and though they all testified through their faith, they did not receive that promised, for God had provided something better with us in mind, so that they did not finish apart from us.Hebrews 11:39-40
For this reason, ourselves having a great throng of people, witnesses surrounding us. Also lay down all impediments and sin that so easily, constantly distracting, running through endurance the race placed before us.Hebrews 12:1
They did not finish the race, God had provided something better with us in mind, so that they did not finish apart from us... Those in the Old covenant did not receive the promise, so that they did not finish apart from us. Does this not imply the promise was not about earthly things? Did not Israel receive land? These of the hall of faith, did not finish apart from us, thus they are a multitude of witnesses to us running this race. By faith they testified of a righteousness that would come apart from works; by faith according to grace. This is the law of faith, that a righteousness has been revealed a part from works of the Law. This doesn't nullify but fulfills the righteous requirements of the Law. By faith we run the race placed before us and we finish with a great throng of people waiting for us.
therefore from one and the same impotence also born many people, as the stars of the heaven in number and innumerable like as the sand along the shore of the sea.Hebrews 11:12
Is the promise of inheritance a promise of earthly land, thus of earthly blessings of a thousand cattle on a hill? or a promise of a heavenly home and spiritual blessings? And if there was a promise of land would not the promise of land be fulfilled when there is a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem, when Christ reigns on earth? The promise of land is worthless without the descendant, a Seed, the savior in which the promise would be fulfilled. The promise is that people of all nations would receive the promise of inheritance in Christ. And the pledge of this inheritance Paul writes is the Holy Spirit, until God requires full possession of, when salvation is complete, finished, when we receive redemption of the body. Abraham's wife Sarah was impotent, but the promise included her giving birth to a descendant.
where then is boasting? excluded through what law? of works? Not so, but through the law of faith.Romans 3:27
The law of faith states I am justified freely apart from works, it is by grace through faith, lest I boast. There is no boasting in works, not in tithing and giving, not in serving and sacrificing, not in helping orphans and widows, as none of these will help you put off all impediments, the weight of sin, so to run and finish. The proving or testing of our faith produces endurance and the intended work of endurance James writes is maturity, wholeness. Thus the race is about attaining wholeness through perfection or maturity, or growing up into our salvation. It is about being transformed into His image, as the Church edifies, truth in love so that we grow up in Him. We are called to a high purpose, a reasonable service, we are chosen to receive an inheritance as sons, and since we partake of His divine nature we are called to become holy as He is holy.
knowing that the proving of your faith produces endurance, the one having endurance, possesses its intended purpose; so that existing mature and whole, lacking in nothing.James 1:3-4
Justification and righteousness we receive by faith, as a gift along with grace. Holiness and godliness is different. Grace reigns through righteousness, the seed you possess in Christ, thus the child will grow up and bear fruit of righteousness and life. The parable of sowing states this, as a new creation the seed is planted, firmly established having been rooted and grounded in faith energized in love, you grow up, mature, truth in love, so you grow up into Christ. This is your purpose and reasonable service and high calling; to become like Jesus in holy character. It is not about the things that have no value like tithing, giving, serving and sacrificing, living to the letter of the Law, principles of do not touch and taste, trying to beat sin out of the flesh, nor about helping others, but about what matures us. When we share in His holy character we have been prepared beforehand and will do good works, as it is our nature. The things that do not perfect, they are of little value, but holiness is of value, "for physical discipline exists little value, but godliness of value for all having promise in the present life and the coming."* We can boast in what counts, in Christ; faith, hope, and love.
Now, all contend in a race to possess self control, this so that to receive a perishable crown, now, we an imperishable. I do not run aimlessly, not like as a boxer beating the air, but I discipline my body and bring into slavery, by any means proclaiming to others, unless myself becoming, becoming disqualified.1 Corinthians 9:25-27
What counts or helps us cross the finish line? endurance, strengthening in faith energized in love, and self control or disciplining of the body. Some have been snared by the devil to run the race in the flesh. This type of discipline, which some might call spiritual discipline, is of no value. Because such a snare exists doesn't mean we do need to discipline the body. We add to faith endurance which requires discipline of the body. The body is for the Lord, because we are new creation, and the flesh is against the Spirit. So the body in which sin dwells is presented to the Lord, a living sacrifice, for the purpose of holiness. Holiness is the sacrifice acceptable to God and is achieved through the Spirit and abiding in the words of Jesus. Having understanding in this truth, which , Paul gives us helps us understand so we can reason that the flesh has been crucified with Christ. So godliness is important if we are called to run this race. Being a new creation counts, faith energized in love or truth in love is what strengthens. The outcome of holiness, in which a child grows up into salvation and maturity is obedience. Obedience is the fruit of one established in the Lord.
Also lay down all impediments and sin which easily, constantly distracts, running through endurance the race placed before us.Hebrews 12:1
If we are to put away sin and sin dwells in the body then we are to put away the body, present the body a living sacrifice to the Lord. We are to put away all impediments that weigh us down. If I am overweight how can I run a race? And if I enjoy eating then I must discipline my body. The word impediment means to attain, thus a tumor, molestation keeps me from attaining wholeness and weight keeps me from running the good race, also the word implies a hook, grapple which we can think as that used by the devil to snare us from running this race.* There is sin that weighs down and snares of the devil, doctrines introduced into the Church that will keep us from our true calling and purpose.
There is trying to run the race in the flesh and there is our reasonable service which is to present the body, in which sin dwells, a living sacrifice unto holiness. The things that do not help us we put away. The faith of Abraham Paul writes is that he did not judge or reason according to his unbelief. Did Abraham have unbelief? Yes, he tried to bring about the promise through another woman. But Abraham did not judge according to unbelief but was strengthened in faith, until he was fully convinced what God promised He would do. How did Abraham believe? Paul writes the gospel was preached beforehand to him. How did Abraham overcome? he was strengthened in faith. How do we overcome unbelief? we abide in the words of Jesus, looking intently in truth, until we believe the promise of God.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.Hebrews 11:39-40
Truly we rest in the promise of God. God promised to establish us, and though we might in season reason in our minds unbelief and struggle with impediments and sin, God will not go back on His promise. What must I do? abide. If I believe that to abide in the Vine, is to bear fruit, then I will discipline my body, train my mind, the carnal mind of the sinful nature that wants to do everything else but abide, to abide. Therefore I subject the body to the Lord. He is Lord of the body, but He savior of my soul, living bread that sanctifies the soul, thus in this purpose he is meek and lowly in heart as I yoke to Him, seek living food that endures unto life and consecrate my heart to the Lord.
By faith, Abel offered to God an acceptable sacrifice, in sight of Cain, through whom testified existing righteous of God, testifying upon his present. And dead he still speaks through faith.Hebrews 11:4
Abel was not counted righteous because of his present or gift as some would say seeking first God's is about what you give, your ten percent, your best offered to God in tithing and giving. You can't earn nor buy God's righteousness. And since money as Jesus said is an unrighteous manna, one can't buy the treasure of heaven, of righteousness with an unrighteous offering. Abel testified of His faith through his gift which was a reflection of his life. Or said another way, like Abraham who heard the gospel and believed, Abel believed, also seeing that God would give His only Son, a spotless lamb for sin. Abel was counted righteous by faith, and still speaks to us through faith. That the promises of God would be by faith according to grace, not by his offering of his best, not by works of his hands lest he boast. Cain also testified through his offering, of unbelief, and murdered his brother who was righteous.
by faith he sojourned to the land promised like as a foreigner, living in tents, together with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise for he was looking ahead to a city, the one with foundations whose designer and builder is God.Hebrews 11:9-10
Did Abraham receive the promise of earthly land? no, but he saw by faith that through the Seed, all peoples and all nations would be blessed. Was the temple of the Old covenant of Mosaic Law designed by God? yes. Was it built by God? no, it was built by the hands of sinful men, residing on a corrupt body, a dying earth. So the city Abraham believed and saw by faith was a heavenly one. Today, is God the designed and builder of an earthly land? Did God or man engineer the means to bring the desert to life? Is not the temple of God and the church of God, its people? Yes, by faith we are heirs of the same promise, the Holy Spirit being the pledge of this inheritance, and we are the sons of Abraham, with no distinction between Jew and Gentile, man or woman. We are the children of God, a vast array of descendants, a great throng of people, numbered as many as the sands of the sea, testifying through faith, the faith of Abraham.
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.Hebrews 11:32-35
Joshua led Israel into the promised land, taking possession of it, Some attained promises, shut the mouth of lions, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong in weakness, mighty in war, defeating armies... David conquered kingdoms through faith. Oh how we want to be like David, conquering lords and kings. But Paul reminds us, we have become spiritual, now our battle is not flesh and blood, but in the spiritual realm. How many want the promise to be earthly, a thousand cattle on a hill. oh these want heaven to open so they can receive in earthly blessings. "but others were tortured, not receiving deliverance, so that they might gain a better resurrection..." Those who were burned, sawed in two, they testify by their faith and speak of a heavenly home. They testify that seeking first His kingdom and righteousness is not about earthly treasures. And because many gave up earthly riches to follow Jesus by faith they tell us that something other than giving and tithing is proof of where our heart belongs.
but you are a chosen offspring, a royal body of priests, a holy people, a group acquiring, by this means declaring the deeds of the one calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.1 Peter 2:9
The Son of Man Jesus was perfected through suffering, sanctified in truth, so to bring many sons to glory, finishing the pioneer of our salvation.* Perfection, to share in His character is why we run the race. "... lay aside all impediments and sin that so easily weights us down and run with endurance the race prescribed to us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and finisher of our faith."* This race has been prescribed to the ones chosen by God. So we are to make sure of our calling. To run this race and to fall back, to give up, is to be as the lost. To run we need endurance, to not judge according to unbelief but to press on, strengthened through faith, by abiding in the words of Jesus.
Yes, I have tested God in this matter of tithing and giving, having given hundreds of thousands, the devil snared me to believe such but I have found the sacrifice acceptable to Him is not about money. I have found as the scriptures say the sacrifice acceptable to God is to present the body a living sacrifice unto holiness. And then God will prosper you and bless you. A people set apart, of His own possession is what He desires, a holy priesthood, those who reign in righteousness sharing in His holy character. This is the offering Jesus offered to the Father and what Paul promised Jesus, to present a pure Church, a pure body, as an offering acceptable. And it is our purpose, our calling, to present the body a living sacrifice, to be consecrated unto the Lord, a sacrifice acceptable to God. Giving and tithing doesn't prove where your heart is, so the treasure of your heart is not seen in giving money. No, for when the true treasure is found, you would sell all your earthly goods to possess it. So a true test would be to give all away, not ten percent but all and to not live off the tithing. A true heart dedicated to God is a heart consecration to the Lord, which implies Christ is Lord of your body and you have presented it a living sacrifice to Him.
Now, at the present we reach forward, to that superior, that existing heavenly. For this reason God isn't ashamed to be called their God, for preparing a city for them.Hebrews 11:16
There is a city that awaits us, we see it by faith, so we lay aside all the things of this world, "all impediments and sin easily, constantly distracting, running through endurance the race placed before us."* We don't strive for earthly gain and rewards nor do we run this race for earthly blessings, we run this race because we have been chosen, predestined for adoption, blessed with redemption and forgiveness, called to a higher calling, to a purpose. So we run this race to the finish. And God is working this out for us, this is His will and plan for our good, a promise that He will prosper us for this purpose. So we reach forward to a heavenly city, whose designer and builder is God. And since no unrighteous thing will inherit the kingdom of God, we lay aside all these things, they are of no value, they are not beneficial to us.
all for me but not all beneficial. All for me but I will not be overpowered under any.1 Corinthians 6:12
Oh the flesh desires the things contrary to God and this weakness evil takes advantage of to bring us into captivity to sin. Sin dwells in our body and evil is near. What does it mean we are under grace and not the Law? Are all things Lawful to me? Think about this. It is lawful for me to eat pork? we can grasp this but what about sexual immorality? If all things are lawful for me then do I continue in sin so grace abounds? Paul writes of the things of the flesh and that these things will not be in heaven, will not inherit the kingdom of God. If they will not be in heaven and I am called to heaven then I need to lay aside these things, they are not beneficial to me. And if I have truly been washed, cleansed and partaken from the Lord. And having a new nature if I then live this way it is against my nature, I can not be happy there, it is wretched to do the things you hate, not having the power to overcome. So do what you are purposed to do, Press on, run the race, "lay down all impediments and sin easily, constantly distracting, running through endurance the race placed before us."*
Beware of the dogs, beware of bad workers, beware of the mutilators. For we are the true circumcision, the ones worshiping by the Spirit of God, also boasting in Christ, also trusting, not trusting in the flesh.Philippians 3:2-4
Beware of those who put confidence in the flesh, who go back to circumcision of the flesh, to justification through works of the Law, to tithing of the Law, who attempt perfection through sacrifice and serving through the flesh. These things did not perfect men, if they had Jesus would not have needed to come and die. If you adhere to one part of the Law you must adhere to it all and no one is justified in the eyes of God by works of the Law. For the brother who does not work with hiss own hands, who thinks he is entitled to live off your hard earned money, do not associate with him, even if they call themselves ministers, don't treat them as enemies but admonish them as brothers so they will be shamed and return to the truth.* No one is perfect, but many have been snared away from this race, they have went out from us and no longer are with us. They are weighted down by fame and fortune, pride of life, the deceit of riches. Beware of those who would place a stumbling block before you while running this race, so fellowship with those who abide in truth, who walk in the Light.
not drinking from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, not partaking from the table of the Lord and the table of demons.1 Corinthians 10:21
I am called to run this race, not under the Law but under grace through God's power. "all for me but not all beneficial. All for me but I will not be overpowered by any."* Impediments weigh us down and sin keeps us from running and experiencing life in Christ. All things are for me but not beneficial, as these things overpower us. Evil wars against our soul, through our carnal mind to enslave us to sin that dwells in the body. You can't serve two masters in regards to the body, it will subject itself to whom it obeys. You can not eat from the altar of demons and be happy if you are now a partaker of God's divine nature. And if you do you subject your body to sin and will be enslaved to evil forces while you are indebted to partake from the altar of God. This will weigh you down while running this race. You are called to an upward call, and Christ is the champion and finisher of this race, set your eyes on Him. To know Christ is to be enlightened in the knowledge of Him, which implies wholeness, set free from the impediments and sin that weigh us down. There is demonic activity in these things that weigh us down. When we walk in darkness we do not walk in the Light but if we confess our sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ.
press on toward the goal, for the prize; the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:14
We have an upward call, a reasonable service, a high calling and high form of worship. We are called to heaven and if we are called to heaven where there is no immorality then we are called to holiness, to share in the holy character of Jesus. We fix our eyes on Jesus. Think of a telescope, looking through you see an object, this is the goal, the scope. The lens, "tele", perfects or brings the goal into focus. When we look into truth, not being a forget hearer but a doer this perfects thus is a sign of maturity. Perfection is in truth and the bond of love leads to perfection. Through Jesus we have and increase in faith. To abide in Him is to bear fruit. Perfection is to be like the object in focus, Jesus. Thus we fix our eyes on Him, the goal to be like Him, Perfection is maturity. The goal of our faith, what we are obtaining Peter writes is the salvation of our soul.* Though I am born of Spirit I exist in a body in which sin dwells and evil is near. This evil wars against our soul, so truth in love we are perfected, we grow up into Him, preserving our souls.
I regard all things as loss through that superior, of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, through whom all also regarding as rubbish in order to gain Christ.Philippians 3:7-9
Do you not know all who compete in a race compete for a prize?* what is your prize? Why do you run this race, what is the goal? it should be to gain Christ. What is gaining Christ? to know him and his righteousness. Which is to share in His holy character? "not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law but one through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God upon faith." Those who have God's seed will grow up through faith to bear fruit of righteousness. Also Paul writes it is to know Him and the power of His resurrection, a fellowship in his sufferings, becoming like him in death to obtain the resurrection from the dead. The body presented a living sacrifice unto holiness has the goal of godliness and Life. "Not that I have obtained either, nor already been perfected, but I press on if so to lay hold... forgetting what lies behind, reaching out to what lies ahead."* We run this race not in confidence of the flesh, this we count as rubbish, we run to gain Christ. The goal of running the race is to gain Christ, to know but also to share in his character and life. By faith we run, the race to finish, to receive a prize, the upward call in Christ Jesus.