![]() ![]() Yet we are never given reason to blame our sin on demons the appeal is simply for us to, in the power of the Holy Spirit, lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.ĭ. If such ensnaring sins were really the work of demonic possession or demonic influence in the Christian, this would be an ideal place for the Holy Spirit to address this. Some sins are more dangerous than others are.Some sins are ensnaring and thus especially harmful. ![]() Some sins are admired, yet must be laid aside.Some sins can be easily avoided, but are not.The sin which so easily ensnares us: The words easily ensnares translate a difficult ancient Greek word ( euperistaton), which can be translated four ways: “easily avoided,” “admired,” “ensnaring,” or “dangerous.” Is there a weight in your life you must lay aside?Ĭ. Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not. But there are also things that may not be sin ( every weight) but are merely hindrances that can keep us from running effectively the race God has for us. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin: Sin can hold us back. “Both the Greeks and the Latins frequently use the term cloud, to express a great number of persons or things.” (Clarke)ī. They have the spirit of martyrs – the root of the ancient Greek word translated witnesses. Instead, they are witnesses to us of faith and endurance, in all they have lived and experienced. Others consider that these witnesses are not witnessing us as we conduct our lives. So, it is difficult to say that people in heaven are actually observing us. It is hard to think that those in heaven are happy and untroubled if they see what is happening on the earth. We rightly think of heaven as a place where people are always happy and untroubled. This single passage may suggest this, but it is inconclusive to prove this. ![]() The idea of the heroes of faith in the past being spectators as we live lives of faith has made some think that in heaven, people can and do observe what goes on earth. We are surrounded by them, as spectators in a stadium surround and observe the players. We are also under angelic observation (Ephesians 3:10-11) and the world watches our faith and conduct. That cloud probably includes great men and women of God who have come since those Hebrews 11 saints, known and unknown to history. The ancient Greek word translated cloud was a figure of speech indicating a large group, and this is so great a cloud of witnesses. The author thought of many more than just the 18 specifically mentioned in Hebrews 11. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses: In the mind’s eye, the author pictured these previous champions of faith as spectators from the heavens, cheering us as we press on to overcome present discouragement as in an athletic competition. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,Ī. (1) Application of the demonstrations of enduring faith in Hebrews 11. ![]()
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