Cling to Christ: Hebrews 12:1-17

Hebrews 12:1-17

[Scripture Introduction]

[Prayer for Illumination]

[Introduction] (Include Fallen Condition Focus):

[Proposition]

Cling to Christ

[Sermon Points]

Run with endurance (vv. 1-2)

Find joy in discipline (vv. 3-11)

Strive for peace with all (vv. 12-17)

[Main Point] Run with endurance (vv. 1-2)

Hebrews 12:1–2“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.”

[Explanation]

The author of Hebrews uses a combination of three words for the therefore, adding additional emphasis to the text. Therefore, because of the absolute certainty of what these saints before us have done, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, we also ought to cling to the gift of faith given by God our Father through the work of Jesus Christ by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Hence the author beckons back to Hebrews 11. The great cloud of witnesses that have been left behind in the Holy Scriptures. What then ought we to do in light of this great truth? How ought Christians to react in seeing the faithful obedience of our spiritual forefathers in the faith? Practical living befitting the life of one who has been saved.

1. Laying aside every weight. How burdened are you by your sin? It is far more difficult to run a race with endurance when encumbered by one’s sin. In SFAS, soldiers are expected to travel a great distance with 60 lbs of equipment on their back. It is far more difficult to run and move efficiently as the weight encompasses them. How much is that true to us as Christians who do not lay aside our sin to the author and perfecter of our faith?

2. Sin which clings closely. That which burdens as the most is often what clings to us closely.

3. Run with endurance.

Not a sprint. Endurance takes time, energy, and discipline. This is not something we look for in ourselves; rather, the author of Hebrews argues we are to look to Jesus Christ as the author and perfecter.

The athletic competitions of the Greeks provided a common NT analogy for the Christian life (1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 2:16; 2 Tim. 2:5; 4:7, 8). Like a runner, the Christian must be in constant motion toward the goal despite opposition. This demands strenuous effort and endurance, which is learned from constant discipline.

4. Looking to Jesus.

Founder. Before the foundation of the world God

Author.

Joy of the cross. Philippians 2:6–11“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

for the joy that was set before him. Jesus endured the cross in anticipation of the joy of being Savior of His people when the necessary suffering was over. As Moses looked to his reward (11:26), so Jesus was aware of His own reward. Another possible, but less probable, interpretation is to translate “in place of the joy set before Him.” On this reading, Jesus chose suffering instead of the joy that would have been His if He had refused to die, and instead remained in heaven (Phil. 2:6), or at least avoided the cross on earth (John 10:17, 18; 12:27).

Despising.

Isaiah 53:3“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Galatians 3:13“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—”

Seated. Acts 7:55 “But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

Matthew 22:44 ““ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?”

Acts 2:33 “Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Hebrews 8:1 “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,”

[Application]

Cling to Christ for what he has done for you. The great High priest, the true and better prophet, the king of kings and Lord of Lords. The author of Hebrews sets us up to look back at the wonderful example of many who have gone before us. Our hope, our surety, our comfort in life and death is in Jesus Christ alone.

[Main Point] Find joy in discipline (vv. 3-11)

Hebrews 12:3–11“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 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. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 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? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 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? 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. For…”

[Explanation]

12:3 hostility. Like Jesus, the readers had also experienced the hostility of sinners (10:33).

fainthearted. A warning from Proverbs 3:11 “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,” , Proverbs 3:12 “for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” , quoted in vv. 5, 6.

12:4 shedding your blood. The readers have known persecution, but nothing as serious as what Jesus suffered, or indeed, what has been cataloged in 11:35–38. It is not time for them to think of giving up.

12:5 sons. God’s plan to lead many sons to glory meant that the author of their salvation was to be perfected (or completed) through suffering (2:10) even though He was the Son who deserved no suffering (5:8). It is not surprising, then, that the adopted sons who follow Him should be prepared for their inheritance through painful discipline.

12:8 Many Roman nobles had illegitimate sons who were financially supported but left virtually without discipline. On the other hand, the son of a nobleman’s legal wife, who would carry the father’s name and inherit the estate, was subjected to a training regimen comparable to slavery (Gal. 4:1, 2).

12:9 earthly fathers. Lit. “fathers of our flesh,” in direct contrast to “Father of spirits.” This argument from the lesser to the greater—from the lesser of the human parental relationship to the greater of divine fatherhood—is completed in v. 10.

12:10 The discipline of our earthly fathers is limited by time and by their fallible wisdom. The heavenly Father’s discipline is planned by His infinite wisdom for “our good,” and it makes us holy, as He is holy (v. 14; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16).

Proverbs 29:17“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.”

Proverbs 13:24“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

Luke 11:11–13“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””

12:11 peaceful fruit of righteousness. This gives us some idea of what holiness involves (vv. 10, 14).

trained. The writer returns to the athletic analogy of v. 1.

[Illustration]

Discipline is difficult. We do not like the lengthy time in seeing the fruits of discipline. I am reminded of my time in the military with the plethora of discipline we had to endure. At times, it seems like the cadre are picking on you or being nitpicky. But there are in fact actual reasons behind the type of discipline they do. Many psychologists study military training and boot camp and have been involved in the psychological process of discipline and how it benefits the soldier overall.

[Application]

We should not fear godly discipline as it is for our good. Like all gifts, it comes from God. Discipline is meant to restore us and bring us closer to God.

Once again, if we know that discipline from a worldly standard is a benefit to us, why then would we stray from God and think otherwise. It is for our good that God disciplines us. That it may draw us even closer to Christ, to cling to him for all he has done.

[Main Point] Strive for peace with all (vv. 12-17)

Hebrews 12:12–17 “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 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; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 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.”

[Explanation]

12:12, 13 The race will be completed successfully only if action is taken to heal spiritual injuries of the past (v. 12) and avoid pitfalls in the future (v. 13). The context of Is. 35:3, 4 (from which Hebrews has taken “lift your drooping hands … your weak knees”) is one of encouraging the fearful. Compare Hebrews’ calls for mutual encouragement (e.g., 3:13), including that which follows in 12:15, and the warning against losing heart (vv. 3, 5). The context of Prov. 4:25–27 (the source of “make straight paths for your feet”) is a call to single-minded adherence to the path of righteousness. The metaphor of strengthening and healing injured limbs to run the race is explained in specific commands (vv. 14–17).

12:14 Strive for peace with everyone. Despite being tempted in persecution to repay evil for evil, believers should live at peace with everyone “so far as it depends on you” (Rom. 12:18), just as our Lord Jesus did not retaliate with insults or threats (1 Pet. 2:23).

holiness. Hebrews has declared how Jesus’ sacrifice makes us holy once for all in status (10:10), giving us confident access to God. In this verse, “holiness” refers to purity of life. It is provided by God (13:21) and guided by His discipline (v. 10), but we must “strive for” it.

see the Lord. That is, be with God, the goal of salvation, which means personally entering into God’s presence in the heavenly Most Holy Place in the eternal new creation, with the status of being a high priest (Rev. 22:4; cf. Ex. 28:36–38). Those who now by grace through faith pursue and receive the holiness of Christ will indeed see the Lord, and become like Him (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:2).

12:15 The readers are responsible to each other, to watch out for one another so “no one fails to obtain” God’s grace (cf. 4:1).

root of bitterness. In Deut. 29:18, the “root bearing … bitter fruit” is a person who spreads doubt and disloyalty toward the Lord among the covenant people. Here, too, this “root of bitterness” is a person who “causes trouble” and causes others to be “defiled.” To sustain each other’s faith, we must encourage the weak, but also oppose apostates, who may influence others.

12:16 Esau is presented as an example of one who despised the promises of God (in contrast to the people of faith in ch. 11), and whose loss was irrevocable (v. 17). Moses traded Egypt’s treasures for the disgrace of Christ because he saw the reward (11:26); Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of food because all he could see was lentil stew (Gen. 25:29–34).

sold his birthright. As firstborn son, Esau had a special “birthright” (Gen. 25:31–34; 27:36). Later, under the Mosaic law, the right was to a double share of property (Deut. 21:17). In actuality, Esau despised his place in the line of covenant promises, not the property alone.

12:17 you know that afterward. Readers remember the second stage of Esau’s loss, when his brother Jacob took his place as their father Isaac gave the solemn blessing (Gen. 27). This blessing included the substance of the promise made to Abraham (Gen. 12:2, 3; 27:29).

no chance to repent. Though Esau mourned his loss with tears (Gen. 27:38; cf. 2 Cor. 7:10), he did not actually repent of the sin of despising God’s promises. Another view is that the repentance he sought was a change in his father’s mind.

[Illustration]

[Application]

Do you cling to Christ closely and dearly as if your life depended on it? Surely it does.

Conclusion: