Our Comfort: How the Gospel Triumphs Over Our Struggle to be Holy

The Gospel's Triumph Over Our Struggle

The central reality behind salvation is the call to be holy: "Be holy because I am holy," or as Hebrews 12:14 puts it, pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. This is a huge topic with eternal significance. Yet pursuing holiness is difficult, leading to discouragement, frustration, and disappointment in our struggle against sin and temptation.

The gospel triumphs over this struggle. This assumes two principles: first, the gospel is triumphant—successful, glorious, intentional, and accomplished by Jesus Christ on our behalf. It is not potential or spilled milk atonement; it is pointed and victorious.

Second, struggling with sin is a good sign of the Christian life. You want to be like Christ but are stuck in the flesh. This is war between the flesh, temptation, and hindrances to holiness.

The goal is to see the gospel's triumph first, not struggle for it. What causes real, lasting change that pleases God and satisfies the soul? The answer lies in the triumph of the gospel.

Hebrews 12: The Struggle and the Gospel

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, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)

The author of Hebrews precedes this with chapter 11, the "faith hall of fame," listing Old Testament saints who by faith conquered kingdoms, received the dead back, and endured. This cloud of witnesses shows "since them, now us." We belong to this spiritual stock—Noah building the ark, Moses rejecting sin's pleasures for reproach with Christ, Abraham, Abel. As Calvin said, if a tiny spark led them to heaven, what excuse have we now that the Sun of Righteousness shines?

The gospel triumphs proactively from the cross, retroactively to the cross, and transcendently. Now the author turns to the gospel's specifics: Jesus is the founder (archegos) and perfecter (teleiotes) of our faith. He originates it, rules it, and brings it to completion. The whole book of Hebrews proclaims Christ's superiority—his better ministry, better covenant, better promises.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is much more excellent than the old, as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. (Hebrews 8:6–7)

The old covenant failed to produce faultless (holy) people; that was reserved for Christ. Hebrews 10:14: "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Triumph means accomplishment—Christ accomplished holiness for his people. He sat down at God's right hand (Hebrews 1:3) because it is done. His people are saved, sanctified.

The old system didn't produce holy lives; the gospel does. As Jerry Bridges said, "The only safe evidence that we are in Christ is a holy life." The Hebrews were stalled, needing to grasp the gospel's triumph to endure. They were dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11), lazy, burnt out—unskilled in righteousness, unable to discern good from evil. Powerful Christians practice this discernment constantly.

Lay Aside Weights and Sin

After 11 chapters of gospel triumph, the command is clear: lay aside every weight—excessive, ponderous hindrances like ankle weights on a runner. Strip off sin, which clings so closely, constricting like an anaconda, squeezing tighter with every struggle.

What holds you back, causing bitterness or burnout? Identify it and lay it aside. Pursue activities where your conscience says, "Thank you, Lord, for this gift." If not, it is a weight—even if biblically permissible. A tender conscience is a terrible thing to waste.

How? By looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Beholding Christ enabled salvation (John 6:40); it fuels sanctification. Paul portrayed Christ crucified before the Galatians' eyes (Galatians 3:1). Fix your eyes on him to put weights and sins aside.

The Joy That Endures

Jesus endured the cross, despising shame, for the joy (anti) set before him. Anti means to equate or replace—joy eclipsed his suffering. This joy empowers us: struggling becomes enjoyment in Christ.

How much time do you spend beholding Christ outside services? See him as he is: crucified, risen, reigning. This prevents weariness and faint-heartedness.

Three Responses to the Triumph

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to bloodshed. First, this convicts non-quitters: you gave in too soon. The issue is not success or defeat, but obedience to a holy God. Christ triumphed; press on—you have more to give.

Second, encouragement: there is more endurance available, a way of escape to endure temptation (1 Corinthians 10).

Third, consolation: you don't go to the cross for your sins—Jesus did. He endured bloodshed for your holiness, granting you endurance with joy.

As Jerry Bridges wrote: "Joy not only results from a holy life, but... helps produce a holy life. The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Understanding Christ's deliverance brings hope, joy, and overcoming power. The joy of the holy walk surpasses sin's fleeting pleasures.