“Therefore, 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, looking to Jesus…”
Hebrews 12:1-2
The Christian life is a race, and if we are going to run that race with faith, there are some things we have to leave behind.
Hebrews 12 tells us to lay aside every weight and every sin that clings so closely. There is an important difference between the two. A weight may not necessarily be wrong, but it can still slow us down. Sin is different. Sin doesn’t simply slow us down, it separates us from God, traps us, and ultimately leads to death.
If we are going to run our race with faith, we must throw off every sin.
But how can we throw off sin if we cannot identify it? Our culture increasingly calls evil good and good evil. Instead of allowing culture, feelings, or personal preferences to define what is right, we have to return to the truth of God’s Word.
1. The Start of Sin
Sin was never part of God’s original design.
Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth, and everything He made was good. Humanity was created in His image to know Him, walk with Him, and enjoy fellowship with Him.
So, what happened?
Sin entered the picture through rebellion against God. Satan rebelled against God’s authority, and then Adam and Eve were tempted with the lie: “Did God really say?” That same temptation continues today. At its core, sin says, “I know better than God. I want to decide what is right for myself.”
Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin isn’t only something we do, it is part of our fallen nature. Sin affects our actions, attitudes, desires, and hearts. The result is brokenness. Everywhere we look we see the consequences of sin: hatred, pride, anger, violence, sickness, pain, broken relationships, and death.
Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin promises freedom, but it always produces bondage.
2. The Snare of Sin
Hebrews 12 describes sin as something that “easily ensnares us.” That’s an important picture because sin rarely announces where it is taking you. It looks appealing. It promises satisfaction. It tells you that you can control it.
Then it begins to wrap itself around your life.
“Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
Scripture repeatedly warns us about these traps. The fear of man can become a snare when our desire for acceptance becomes greater than our desire to obey God. Wrong relationships can pull us away from God’s direction for our lives. Sexual immorality promises pleasure but produces destruction. Greed convinces us that having more will finally satisfy us.
Sin clings.
It is like a vine that doesn’t simply add weight to your life but begins wrapping around you and choking out what God wants to produce in you. James 1 explains the progression clearly. Desire gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. That is why we cannot play with sin.
The pet sin that you are holding on to is going to turn on you and kill you. Hebrews tells us to throw it off. Colossians tells us to put it to death. The Christian life is a continual process of putting off the old self and putting on the new. This isn’t merely a one-time decision. Every day we choose whether we will walk according to the flesh or walk according to the Spirit. We are being renewed into the image of our Creator. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father celebrates progress. Just as a parent celebrates a child taking their first few steps, God is at work in His children as we learn to walk faithfully with Him.
3. The Solution to Sin
The message of Hebrews doesn’t end by telling us to try harder, it tells us where to look.
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2.
We cannot rescue ourselves from sin. We cannot become righteous through enough good behavior, religious activity, or personal discipline. We need a Savior. Jesus came to do what we could never do for ourselves. He took our sin upon Himself, paid its penalty on the cross, and rose from the dead so that we could have new life.
The solution to sin is the cross!
Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
That is the good news of the gospel. Our sin was placed on Jesus, and through faith in Him, His righteousness is given to us. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The entire story of Scripture points us to Jesus. We don’t overcome sin by trusting our own wisdom, we overcome by looking to Christ, trusting His finished work, and allowing His Spirit to transform us.
Stop trusting in your own knowledge. Look to the cross. The way of the cross leads home!
So, what is clinging to you today? What sin have you tolerated, justified, or tried to manage instead of putting it to death? Don’t carry it another lap.
Throw off the sin.
Look to Jesus.
And run the race He has set before you.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.
