How do we lay aside every weight to follow God more fervently? (Heb. 12:1)
Hebrews 12:1 - 2
ESV - 1 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. 2 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.
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Asked August 18 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
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Considering that the epistle in which this verse appears was addressed to a Jewish audience (rather than to Gentiles), I would say that (in addition to not allowing the "weight" of general persecution for their faith to discourage them) the reference to laying aside weight was referring to not permitting so-called "Judaizers" to impose upon them the added burden of having to conform to the Law (in addition to having faith in Christ) in order to be saved. Christians "lay aside" that burden when they strive to obey God in gratitude for the salvation that He has already granted them for Christ's sake (while repenting and being forgiven for any failures, and then renewing their efforts), rather than having their obedience motivated by fear of irretrievably losing their salvation if they fail to keep either the commands of the Law, or any given list of "do's and don't's" of human devising, in any respect.
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