Book Summary - Cloud of Witnesses

The following summary was written by Nick Kuiper on the book Cloud of Witnsses by Herman Hoeksema (Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing, 2024). The summary was originally published in the January 2025 edition of the Grandville Gleaner.

A Cloud of Witnesses is a compilation and breakdown of Hoeksema’s sermons on the book of Hebrews. Although this book does not follow the order in which he preached the sermons, it is grouped into three parts to fully understand Hebrews.

Through these three parts, [Hoeksema] is able to tie Christ to the so-called "heroes of faith" and show the work of the Holy Spirit through each one.

In the first part of the book, it talks about how Christ was brought into this world. Before the fall, Adam had dominion over the earthly creation. After his fall into sin, man as a whole became in need of a Savior. Christ not only came into this world to take on the flesh of man, but He also led a perfect and sinless life. He was hated by many, persecuted, and went through the depths of hell. In all this, He did so with love for His Father in heaven and for His people, that they might be able to walk with Him in eternity.

In the line of continued generations and through God’s covenantal relationship with His people, God worked faith in the hearts of believers, some of which are mentioned as the heroes of faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” as mentioned in Hebrews 11:1. Hoeksema breaks down each hero of faith in this second part and how their faith was shown in their walk through life. The greatness in all this is that we read of people believing in a Savior who has not yet come. In the Old Testament, some would offer sacrifices through the shed blood of animals, which would represent Christ without knowledge of His own shed blood on the cross. And all had believed in a life after their earthly life, where they could walk in eternal perfection with God. Through all this, both hope and faith are strongly emphasized [in Cloud].

In conclusion, Hoeksema applies these great examples to ourselves as fellow believers. Through life as Christians, we must run the race until we reach the finish line, which is eternal life with Christ. There are many obstacles along the way that might slow us down, but with faith and hope in Christ, we can finish the race and be assured that we are saved through his precious blood.

Note: This summary has been edited for grammar and clarity.

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