Enduring and Growing as Christians (Hebrews 12:1–17)

Introduction

Today, continuing our series in Hebrews, we are in Hebrews 12:1-17, and we’ll look at what it takes to endure and grow as a Christian.

If you’ve ever picked up running, you know that the hardest part of the run is the beginning. At least, it was for me.

The first step is getting your running sneakers on. You’re not running without those. Then you’ve got to get up the motivation to step out of the door. You can probably think of twenty other things to do, but you finally step outside.

When you start jogging, your body starts fighting you back. Your legs hurt, your body hurts, and your mind is like, “Why am I doing this?”

Your doing it because your heading toward a goal. When you push through the pain and questions, you inevitably come to a point where your running and in the zone.

Sometimes, the Christian life feels like that point in the run where everything hurts. You feel tired and discouraged. Hebrews 12:1-17 tells us how to endure and grow through those moments.

Scripture Reading

Hebrews 12:1–17 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. 4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. 7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. 14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.

Pray

I love Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12:2 is a life verse for me. A life verse is a Scripture that comes up for you time and again, reminding you of God’s promises in Jesus.

It isn’t necessary to have a life verse, but it can be helpful. Hebrews 12:2, “keeping my eyes on Jesus,” has always been a critical verse for me, reminding me to focus on who Christ is and how I need Him in every way, every day of my life.

Hebrews 12 is the culmination of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. The Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 brought us through example after example of God’s people of faith throughout Scripture. In every moment and every season, whether in victories or suffering, God’s promises have anchored God’s people for all time.

Hebrews 12:1-17 will tell us how to live out our faith as children of God.

Hebrews 12:1–3 will tell us to focus on Jesus as our example.

Hebrews 12:4–11 will help us understand suffering as a loving discipline from God.

Hebrews 12:12–17 will tell us to live out our faith through peace and holiness in the community of God.

Hebrews 12:1-17 teaches us how to endure and grow as Christians. The first thing we will see in Hebrews 12:1-17 is to,

I. Run with Endurance in Faith by Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

The writer of Hebrews uses an athletic metaphor to describe the Christian life of faith as a race.

Athleticism and racing was well known in the first century. The Greek games, like the Olympics, were famous in the ancient world.

First-century athletes were well-trained individuals. They spent years training in gymnasiums and dedicating their lives to being the best athlete possible. They focused their whole lifestyle on athletic success.

One of the most famous examples was Milo of Croton, a legendary Olympic wrestler. Stories say he trained by carrying a calf every day until it grew into a full-grown bull. His true strength came from daily, disciplined endurance.

That’s one of those pictures we see in Hebrews 12, being faithful every day to run with endurance.

To eliminate every obstacle, athletes would strip off all clothing before competing. That might sound strange to us, but for them, they would remove anything that would hinder their progress. Nothing was worth holding on to if it kept them from running freely.

That is the picture when the writer tells us to,

A. Let go of every weight and the sin that easily entangles.

It says this in Hebrews 12:1,

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Hebrews 12:1 gives us three actions that help us run the race of faith (3 Rs: Remember, Remove, Run):

1. Remember the witnesses: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”

Not only do we have examples of faith within Scripture, as we saw in Hebrews 11, but I’m also reminded from this past week of the examples of faith that surround us today.

We were blessed by the missions team that came here from Valleydale Church in Birmingham, Alabama. These are people who took time out of their schedules to love on a group of Christians in San Diego, CA.

Why is that? Because they love Jesus. As Jesus continues to change lives all around us, he builds up examples of faith to encourage us to move forward in our race of faith.

2. Remove what hinders: “Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us…”

What does the writer have in mind when he says to lay aside every hindrance? He certainly has in mind the picture of a race. If you are running and carrying a big, heavy object on you, you are not going to win the race. The one who wins the race is the one who has laid aside all of that heavy baggage.

What does that mean for us as Christians? The hindrance may be something that distracts you from your relationship with Christ. It may be something that drains your energy from spiritual things.

Is there something in your life that is slowing your progress of faith in God? Is there a distraction crowding out your affection for God? If there is, it is hindering your race of faith. Cast aside anything that is weighing you down from the race of faith that God has called you to in Jesus Christ.

When he says, “the sin that so easily ensnares,” the word “sin” is singular. Many scholars believe that the term “sin” there in Hebrews 12:1 is a reference to unbelief. The book of Hebrews repeatedly warns against unbelief (Hebrews 3:12; 3:19; Hebrews 4, 10, 11).

The lesson there would be to lay aside the pressure to stop trusting in Christ. Think about the pressures in our culture to lay aside our beliefs in Jesus because they don’t align with the modern cultural thought pattern.

In the rest of Scripture, the singular term “sin” often refers to the dominating power of sin (Romans 6) in our corrupt nature (Romans 7, 1 John 1:8), which is common in the universal condition of humanity (John 1:29).

In this case, the sin that easily entangles us is the sinful condition of our souls before Christ. That condition opposes enduring faith. Therefore, it is a call to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and not the flesh.

In either case, we are to remove the things in our life that hinder our faith and,

3. Run with endurance: “Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us…”

The Christian life is a race toward the finish line that requires the fruits of the Spirit: patience, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc. We need a daily reliance on Jesus to survive and succeed.

When you are running a race, you have to keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead. You can’t look to the left or the right because you are going to drift off in the wrong direction. You’ve got to look ahead of you toward your goal.

That’s why we should,

B. Fix our eyes on Jesus, our faithful example and perfect Savior.

There is only one way to win the race, and that is to look toward the goal. The life of Jesus is our example and our goal.

It says in Hebrews 12:2,

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

1. Jesus is our pioneer.

Because he went first in leading the pathway of faith, he trusted the Father, went to the cross, and opened the way for us.

2. Jesus is the perfecter of our faith.

Because he finished the race, we could never run. He lived a perfect life, fulfilled the mission, overcame sin and death, and completed our salvation.

3. Jesus endured the cross.

Because he saw the joy beyond the pain of the cross, he despised the shame and took on our curse for our redemption.

4. Jesus is now exalted.

Because he sat down in victory at God’s right hand, he reigns over all things, intercedes for us, and invites us to run the race of faith in him.

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, focusing your mind and heart on who he is, you won’t grow weary and give up (Hebrews 12:3).

Why is that? Because when you fix your eyes on Jesus, you change your perspective and start looking to the one who is greater than your current situation.

You fix your eyes on the one who is greater than your hardships.

You fix your eyes on the one who reigns forever and gives you eternal life in him.

His faithfulness fuels yours. The second way we grow and endure as Christians is to,

II. Trust God's Discipline as His Children

Discipline isn’t a word that we love. When I think of discipline, I think of the Spanish I learned as a kid when I misbehaved. “¡Mira… pao pao!” That meant a spanking was coming if I didn’t act right.

That is not the discipline the writer of Hebrews is talking about in Hebrews 12:4-11. When God does discipline, it is not a kind of discipline to get retribution on you or to work out his frustration on you. He’s not disciplining you because he’s so fed up with your behavior that he’s going to let you have it!

God’s discipline is not about retribution. It’s about formation. God’s discipline is about his work in growing you as his child.

The first thing he will tell us about discipline is that,

A. God’s discipline is proof of his love.

God growing you through discipline because he loves you is wonderful, and it is for our good. But the way God will develop you may not feel good at the moment.

Listen to what it says in Hebrews 12:7,

Hebrews 12:7 CSB

7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

This verse is the heart of what he is saying in Hebrews 12:4-6. We should not feel discouraged if God is correcting us. Sometimes, we think we’re supposed to be perfect. We get discouraged when we inevitably feel we’re not perfect.

Hebrews 12:7 says that God pointing out your imperfection is a good thing. It is a wonderful thing for God to grow us. If you feel God’s conviction in your heart, he is treating you as his child.

God does not sin, and he is not the author of sin. In many instances, suffering is a consequential result of sin.

A spouse may have an affair, resulting in a divorce, causing the family to suffer deep emotional pain as a result of that sin.

Gossip, lies, and slander can spread throughout a church, causing suffering and division as a result of the sins of some members.

Society rejects God’s design for marriage and gender, causing suffering, confusion, and pain for many in a generation.

God may have you in that family, or in that church, or in that culture, and you experience suffering from the sins of others. We live in a world plagued with suffering. If God were to shelter us from all suffering, he would have to take us out of this world.

Yet, God is wise enough and loving enough to use the suffering we go through for our good. God is not distant from our suffering. He is present in the middle of the storm, and he will show his glory by being God, who has power over the storm.

We are to “endure suffering as discipline.” We are to endure because, many times, suffering is not a quick lesson. God is calling us to be faithful when it is hard, and the storm is heavy.

We are to endure suffering as God’s loving discipline because going through discipline from our Father is not punishment. What Hebrews 12:7 is saying is that suffering is a spiritual training ground. Enduring suffering as God’s discipline is spiritual conditioning for our good.

I remember our sister DJ, who recently passed away to be with the Lord. She had cancer for some time, which was doing damage to her body. Yet, she did not allow the tumor to cause bitterness within her. By the time the cancer reached her brain, I was struck by the disconnect between the diagnosis she received and the godly attitude in her spirit. The news from the doctor was a death sentence. She wouldn’t live much longer. But when I spoke with her, there was an absolute, supernatural peace within her that’s only explainable because of the power of Jesus in her life.

The suffering that she endured as discipline prepared and shaped her witness so that she would honor the Lord in dying well, which she did. It reminds us that,

B. God’s discipline shapes godly character.

Hebrews 12:10-11 says,

Hebrews 12:10–11 CSB

10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

As God is molding and shaping us, his work is not random or without purpose. He is doing the work of spiritual conditioning in our lives “for our benefit.” The word there for “benefit” literally means “be profitable.” The work of spiritual discipline is being done for your advantage.

God is investing in you with a purpose: that your life would return a yield of holiness and righteousness, which is extremely valuable in the kingdom of God, to bring glory to him and bless others with the light of Jesus Christ.

No discipline seems enjoyable at the moment. Trials are hard. Suffering is painful. But there is a reminder in Romans 8:28,

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Only God can take painful moments and use them in the spiritual gym of our hearts to train us as his sons and daughters. There is a call on your life to view all things through spiritual eyes to see the overall picture of God’s purpose and plan.

No Christian ever became godly without spiritual conditioning.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, enslaved, and imprisoned, but God used it to raise him to save a nation (Gen. 50:20).

Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before leading Israel out of Egypt (Ex. 3).

David was chased and persecuted by Saul for years, facing threats of death, before he took his place as king in Israel (1 Sam. 18-31).

Peter denied the Lord before becoming a bold preacher (Luke 22:61–62).

Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh but learned that God’s grace was sufficient for all his needs (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

It is Paul who said in 2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10 CSB

10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Those are the words of a man who has gone through the spiritual discipline of being a child of God and seen on the other side that God works all things together for our good. The hardships and pain in life have a purpose. God is producing within you a godly character for your benefit and his kingdom.

When we view life’s challenges through spiritual eyes, we can shift from asking, “Why me?” to asking, “What is God forming within me through this?”

The last thing we learn today about enduring and growing as Christians is that as God’s children, we

III. Pursue Peace and Holiness Together

The first sections of Hebrews 12 focus on the individual experience of being a Christian. It tells us to run the race of faith with endurance and to trust God’s discipline in our lives.

But the Christian journey is never a solo walk. As we run the race of faith, we do so as a team alongside others.

Enduring and growing as a Christian happens in the community of God. We need each other. You and I are responsible not only for our walk but also for encouraging the people around us to walk in Christ as well.

As Christians, we,

A. Strengthen one another.

The first part of this focuses on the individual, but I want you to see its communal impact. He says in Hebrews 12:12-13,

Hebrews 12:12–13 CSB

12 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

How many of us feel like we have tired hands and weakened knees? A politician I used to hear growing up used to say, “I feel your pain.” The Bible says that as a church, we feel your pain. It says in 1 Cor. 12:26,

1 Corinthians 12:26 CSB

26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Your walk with Jesus has an impact on the church. There is good news for your tired hands and weakened knees. The Bible says they can be strengthened.

How do we strengthen our tired hands and weakened knees?

We are strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit

We are strengthened by God’s Word and prayer

We are strengthened by sharing the load of ministry

We are strengthened by showing up in love and reminding each other of God’s promises

When the body of Christ focuses our eyes on Jesus and lives under His discipline and according to His purpose, we are strengthened together.

In Exodus 17:11-12, the Israelites were in battle, and every time Moses' hands were up, they were winning, but when they came down, they would start getting defeated. Moses’ hands grew heavy, and he needed the support of Aaron and Hur to lift his hands.

Everyone in that picture needed each other for their race of faith. Your race of faith is not a solo journey. We need each other to lift our hands so that we can fix our eyes on our Savior and fulfill his purpose in every season of our lives.

As a church, we are called to,

B. Pursue peace and holiness together.

Listen to your role in the community in Hebrews 12:14-15. It says,

Hebrews 12:14–15 CSB

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.

If you look at this carefully, there are four actionable responsibilities for you in the church to endure and grow as a Christian.

1. Pursue peace with everyone.

Peace is an ongoing, active pursuit that you have a responsibility for. Sometimes, we wait for peace to happen to us, but the Bible calls us to pursue peace with others. We apologize quickly, forgive freely, and seek reconciliation with others, even when it’s uncomfortable. Pursuing peace is essential in the church.

We also,

2. Pursue holiness.

Have you grown older and started realizing that you do things your parents used to do? You resemble the way you were raised. In the same way, as God’s children, we resemble our heavenly Father when we pursue holiness in our lives. We grow in holiness as we walk with Jesus, obey his Word, and reject sin in our lives.

The Bible also tells us to,

3. Watch out for one another.

The Scripture tells us to “make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God.” That requires an openness on your part to share what you are going through with others. There is also accountability to ask about the spiritual walk of others. We check in with each other, pray for one another, and speak truth in love.

Last, we have a responsibility to,

4. Uproot bitterness early.

Bitterness first happens in your soul. As we are careful to be on guard against the roots of bitterness within us, we are more open to seeing it around us as well.

Bitterness takes root when our eyes are focused on the moment. That’s why he uses the example of Esau in Hebrews 12:16-17, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

What’s the lesson there? Esau valued the pleasure of the moment over short-term suffering as a discipline. He sold what was his as a child of his father for the temporary satisfaction of pleasure.

Bitterness is rooted when we focus on why we aren’t getting the pleasure of the meal at the moment instead of focusing on the eternal blessings of being a child of God through Jesus Christ.

How do we uproot bitterness?

We confess our pain to God before it festers into the poison of bitterness.

We pursue forgiveness over resentment.

We remember the grace of God for us in Jesus Christ and extend grace to others.

We fix our eyes beyond this moment to the eternal promises of God in Jesus Christ.

Bitterness focuses our eyes on the hurt. Grace focuses our eyes on Jesus, who heals the hurt and restores what was broken.

Bitterness will defile your heart and the hearts of others. Grace restores others, forgives, and sets us free.

Conclusion

What have we learned today about enduring and growing as Christians?

We run with endurance by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the one who went before us, endured the cross, and reigns in victory.

We trust God’s discipline as his beloved children, knowing that even our pain has a purpose: to form us in holiness and righteousness.

We pursue peace and holiness together, encouraging one another, guarding one another, and pointing one another to grace.

That is how we endure. That is how we grow. That is how we live as sons and daughters of the living God.

Lay aside what’s holding you back. Run with endurance in the power of the Holy Spirit. Look to Jesus. Submit to the Father, and walk together in peace, holiness, and grace.

Prayer

Last Song

Doxology

Numbers 6:24–26 CSB

24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’

Jude 24–25 CSB

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!

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Sermon Reflection Questions

What are the three actions outlined to run the race of faith, and what do they entail?

What is the significance of keeping our eyes on Jesus according to Hebrews 12:2?

What does it mean to let go of every weight and the sin that ensnares us?

What role does suffering play in a Christian's life?

Why is it important to pursue peace and holiness in the community of believers?