Bible Study HF195 - Hebrews 12 (#20 The Cloud of Witnesses)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Monday, June 23, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF195 - Hebrews 12 (#20 The Cloud of Witnesses)
Hebraics,
This is our 20th study on the book of Hebrews. It was never my intention to
weigh these studies down with extra commentary, but rather to point out
the purpose of the essential of the book. Hebrews serves as a final caution
to the Jewish peoples that the covenant of Moses is no longer in force and
is about to disappear. A fiery judgment is coming..
In our last study we considered the testimony of the faith heroes of the
former covenant. Let's pick up with how these heroes as witnesses to new
covenant believers. This study will be a synopsis of chapter 12.
This is Bible Study HF195 - Hebrews 12 (#20 The Cloud of Witnesses.)
Heb 12:1 - "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so
easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, ...
There are several issues presented in this single verse. One is that the
afore believers of chapter 11, were all saved people. They were saved by
their faith in the Lord God and in His promises and certainly not because of
their personal goodness or personal righteousness. As humans they had their
own flaws. But they are right now in heaven.
A second significance is that these witness are able to observe God's work
taking place in the earth with the new covenant people of the cross.
Their past lives serve in the earth are to be seen as encouragements for the
Jewish believers to hold fast their allegiance in Jesus and to God's
unfailing promises.
V2 - "... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who
for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
The call here is to fix their eyes of faith on Jesus by looking away from
everything else. The word 'fixing' in the Greek means to look away from
anything that may distract. The reason for looking to Jesus is that He alone
is the author and the perfecter (in sense of completing) our walk of faith.
Jesus is the author of our faith, the substance of our faith, and the goal
of our faith. He is this very moment seated at the right hand of God.
V3,4 - "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against
Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ..."
This is an encouragement not to tire from the testings of their faith. The
Lord went through all this. He was with them in all their trials. They were
also to remember that they had not had to shed their blood.
Vv5-11 - "...and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to
you as sons, 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor
faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He
disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.' It is for
discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is
there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without
discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate
children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us,
and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of
spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best
to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His
holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but
sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields
the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
The apostolic writer is drawing from Proverbs 3. His point is that because
they are the true children of God, these trials coming their way are serving
a spiritual purpose by producing in them the very experience of sharing in
God's holiness, but also in producing in them the fruit of a righteous walk.
It is in this sense that the trials can be seen as disciplines of a
Father.
Paul speaks of this area of discipline when he writes, *"And not only this,
but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about
perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character,
hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out within out hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given us."* (Romans
5:3-5)
It is in our dark moments that we often discover what a true spiritual walk
is all about. But there is a connecting thought to this. Trials are also a
matter of separating the wheat from the chaff. This is why trials are a part
of the testing of our faith.
Vv12,13 - "Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that
are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is
lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."
This strong encouragement but also a challenge for the people not to become
double-minded or to be hesitating in their faith in Jesus. There is likely a
drawing on Elijah's statement to Israel concerning their divided loyalties
to the Lord and to Baal. Elijah said, *"How long will you hesitate between
two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Ball, follow
him." *(1Kings18:21)
James said that a double-minded person cannot expect to receive anything
from the Lord.
V14 - "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no
one will see the Lord."
'The' sanctification here has to do with the blood atonement of Jesus
Christ. No one will be saved who has not been to the cross. And pursuing
peace with all men is a crucial part of the Christian walk. In as much as it
is possible, believers are to be peace makers.
Vv15-17 - "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no
root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own
birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he
desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for
repentance, though he sought for it with tears."
Falling short of the grace of God was the danger point for the people. To
turn from their freedom in Christ by holding fast to the Law of Moses would
put them at variance with the new covenant.
The emphasis drawn from Esau was directed to the Jews in general. As the
covenant people of God they had birthrights to the new covenant. This is
what Paul meant in that the gospel must go to the Jew first and then to the
Greek (Gentiles in total.) If these people turned from Jesus, they would
reject their own birthright, and like Esau they'd be consumed with
bitterness.
'Finding no place for repentance' has regard to Jacob. No matter Esau's
tears, Isaac had already given the birth right to Jacob and there was no
changing this. Again we need to understand why such strong language is being
used. They were at a crucial moment in the transitional period of moving
from the covenant of Moses into the covenant of Christ.
Listen to the comparison made between the two covenants.
Vv18-21 - "For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a
blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a
trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard
begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the
command, 'If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.' And so
terrible was the sight, that Moses said, 'I am full of fear and trembling.'"
The apostolic writer is describing the covenant of Moses having taken place
at Mount Sinai. The description made is accurate. The reader may wish to
read Exodus 19:12-19; 20:18; 24:17. Sinai was a place of fear and
trembling.
Now compare this to the covenant of Christ --
Vv22-24 - "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general
assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God,
the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to
Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which
speaks better than the blood of Abel."
The point at hand is that through the cross all believers are now brought
directly into the presence of God Himself. We were judged in Christ and
thereby sprinkled with His blood. Where the blood of Abel called for
vengeance, the blood of Jesus speaks of mercy and grace. Under the law the
people entered into a slave-master relationship with God. In the new
covenant we enter into a sonship relationship with God.
Vv25-29 - "See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if
those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much
less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His
voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more
I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.' This expression, 'Yet
once more,' denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of
created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence
and awe; for our God is a consuming fire."
Once again we see the severe warning of a judgment soon to come. It is
likely that this judgment warning transcends time, which means it takes in
the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 a.d., but also reaches
forward in time to a judgement to take place at the second coming of Jesus.
The study is open. Feel free to make contributions or ask questions.
Blessings,
Buddy
--
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
"How beautiful upon the mountains..." Isa 52:7
Web: http://ChristianChallenge.Org <http://christianchallenge.org/>
blog: http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)