Hebrews 12:7-29
Notes
Transcript
Intro John 2:10
Intro John 2:10
Hebrews 12:1-12 Call to Endurance
Hebrews 12:1-12 Call to Endurance
test
v.1-2
Purpose: encourage hearers to endurance,
Process: example of Jesus and Esau
Witnesses: they are testifying their experience of faith, not witnessing ours
great cloud: big crowd
set aside every weight, hindrance, roadblock
Keeping eyes on Jesus - like the trailblazer in front of us
the cross: no worse way to die— shameful way to die - a billboard of share
Final allusion to Psalm 110:1 in the book
Previously in Chapter 11
We saw a history of God’s imperfect people, who were redeemed by faith. Their faith until the end made them examples for us.
From Abel to the time right before Jesus, men and women are listed from every walk of life.
We race with them behind our trailblazer, Jesus.
Previously
The preacher is writing to a congregation that has outside pressure to abandon the faith. He encourages them to endure.
What was a time when you realized a mistake and you could not go back?
Esau
Are you cut out for the most dangerous jobs? Why or why not?
The people on the mountain met God physically, but it was too dangerous.
Why do people go to concerts when they can see the video on YouTube?
There is a reality that is beyond the ticket.
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? 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. 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.
Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.
The discipline of sons is an argument from the lessor to the greater. If human fathers discipline sons, of course our Heavenly Father will discipline us.
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 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. And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 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.
Peace, holiness —> What is the greatest commandment? What is the second?
Matt. 22:38 - Lawyer asks Jesus.
Root of Bitterness —> Deut. 29:18 Someone who goes after other gods and turns away from the Lord.
For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
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