Let Us Endure: Perseverance of Faith
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Review Chapter 11
Review Chapter 11
In chapter 11, provided a tour through the Hall of Faith
He examined the lives of many Old Testament saints, learning from their examples of what faith live-out looks like
He was concerned about Christians who step back from living with eyes for eternity
To inspire his readers to persevere even in the face of trials and persecutions, the writer presented many examples of Old Testament saints who willingly accepted trials and persecution for the opportunity to please the Lord
The Great Race Hebrews 12:1-3
The Great Race Hebrews 12:1-3
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. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
What is the “therefore” there for?
Explain the phrase “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”. Who are they? Are they watching us?
What is the difference between “weight” and “sin”? What kinds of things could be “weight” and perhaps not “sin”?
What is the race that we are in? What does it mean that this race “is set before us”?
What analogy to the life of faith is offered in 12:1?
In what way is Jesus the “founder” of our faith? How did he live by faith?
In what way is he the “perfecter” or “finisher” of our faith?
A Cloud of Witnesses
A Cloud of Witnesses
In this passage, the context of what we have studied in chapter 11 is very important
It laid the foundation for the writer’s discussion in chapter 12
He encourages his audience with examples of faithful believers
He then challenges them to take to heart the good lessons learned from the Old Testament saints
All those saints from the Old Testament have passed out of this world
But they leave behind a legacy of faith and God’s grace
They are not actually witnessing to us from Heaven, but that is not the point
The main point is that their good examples should encourage us
Their lives demonstrate that it was not impossible to face the trials and adversities in this world and conquer them by faith
Hebrews 11 showed us that they were not perfect but that they were faithful believers who chose to have faith in God even when it wasn’t easy
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Samson, and David are all encouraging us to persevere
This “Great Cloud of Witnesses” may also refer to any saints around us today: friends or parents
These saints are not there to watch us “run the race” but for us to see them
They are reminding us that this race is not impossible; it can be finished and we are not alone
We are meant to run this race with God’s people
Lay aside every weight
Lay aside every weight
In preparation and during a race, runners must avoid hindrances
Likewise, spiritual runners need to avoid hindrances
The writer instructs the readers to “lay aside every weight”
The “weight” that he is speaking about is not a sin
It is something that gets in the way of walking in faith
It is something that slows down the believer’s walk of faith
The writer is reminding the readers and us that we should always keep our focus on our goal
Do not allow the things of this world to keep you from the best thing
Do not allow anything to distract you from what you know God wants you to do
It is easy in this busy world to fill our schedules with things that are not the most productive
The writer’s purpose is to remind the readers that they (and we) need to evaluate and consider our activities
And maybe we need to cut some out so that we can be the most productive
Like runners preparing for a race, the writer is urging us to throw off everything that hinders
Removing “anything that hinders one from doing something”, is to remove anything that is a weight, burden or impediment
Additionally, a well-prepared runner should also rid themselves of the “sin that so easily ensnares”
The writer is not speaking about any specific sin, such as apostasy, which would completely disqualify a Christian from the completing the race
Instead, he is referring to sin itself and how sin impedes one’s progress in the race
Sin that is easy to begin to be tolerated in our lives
And before you know it, that sin has entangled you
The point here is that we don’t have to put sin on - it’s already there
Instead, we have to remove it so we “can run” the race
We must remember that we are in a race and our life on earth is short
Our life is meaningless apart from our purpose and goal
Looking to Jesus
Looking to Jesus
The writer continues with the similarity to a physical race
The physical runners need a finish line to focus on
Without a finish line, a runner can lose focus, get distracted, give up
A sure way to not finish a race is to not have a finish line
Now the spiritual runners also need a finish line
We have the greatest finish line imaginable: Jesus waits for us
Jesus is not just a spectator like the other saints, he’s the finish line
Jesus in not just one who has faith, but is the “founder and perfecter of our faith”
We are urged to keep our focus on Jesus “so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted”
So what can we learn from Christ’s example
He ran with great endurance: “endured the cross”
“Endured from sinners such hostility”
The cross was not about the physical pain, but about shame
He ran with a goal: “the joy set before him”
He received the reward: “seated at the right hand of the throne of God”
Jesus is the goal and motivation for our Christian life
The writer is telling the readers to focus on Jesus, the finish line, and don’t take your eyes off him
God’s Loving Discipline Hebrews 12:4-17
God’s Loving Discipline Hebrews 12:4-17
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
Why does God discipline His sons? What is the purpose? What does this teach us about the nature of discipline?
In what ways might God discipline us? If we suffer trials or hardships, does that mean we are being disciplined? How can we discern whether a specific circumstance is discipline or not?
Can you think of people in the Bible who experienced discipline from the Lord?
How should we respond to discipline?
Understanding God’s Discipline
Understanding God’s Discipline
So the question is, why do we need discipline?
God disciplines in order to correct sin
God disciplines us in order to train/shape us
And we see the writer presenting both types of discipline in this section of chapter 12
Now, what means does God discipline?
The writer presented in chapter 10 the many struggles endured by his audience: persecution, slander, imprisonment, but not to the point of shedding blood
He is showing that discipline involves painful things
But he is not suggesting that all earthly trials are due to discipline (John 9:3) but some are (John 5:14)
Then what is the purpose of God’s discipline
Discipline comforts us because it proves that we are really God’s children
For example, think about how difficult it is to constantly discipline a child, it’s hard work
But you only do this hard work if you love a child
We know that discipline changes us
Discipline is “for our good that we may share his holiness”
Discipline yields “fruit of righteousness”
But unlike imperfect human discipline, we can trust God’s discipline is always for our good because He’s perfect
God wants us to finish the race, so He disciplines you to make you better
Responding to God’s Discipline
Responding to God’s Discipline
Don’t ignore it
Some dismiss God’s discipline
Affliction alone does not produce good results, we need to respond in faith
Don’t quit
Training is hard work that makes one sometimes consider quitting, but we can’t give up
“Lift up your drooping hands, strengthen your weak knees”, is a picture of a weary runner who keeps on going
“make straight paths for your feet”, refers to staying on the path to righteousness and not diverting
Pursue holiness
God disciplines us because holiness is essential to seeing God
Holiness is not the condition of salvation, but the consequence of salvation
The key threat to our holiness is the pursuit of pleasure
when we are suffering under trials, it is tempting to seek physical pleasures
Such pursuits can lead one to apostacy
Tale of Two Mountains Hebrews 12:18-29
Tale of Two Mountains Hebrews 12:18-29
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
What event is described in vv. 18-21?
What was the people’s reaction when God descended onto Mt Sinai? Why were they so afraid?
What does Mt Zion refer to?
Compare and contrast the two covenants?
When will this second shaking take place and what does it refer to?
What are the things that cannot be shaken (vv. 27-28)?
How is God a consuming fire?
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
The writer provides a further reason for his readers to pursue peace and holiness and to guard against apostasy in their midst
In this section, presents a contrast between Israel assembled at Mount Sinai to meet God to receive the old covenant and the new covenant encounter with him that occurs at Mount Zion, the city of the living God
The Old Covenant focused on the visible/earthly
consisting of “what may be touched” (v. 18) an earthly mountain
the Israelites could visually see the mountain and Moses climbed it to meet God
Old Testament worship was also focused on earthly realities
The Old Covenant was terrifying to the Israelites
it emphasized God’s Holiness
it emphasized God’s distance
the Law did not save them, but the focus of the Old Covenant was on the unattainable demands of the law
The writer is making this contrast to help them understand that they are not running in vain, towards an inaccessible and distant God
Mount Zion
Mount Zion
The New Covenant focuses on the invisible/heavenly
The race we run is not to an earthly location, but to “heavenly Jerusalem”
this city is not yet visible to us, but it is waiting for us
“In my Father’s house there are many rooms … and I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2)
so our worship is no longer geographically/physically restricted
The city is filled with heavenly inhabitants
This New Covenant is not terrifying but gracious
we have no reason to fear because Jesus is there
the voice on this mountain does not issue threats, but a gracious invitation
in this city there is joy and feasting
Now How to Apply it
Now How to Apply it
The writer tells his readers not to refuse Him
Because God still judges those who reject Him
God’s judgement can be even greater than the Old Testament because now He has revealed Himself as Christ
If the people of the Old Testament were judged for not listening, how much more in the New Testament
Because His voice will “shake” the world again
At the second coming, Christ will remove all earthly, worldly things, leaving behind only that which cannot be shaken
The writer wants his readers to gratefully worship Christ
We are safe, protected by Christ and cannot be shaken
Our response to grace is always gratitude and worship
God is a “consuming fire”
God is still holy
It is just that now we can draw near to Him in Christ
Homework Questions
Homework Questions
How is your Christian race going for you? Are you tired or weary?
What are somethings that hinder your “running” that you need to put aside, even if they are not sinful?
How are you encouraged by Jesus’ running? How His example help you run the race better?
How does chapter 12 change your perception of the trials in your life? How does it affect your view of God and His purposes?
How are you responding to God’s discipline in both good and bad ways?
In what ways do you need to be careful about the pursuit of pleasure?
Do you sometimes live your Christian life like you are under the Old Covenant?
What about the heavenly Jerusalem excites you or encourages you? How does knowing about heaven help you better run the race?
How does this chapter change the way you worship?
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