Study in Hebrews

1. Study in Hebrews Presentation 18

2. The Discipline Of Grace Chap 12v4-17 Presentation 18

3. Introduction The Christian life has been likened to a long distance race in v1-3 in which the Christian athlete is to persevere. This race is best run by offloading excess baggage and by keeping an eye on the coach. It is not a race which we run alone - Jesus, who has already completed the course, runs beside us. In addition, we are also being cheered on by athletes who have earlier completed their race. The theme of spiritual development is continued in v4ff. The racing metaphor is replaced by a domestic one – the relationship of a child with his father. And it is this ‘child –father’ picture that is now unpacked. Presentation 18

4. Responding To Chastening The writer shows that his readers interpretation of their hardship was fundamentally flawed. They thought it an evidence that God had lost interest in them and had stopped caring for them. [cf. Job 5v17, Ps 94v12, Rev. 3v19]. In response the he writer applies Prov. 3v11-12 to their situation. There is a tendency when experiencing God’s chastening either, to despise his correction or, to despair of it. The writer explains why both responses are wrong. It is further important to distinguish between discipline and punishment! Presentation 18

5. The Purpose Of Chastening The purpose of discipline is the correction of our lives. It is a means to an end. The purpose of punishment is the satisfaction of justice. It is an end in itself. However, the Christian’s relationship to God is not that of a criminal to a judge but that of a son to a Father. The reason why Christians seem to suffer more than the ungodly is that in this life, this vale of correction, we are being shaped for eternity. The punishment of the ungodly is not corrective but judicial. It is not designed to rehabilitate or transform. Presentation 18

6. The Purpose Of Chastening Failure to recognise this distinction troubled both the Psalmist 73v2-6, 13-17 and Habakkuk in 1v2-4, 3v17-19. Someone has said, “Corrections are pledges of our adoption and badges of our sonship”. The writer has a number of things to say to the suffering church: 1. God’s testing work is good and for your perfection. Note, testing and not tempting cfJas 1v2-4,12-17. 2. Correction is an indication of your spiritual legitimacy v7b-8. The converse is also true if there is no evidence of correction which produces spiritual growth and development then we have good cause to ask if a genuine work of grace has been done in our lives. Presentation 18

7. The Purpose Of Chastening 3. In human relationships parental discipline produces respect. Perhaps not at the time but in later years. From it we learn the value of boundaries and restraints. Some children can end up despising their parents because they experienced little or no discipline in the home. We learn to submit to God’s discipline as we come to recognise what it is achieving in our lives and as we understand God’s motivation in its application. 4. Sometimes parents get it so wrong cf. v10 ‘as they thought best’. Some time ago in the UK. a minister taken to court after his wife reported him for the excessive use of discipline! But God never gets it wrong; our good and spiritual growth always lies behind his discipline v10. Presentation 18

8. The Purpose Of Chastening 5. Discipline is not something we are meant to enjoy as we experience it. We are not to be Christian masochists but we can praise God when we see the fruit that it produces in our lives v11. Notice that the metaphor used here is agricultural. The writer would have us learn patience under discipline. We do not see its immediate benefits in our lives. The harvest takes time, not least because it takes time for the discipline to work and also for us to recognise just what God is doing in our lives. Presentation 18

9. The Purpose Of Chastening 6. The fruit of discipline is described as ‘righteousness and peace’. Peace refers to rest and relaxation after the rigour of the discipline. While righteousness is often associated with peace in scripture, Isa. 9v7and 32v17. The fruit of righteousness can be compared to the crown of righteousness in 2 Tim. 4v9 . Cf. Jas. 1v12 The practical application of this teaching is now teased out in a protracted exhortation. In v12-13we return to the racing metaphor. The competitor who lacks determination to keep going loses concentration and staggers all over the course. Running through the pain barrier of present trials is the way to the greatest of all prizes. Presentation 18

10. The Purpose Of Chastening These words of encouragement in v12 are taken from Isa. 35v3 [for the appropriateness of the context see v4]. The second part of the quotation is taken from Prov. 4v26 [for context see v27]. Athletes who rock from one lane to another have a tendency to go over on their ankles and do themselves great injury. The readers present situation is like that of a lame runner. If they continue in this condition and reject the writers instruction, permanent disabilitywould result and the situation would be irredeemable. By responding they can be healed and thus avoid greater injury. Presentation 18

11. Warning and Encouragement In v14-17 some important markers are set down. First, the readers are discouraged from pursuing a spurious kind of holiness; e.g. that which is external and seeks the applause of men. cf. Matt. 6v1-18. True holiness is inward and flows from a love for God. The blessing and peace of the gospel is in turn intended to flow through us to the benefit and blessing of others. Hence, secondly the link with the ‘peace’ or ‘shalom’ of God. Cf. Ps. 34v14, Mk. 9v50. On ‘seeking peace with all men’ look at Rom. 12v18 though the context centres upon crippled souls, so the parallel in Rom. 14v19 is perhaps more applicable with members of the church as the object so that no one is given cause for turning from Christ. Presentation 18

12. Warning and Encouragement The pursuit of peace is therefore linked with the pursuit of holiness. Think of the way in which ‘pure in heart’ and ‘hungering and thirsting after righteousness’ and ‘peacemaker’ are linked together in the beatitudes , links of a single chain. Matt. 5v1ff. This internal holiness, which expresses itself in our outward dealings with others is an evidence of the grace of God at work in our hearts. Without this holiness, admittance to God’s presence is impossible. Rev. 21v27. Only those who are washed and sanctified are admitted. cf1Cor. 1v30.... 6v9-11.... Presentation 18

13. Warning and Encouragement In v15the integrity of a fellowship that is at peace in its relations with one another seems to be the connecting thought. The writer is aware that bitterness even in one person can disrupt the harmony of the whole fellowship. And so they are warned to ‘avoid falling back from the grace of God’, the peril of apostasy is in the writer’s mind; the person who abandons the Christian race and turns away from the prize set before them. Why are they to, ‘Guard against the root of bitterness’?If anyone falls back from the grace of God, he becomes a danger to others. Like a bitter root his influence can touch the whole life of the congregation. He can poison others against Christ. The writer’s warning has a close parallel in Deut.29v18. Presentation 18

14. Warning and Encouragement The writer in saying in v16,‘learn from the example of Esau in whose heart the root of bitterness grew’. Esau grew up despising the grace of God. Why is Esau described as sexually immoral. This is thought to be a reference to Gen. 26.v34ff , 27v46. and Gen. 28v6-9. Esau’s moral behaviour was a strong indicator of his religious infidelity. Esau’s great sin was to turn his back on something that was infinitely precious; his birthright. This holy trust embracing the blessings of God’s salvation - he exchanged for the instant gratification of his carnal appetite - a single meal. Presentation 18

15. Warning and Encouragement The recipients of this letter were poised to do something equally heinous by turning their back on Christ and walking away from him. Esau found it impossible to reverse the consequences of his sinful choice. Once rejected the loss was irretrievable. These readers too were in danger of losing their place in the ‘assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven’. Repentance is not something we turn on but something God gives. Worldly grief only brings death. cf. 2Cor. 7v10. Therefore we are warned against treating rashly or lightly the spiritual blessings which have been entrusted to us. Presentation 18