This lesson could be called "Things to Consider". We look at two passages toward the end of the letter to the Hebrews. Both these passages begin with an appeal to "consider" our endurance and perseverance in the faith. In one passage Jesus is called "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2). No story is any good if the author starts it but does not finish it. Jesus is an author who finishes his work. His work is our faith, enduring through many trials until finally glory comes and we live happily ever after. Every day Jesus is helping this story to be finished, and we should consider how he is doing this.

8. Jesus the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith. The Christian life is fraught with temptation to sin and with much struggle and suffering. Why does God allow this? We should see this not as abandonment by God, but as Fatherly discipline to correct and strengthen us (yet not taking that analogy further than intended). We should run our race with endurance, looking unto Jesus (who himself suffered), and to the glories of his kingdom.

Heb 10:23-39, Heb 12:1-29

Jesus helps us to endure until the end

Christ’s example. The Hebrew writer says, "You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Heb 10:36). He then says, "Consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (Heb 12:3). The example of Jesus "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Heb 12:2) helps us to continue on the true path through every difficulty. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward" (Heb 10:35). Through the intercession of Jesus we are able to "hold fas the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb 10:23). Christ’s example of faithfulness through every trial and temptation, helps us to confidently trust him and continue to follow him to the end.

Christian fellowship. Of course we should also "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works" (Heb 10:24) Jesus uses each of us to encourage others. This is one way that he helps us all endure. This is not just a simple matter of being encouraged by others. We should also try ourselves to give encouragement. It’s a fact that when we encourage others to endure, we feel more encouraged ourselves.

Remembrance. The Hebrew writer suggests another thing we can do to help us endure. "Recall the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings" (Heb 10:32). Most of us who have been Christians for any length of time can remember times when we struggled to remain faithful and were challenged strongly. We held on then and came through with the Lord’s help. Just remembering those times of victory will strengthen us to endure present or future distress.

Jesus helps us to profit from chastening

Why God chastens.The Hebrew writer points out that God chastens his sons, and he uses the analogy of human fathers who discipline their sons (Heb 12:5-11). Of course earthly fathers may not always chasten their sons in the right way for the right reasons. God on the other hand chastens us "for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness" (Heb 12:10). The Hebrew writer’s point is that, if we were subject to "human fathers who corrected us and we paid them respect, shall we not much more readily be subject to the Father of spirits and live?" (Heb 12:9). The reasonable correction which a human father administers, is not without value. God administers discipline, correction, and chastening of far more value and profit.

Don't be confused. You and I must take care not to misunderstand the statement, "Whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives" (Rom 12:5-6 Prv 3:11-12). It is very easy to complain, "God is punishing me" and to be thinking that God is taking vengeance on you for your sins. That is a very wrong understanding of God’s discipline. That is not what God is doing at all. Any decent human father does not chastise his son for vengeance, but for correction and training in righteousness.

The severe punishment and fiery wrath that Hebrews 10 describes, and the chastening for our wellbeing that Hebrews 12 describes are quite different things in their nature and purpose, and we should not confuse them. Jesus causes us to escape from the one, by helping us to endure and profit from the other...

Two Distinct Things

Jesus helps us to live in godly fear

Fear without terror. The fear which the Hebrew writer calls "a certain terrifying expectation" (Heb 10:27) is not the "reverence and godly fear" that he urges us to live by (Heb 12:28-29). The proper fear of God is the awe and absolute respect in which we serve and obey God. Jesus teaches us and helps us to maintain that kind of fear. Abject terror is appropriate for those who reject God. But those who love and serve God need not be terrified of him.

God’s grace takes away the terror but it also takes away the dare. In God’s grace we no longer dare to disobey him. We subject ourselves to him with all reverence. Jesus helps us to do this day by day in order that he may finish and perfect the story of our faith which he began.

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