• “To be a Christian guarantees adversity.”

There is an overlooked teaching in the NT:• Christianity is a fight to be

fought, a race to be run & a struggle to overcome– It is toil, sweat, tears & blood

• The path to glory is suffering– Acts 14:22 NIV …"We must go

through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" ...

Today’s text is summed up by J.C. Ryle (1816-1900):

• “There are no gains without pains.”

• No pain – No gain

Hebrews 6:11-12 NIVHebrews 6:11-12 NIV • We want each of you to We want each of you to

show this same diligence to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. make your hope sure. (12)(12) We do not want you to We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and those who through faith and patience inherit what has patience inherit what has been promised.been promised.

Hebrews was written to a church that was struggling • They were tired and

dragging.• Hebrews 12:12 NRSV

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

The context begins at Hebrews 10:32-36 NIV• Remember those earlier days

after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. (33) Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

The context begins at Hebrews 10:32-36 NIV• (34) You sympathized with those in

prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. (35) So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (36) You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

It continues through Faith’s Hall of Fame

Hebrews 11:39-40 NLT

• All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. (40) For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1. The Christian life is a race

Everybody knew about the Greek games • Hebrews 12 pictures the

Christian life as a race• Paul also used the games as a

picture of the Christian life– 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG You've

all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. ... (26) I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. …

“Race” is agona from which we get “agony”

• Demanding, grueling, agonizing • The imperative is “Run”• We’re in the race of our lives!• Agony: not defeat, but victory!

2. The race is marked out for us

We cannot run anyone else’s race

• We’re not the judges, but the runners• We compete against ourselves• We only answer for how we run• Where am I in the race God has marked

out for me?

3. The race has been run successfully by

others

Faith’s predecessors are our spectators

• The picture is the amphitheater, with tiers of spectators

• Hebrews 12:1 MSG Do you see what this means--all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?

“Run like them” is the message• Along the route

are people who have run before us saying “You can win by faith”

• They ran & now it’s our turn

• They’re there to inspire us

• They’re waiting for us

History is waiting for us to finish the race

• Hebrews 11:40 NLT For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.

4. The race requires discipline

Hypomone – spiritual staying power • Hebrews 12:1

NLT …let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG

• You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. (25) All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG

• (26) I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! (27) I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

All athletes go into training • Hebrews 12:1 NLT …let us strip

off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

• Hebrews 12:1 MSG … Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Some things have to be jettisoned• Athletes get rid of

unnecessary weight that slows them– Christians must get rid of

things that hinder us • Athletes get rid of

encumbering clothing that would trip them up– Christians must get rid of sin

that trips us up

John Wesley’s mother once wrote to him

• “Whatever weakens your reason, or impairs the tenderness of your conscience, or obscures the sense of your God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.”

Hebrews 12:1 MSG

• Do you see what this means--all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV • See to it, brothers, that

none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. (13) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

5. The race has been run by Jesus

Focus on Jesus, who stands at the finish line• Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG Keep your

eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

Focus on Jesus, who stands at the finish line• (3) When you find

yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG

Formula For Spiritual Formula For Spiritual SuccessSuccess• Look within – and be distressed• Look back – and be defeated• Look around – and be distracted• Look ahead – and be dismayed• Look up – and be delivered!

– Colossians 3:1-2 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Remember his faith & perseverance• He endured much more hostility

from sinners than we ever will – and it led to a cross

• Many heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 died as martyrs

• Jesus was more than a martyr• Compared to them – and

especially to him, we have nothing to complain about

Acts 2:25-31 NIVActs 2:25-31 NIV • David said about him: "'I saw the Lord David said about him: "'I saw the Lord

always before me. Because he is at always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. my right hand, I will not be shaken. (26)(26) Therefore my heart is glad and Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, live in hope, (27)(27) because you will not because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. let your Holy One see decay. (28)(28) You You have made known to me the paths of have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'presence.'

Acts 2:25-31 NIVActs 2:25-31 NIV • (29)(29) "Brothers, I can tell you "Brothers, I can tell you

confidently that the patriarch David confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. here to this day. (30)(30) But he was a But he was a prophet and knew that God had prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his place one of his descendants on his throne. throne. (31)(31) Seeing what was ahead, Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.the grave, nor did his body see decay.

Jesus endured the cross Jesus endured the cross & despised the shame& despised the shame• Hebrews 12:4 MSG In this

all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through--all that bloodshed!

Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT • And now, may the God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. (21) May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our faith owes all to Jesus’ faith

• Hebrews 5:8 NLT So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

Look where his faith took him • Hebrews 12:2-4

NLT …He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven.

Look where his faith took him • (3) Think about

all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. (4) After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:2-4 NLT

Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”

• Some say “It wasn’t that bad.” It was!

• To Gentiles, the cross was disgraceful.

• To Jews, it was the curse of God.

The Christian life is lived in the shadow of the cross

• When people criticize you… • When people let you down… • When pain seems unbearable… • When you feel like a failure…

In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

• “When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die”

• We cannot follow Christ into heaven without following him past a cross.

• We must be prepared to do for him what he did for us.

C.H. Spurgeon said:

• “There will be no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers on earth.”

2 Timothy 2:5 MSG • An athlete who refuses to

play by the rules will never get anywhere.

• The Christian life… – Is a race– Is marked out for us– Has been run successfully by

others– Requires self-discipline– Has been run by Jesus

Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV

• Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.