Mike Ratliff makes some good points analyzing this fundamental passage. I highlighted some sections as a reminder for when my wife and I teach on needing Endurance within the context of our Marriage Enrichment Weekend Conferences. It’s important to note that God plays the critical role here as in all areas of our lives.
In William S. Plumer’s book the Grace of Christ. We read last night:
The new birth is a great mystery, yet it is much insisted on in Scripture. “The washing of regeneration” is as necessary as washing in the blood of Christ. “The renewing of the Holy Spirit” is as essential as the “justification of life.” Within the space of four verses our Lord thrice declares how necessary it is to salvation. Hear him: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again.” John 3:3, 5, 7.
Later in the Chapter on Regeneration, Plumer speaks about a true Christian will experience three births,
God’s people are born three times, once into this world, once into a state of grace, and once into glory.
and he adds at the ending:
Neither of these births is the cause of the other, but God is the author of them all. To him belongs all the glory of our being, of our well-being, of our unfading bliss. In our spiritual regeneratiorn the grace of God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is very illustrious. Redemption devised by God, and purchased by Christ, is in the new birth applied by the Spirit.
Note there that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all working for the Common Goal of the Elect’s Salvation. They have the same purpose and effect.
Here are section quotes I noted in Mike’s post…I need to remember these…
”What do we have so far? The writer of Hebrews says, “In light of the great examples of faith in those who have come before us and since we also have this faith then we are exhorted to run the race of faith the same way they did. This way begins by “casting off or laying aside” every hinderance and sin that continually works against us in this race.” Remember that the participle that is translated as “cast off or lay aside” is describing action that precedes the main verb in the phrase. Now let us look at the second part of this phrase, which is “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The verb “run” in the Greek means to run or walk quickly. This verb is in present tense, subjunctive mood, active voice. This tense refers to continuous or repeated action, regardless of when the action took place. The subjunctive mood suggests that the action is subject to some condition. We saw earlier that the participle to “lay aside or cast off” action must come before the main verb in the phrase. That means that no one can run this race unless they first “lay aside or cast off” what hinders and the “sin” that so easily tries to disqualify them from running.
Of course this is also referring the the “sin” of all unbelievers. In other words, what we are studying here is the requirements to enter the race, which is repentance and belief. Who can repent and believe? Only those drawn by God and given the gift of faith can believe, but we never witness that way. No, what do we do? Don’t we exhort people to believe and repent of their sins? That is what this exhortation is.
As we have seen throughout the Bible, we are commanded to do many things that we cannot do without the Holy Spirit working in us so that we “are able” to walk by faith and obey. Our perseverance is the result of God working in us and is confirmed in our obedience when we endure and remain in Christ.
Are you running the race with cheerful endurance by fixing your eyes on our Lord alone, or are you running it in self-reliance, self-dependance, and self-righteousness? If it is the latter then I pray for your repentance and the submission of your will to Him. This requires us becoming living sacrifices. (Romans 12:1) I pray that all reading this will examine themselves, repent of what the Holy Spirit reveals, then run the race set before them with their eyes firmly fixed on the author and finisher of their faith.”
Rainbow Trout 