June 8, 1997

Running the Race

From Series: Fix Our Eyes on Jesus, Volume 3

by Alistair Begg

Hebrews 12:1-4 (ID: 1940)

The Christian life is a marathon of endurance. How well are you running your race? Alistair Begg counsels us that in order to run well, we must deal with the entanglements that slow us down. Both good gifts that disrupt our focus and sins that cause us to stumble can hinder our spiritual progress. To overcome such obstacles, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, as well as our race’s prize.

Hebrews 12:1-4

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

³Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

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Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.

Other messages in: Fix Our Eyes on Jesus, Volume 1

Written for an audience of Jewish believers in a time of persecution, the book of Hebrews proclaims an eternal truth: Jesus is both the Son of God and our Great High Priest. He is the perfect mediator between God and humanity. As he considers Christ’s work from its foreshadowing in the Old Testament to its present impact, the writer of Hebrews exhorts believers to “fix our eyes on Jesus” as God’s perfect and only provision for mankind’s sins.

In volume one of this series, Alistair Begg explores an important question: If true believers cannot lose their salvation, why does Hebrews warn us not to fall away from faith in Christ? As he explains the purpose of the book’s God-given warnings and describes the danger signs of potential drifters, we are encouraged to focus on Christ’s high priestly role. Because Christ stood in our place as the final sacrifice for sin, we can have confidence to persevere to the end in steadfast faith.

(has transcript)

Message	ID	Scripture	Buy
Heed These Warnings ID: 1901	1901	Hebrews 1:1-3	CD
The Superiority of Christ ID: 1902	1902	Hebrews 1:4-14	CD
The Danger of Drifting ID: 1904	1904	Hebrews 2:1-18	CD
Holding Firmly to the End, Part One ID: 1906	1906	Hebrews 3:1-19	CD
Holding Firmly to the End, Part Two ID: 1907	1907	Hebrews 3:1-19	CD
Rest For Your Soul ID: 1908	1908	Hebrews 4:1-13	CD
Jesus, The Great High Priest ID: 1909	1909	Hebrews 4:14-5:10	CD
Much to Learn ID: 1910	1910	Hebrews 5:11-14	CD
Slowing, or Growing ID: 1911	1911	Hebrews 5:11-6:3	CD
The Peril of Spiritual Apostasy ID: 1915	1915	Hebrews 6:4-8	CD
Confident of Better Things ID: 1916	1916	Hebrews 6:9-12	CD
Complete volume:	15801	MP3 CD Series CD Series

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Other messages in: Fix Our Eyes on Jesus, Volume 2

Written for an audience of Jewish believers in a time of persecution, the Book of Hebrews proclaims a thrilling truth: Jesus is both the Son of God and our Great High Priest, the perfect mediator between God and humanity. As he considers Christ’s work from its foreshadowing in the Old Testament to its present impact, the writer of Hebrews exhorts believers to “fix our eyes on Jesus” as God’s perfect and only provision for mankind’s sins.

Hebrews’ early recipients, familiar with ceremonial worship, needed reassurance that the Lord Jesus Christ lived eternally to intercede for them. In volume two of this series, Alistair Begg helps us to understand how the old covenant found completion in the superior new covenant, initiated by God and procured by Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Through the grace, mercy, and preservation of our Lord, believers can persevere as, enabled by the Spirit, we grow in faith, hope, and love.

(has transcript)

Message	ID	Scripture	Buy
The Mystery of Melchizedek, Part One ID: 1917	1917	Hebrews 7:1-11	CD
The Mystery of Melchizedek, Part Two ID: 1918	1918	Hebrews 7:12-28	CD
A Superior Covenant ID: 1919	1919	Hebrews 8:1-13	CD
The Cleansing of Conscience ID: 1923	1923	Hebrews 9:1-14	CD
When Jesus Came... ID: 1924	1924	Hebrews 9:11-28	CD
It is Finished! ID: 1926	1926	Hebrews 10:1-18	CD
Faith, Hope, and Love ID: 1928	1928	Hebrews 10:19-25	CD
Keeping Near, Keeping On ID: 1929	1929	Hebrews 10:26-39	CD
What is Faith? ID: 1933	1933	Hebrews 11:1	CD
Perserverance of the Saints ID: 1934	1934		CD
Complete volume:	15802	MP3 CD Series CD Series

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Other messages in: Fix Our Eyes on Jesus, Volume 3

In volume three of this series, Alistair Begg points us to Jesus as the focal point of divine revelation and the one accomplisher of our redemption. Walking us through Hebrews’ “Portrait Gallery of Faith,” he encourages us to persevere in trusting Jesus, even when the world is doubtful. God, we discover, uses our struggles to demonstrate His love for us as He teaches us how to be holy. Strengthened by Him, we can therefore press on in living the Christian life by the faith He provides.

(has transcript)

Message	ID	Scripture	Buy
Portrait Gallery, Part One ID: 1935	1935	Hebrews 11:1-7	CD
Portrait Gallery, Part Two ID: 1936	1936	Hebrews 11:8-16	CD
Every Picture tells a Story ID: 1937	1937	Hebrews 11:17-28	CD
Through Many Dangers ID: 1938	1938	Hebrews 11:29-40	CD
Running the Race ID: 1940	1940	Hebrews 12:1-4	CD
The Father's Discipline ID: 1941	1941	Hebrews 12:5-11	CD
Essentials of Christian Maturity ID: 1942	1942	Hebrews 12:12-27	CD
A Christian Lifestyle ID: 1945	1945	Hebrews 13:1-8	CD
The Privilege of Disgrace ID: 1946	1946	Hebrews 13:9-14	CD
A Summary of Christian Duty ID: 1947	1947	Hebrews 13:15-17	CD
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus ID: 1948	1948	Hebrews 13:18-25	CD
Complete volume:	15803	MP3 CD Series CD Series

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