Sermon preached by Rev Wm. Grant, Halkirk, retiring Moderator
at Edinburgh—Tuesday, 17th May, 1960.
“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. Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith . . .” Heb. ch. 12; v. 1-2.
As enabled, I wish to draw your attention briefly to this portion of the Word. The Bible is the Divinely inspired, infallible Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. In this Epistle addressed to the Hebrews, who were Jews from Judea, who professed to be Christians, the inspired writer directed their attention to the wonderful grace of faith, and gave the definition of faith as “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” He then gave historical evidence as to the nature and fruits of that wonderful grace of faith. Thus we have in the preceding chapter many names given of those who were outstanding witnesses under the Law, under the old dispensation. This chapter begins with, “wherefore,” indicating a reason for what preceded.
Let us observe first that mention is made of a “cloud of witnesses.” In the second place, observe the exhortations, directions and encouragements given to run the Christian race as they did. The names given were a few of the great multitude here referred to metaphorically as “a cloud of witnesses.” We go back to Abel, to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, to Moses, to Job and to others. They were “Looking unto Jesus” in types and shadows and in sacrifices under the old dispensation. They had the promise of the Messiah Who was to bruise the head of the serpent. They did not see that promise fulfilled in their day. The fullness of the time came, and then the shadows and types gave place to substance, and thus in Bethlehem’s Manger we see the promise
fulfilled. He, who was to come, did come, and a voice was heard from Heaven saying, “This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased,” and so they ran the race that was set before them, looking beyond the types and the shadows to the Glorious One who was to come, but we have under the New Testament dispensation the fulfilment of the promise. Christianity is in several parts of Scripture referred to under the similitude of a race—a contest—and so we have solemn exhortations to run this race set before us, “looking unto Jesus.” Yes, looking beyond the cloud of witnesses, except to encourage us in running the Christian race, looking beyond to the Glorious One who is the Author and Finisher of faith. They witnessed to the faithfulness of God to His promise, to the truth of the Word, and in running the race thus they were witnesses to the Truth and witnesses for the Truth. We heard here last night of witnesses, Isaiah directed to say, “Ye are my witnesses,” God’s witnesses; and so there is a call, an exhortation to run the race as they did.
But who run this race? The dead cannot run. The blind cannot see. All who enter this race do so by way of Regeneration. Yes, these are they who in the exercise of God-given faith look beyond, unto Jesus, in running the race, but there are many hindrances, many obstacles in the way. Here the exhortation is given, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us”; hindrances in the way, sin in general, sin in particular, the cares of the world, the love of the world, self love, vain glory, fear of man, and all that comes from depraved nature. Many obstacles and the sin which doth so easily beset us—the monstrous sin of unbelief. Faith—what is it? It is a looking away from self to God in Christ. It is the flight of a penitent sinner to the mercy of God in Christ. It is a looking to the Glorious One Who is the Alpha and Omega of salvation. “Looking unto Jesus” were the cloud of witnesses who went before and so it must needs be with us if we are in this race. We, too, must look beyond the creature to the Glorious One Who is the object of faith, and so, the essential direction here given is, “Looking unto Jesus.“
We have many instances of that mentioned elsewhere in the Word, thus the fishermen of Galilee, and other New Testament Christians. We come down through the ages, in the history of this and other countries, and see there those belonging to the “cloud of witnesses,” who ran the Christian race and in doing so encountered what is written “in trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment, etc.” (of whom the world was not worthy).
We see the gallant witnesses for Truth who appeared, on the Continent of Europe, Calvin, Luther and others. Come to this land of John Knox, and what of the noble Reformers of England? What of the fires of Smithfield? What of the noble Covenanters of Scotland? They ran the race that was set before them, “looking unto Jesus.” They did so, witnessing to the Truth, to the doctrines of God’s Holy Word, to predestination, election, effectual calling, the Atonement, the Crucifixion, the triumphant death of the Saviour on the Cross of Calvary, the Resurrection and Ascension of the Glorious One Who ascended up on high, leading captivity captive. They bought the Truth. They were not prepared to sell it, and so they were instrumental in delivering this land from Papacy and Prelacy. They were instrumental in abolishing these, and in establishing the Reformed Faith as the religion of our land, but let us bear in mind that the powers of darkness have not changed. The Church of Rome claims to have no change. We agree that there is one thing in which it has not changed, and that is in answering to the character given to it in history, thus “A lamb in adversity, a fox in equality, and a wolf in prosperity.” That is its character still. The fox is busy in many places, in Church and in State, and if you go to Spain and other enslaved R.C. countries, you will see the wolf there. We are living in perilous times, perilous when we look at the nations in confusion, and refusing to acknowledge the claims of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We see our towns and nation becoming more and more Sodom and Gomorrah like. Yes, and what of the state of the Protestant Church in our land? We recall to mind the great contendings for truth by the Reformers of 400 years ago. We come to 1843, and see the Disruption Fathers, instrumental in liberating the Church from the evils of Patronage and all that went with it. The Church became the Church of Scotland “Free.” Time passed, apostasy set in and we come to 1893. Again witnessing fathers appeared; witnessing for a whole Bible, for the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. They took their stand in 1893, who were runners in the Christian race and they were instrumental in preserving that which has been handed down to us. We are here today, and the exhortation to us is to contend earnestly for the faith, as our forefathers did, and if the grace of God be in our hearts, our desire is to do so, and truly the need is great. Today we read of the Report by the Church and Nation Committee of the Church of Scotland, about to be submitted to their General Assembly in this city, on the question of Sabbath Observance. It makes one tremble. Has it really come
to this that that Committee treats the Fourth Commandment as out of date and actually encourages “Sunday Entertainments,” games, dances, etc.—activities characteristic of the “Continental Sunday”? That is done under the covering of religion. Ah, let us beware. Are we to be silent in the face of all that? If that report will be accepted by the Church of Scotland, it will be an indication of how far they have apostatised. It may be a means of testing, putting people and ministers to the test. Will they throw it out, or will they not? Our duty is clear. Let us beware of the dangers which beset us. May we have a true sense of responsibility and accountability and run the race that is set before us, witnesses in the exercise of God-given Faith, looking beyond men to the Man Christ Jesus, the Lord from Heaven, the Author and Finisher of Faith.
Further, in the second place, observe that directions here given have encouragement added, “Looking unto Jesus . . . Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross”—encouragement in looking to the Glorious One. Look to the great cloud of witnesses, yes, in as far as they ran the Christian race, and seek grace to do as they did. The glorified multitude of believers are spectators. We have encouragement. It says of the Blessed One: “Who for the joy,” the joy of honouring the Father in securing salvation for sinners, in the fulfilment of the great work undertaken: “for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Oh, then let us take heed — there is a prize awaiting, there is an end to the race, and we have many portions of the Word reminding us of it. A profitable issue to this year’s 4th Centenary Reformation Celebrations would be to “remember from whence we are fallen and repent and do the first works,” and may God in His mercy bring that about, bring us under the power of His Truth and then we would shrink from what is of the world, the flesh and the devil, under the name of religion. The Church of Scotland Gateway Theatre would end. We would have the truth as it is in Jesus, and we would run with holy boldness witnessing for the Truth. We have needed encouragement here given, looking to the Blessed One Himself. Those were the things for which the Reformers stood and these things ought to be precious in our eyes. The pre-Reformation Church drifted far away from Scripture, and so it is today, but He who delivered then can deliver again. We are thus then called to take note and to be of good courage in the Lord.
The Cause is His. “Do Thou, O God, arise and plead the cause that is thine own.” Let us seek to be active while the day lasts. This race is short as measured by time. Yes short—and we are solemnly reminded of that fact as a Synod here today. Since last we met as a Court of the Church of God, brethren dearly beloved (Rev Jas. Tallach and Rev A. Beaton) who were with us, have departed this life, and others on our Mission field and elsewhere prior to that, finished their course. They ran the race that was set before them—they witnessed to the Truth and for the Truth. Their places are empty and we are very conscious of it. We, too, must follow and our course as individuals will soon be over. Time is precious. Let us seek grace, to number our days and to apply our hearts unto wisdom, to witness for Christ, under the Holy Spirit’s teaching against all that is anti-Christ. They finished their course. “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.” (Rev. 14, 13). There is a prize at the end of this race, there is joy unspeakable and full of glory. Yes, they glory in the Blessed One Whose name they desire to extol.
His name forever shall endure, last like sun it shall;
Men shall be blessed in Him, and blessed, all nations shall Him
call.
Now blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel,
For He alone doth wondrous works, in glory that excel.
And blessed be His glorious name to all eternity;
The whole earth, let His glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.
Those who ran this race had that Amen. May it be ours by the Grace of God in the exercise of faith, to follow in the footsteps of those who went before and let us remember as another said, that “the strength of a church is not in the number of its followers, but in Christ, its living Head.” There the strength lies, and so in this our day may we look to the Strong for strength and go from strength to strength, ascribing greatness unto God, glorifying in that Salvation wrought by Him, in which His Glory is made great.
We need deliverance from the sin of unbelief; we need the Word mixed with faith in us. There is nothing too hard for the Lord—His Word must be fulfilled. We look out on a troubled world. We rejoice that the Gospel of Jesus Christ knows no colour bar. We think of the Jews—glorious things lie before them, but it is by the way of repentance towards God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. The eminent Alexander Stewart of Cromarty said “When Joseph made himself known to his brethren, the whole house of Pharaoh heard their weeping, and when the Lord Jesus Christ will make Himself known to his ancient people, the Jews, the whole Gentile world will hear their weeping.” There are glorious times ahead—the night is dark but the morning will be bright, and so let us be of good courage in the Lord in the midst of all that casts down and tends to discourage. May He, in mercy, hear the petitions of His people, the sighs and the cries, the tears that go into His bottle, and deliver from the flood that is rushing over the land, and leave us not submerged in iniquity, but under the power of the Gospel may we be made a willing people; willingly, lovingly, debtors to free and sovereign grace, running the race that is set before us, “Looking unto Jesus” and when the journey is ended may it be with us as with others who could, and did say “absent from the body, present with the Lord.” They had a desire even to depart and be with Christ which “is far better.” Nevertheless they were willing to remain as long as there was anything laid to their hand to be done. Oh, they are a blessed people whose God is the Lord.
May that blessing be ours, and the Glory shall be His.
Let us pray.