Faith receives grace to endure in a race
Context: After 11 chapters of explaining the superiority of the new covenant of grace by which Jesus replaced the old covenant of Mosaic law, Heb 12 shows why such ‘theological’ reasoning is relevant: The followers of Jesus need this instruction to endure the long distance race of faith and its training in godliness by looking to Jesus (vv1-2). For what the Law of Moses cannot do, God promised to accomplish in those who believe his promise: That his own Holy Spirit will work in them peace, practical holiness, purity and the desire and ability to share with others God’s grace. Since no such fruit will grow on the tree of moralism, v25 again pleads: “See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking today” (cf Heb 2:1; 3:7). For no Mosaic law or anything else can produce what is pleasing to God, i.e. the virtues that he will subsequently describe in the final chapter (Heb 13).
Warm-up: What motivates or deters you from running long distance races?
Read: Hebrews 12
1) vv1-2, ‘We too should lay aside…’: What exactly, and why?
- What is hindered by ‘weights and sins’?
- In what ways does faith resemble an endurance race?
- How is a ‘cloud of witnesses’ an incentive to run this race?
- Who are ‘they’ (Heb 11)?
- Why are they called witnesses (gr. martyrs)? Because they watch you race? Or because their own racing is a testimony? => Of what? How do they witness of what it takes to make it to the finish line as believers?
2) v2: What distinguishes the racing of Christians from a ’10-step program’ of self improvement, and from philosophies about ‘self discovery’?
- The Greek word aphareo for “looking to” Jesus means to look away from everything else in order to focus on Jesus only. To what else were the Hebrews still squinting that held them in bondage to sin? cf Heb 2:5,15-16; 3:3,12,16; 4:11; 6:6
- Read Gal 3:3 => What does it mean to try to finish (the race) “in the flesh”? Why would it be foolish of Christians to pursue holiness “in the flesh” after they began to run by faith in Jesus?
- Why is it key to instead behold Jesus as both the founder and perfecter of our faith?
3) vv2-4: Why is this new way of pursuing holiness by faith in Jesus despised and even persecuted?
- Why was Jesus himself despised and eventually even crucified?
- Why is it embarrassing and shameful even to this day to follow him?
- By contrast, why is outward morality without any association with the name of Jesus more respectable?
- vv2-3 Jesus endured hostility “…to the point of shedding his blood”: What sin are you up against if you follow him and his example? cf Mt 5:38-39; 43-44
4) vv5-11 speak of ‘discipline’ (gr. paideuo -> pedagogue) by quoting Prov 3:11-12. What has this to do with endurance racing? =>
- Does discipline here mean retribution? Why not? What else does it mean, v11?
- What are the objective and the means of this ‘training’?
- v7, It is for discipline that you have to endure: How does the endurance race of faith promote ‘discipline’?
- v5: The Greek word parakleseos, translated here as ‘exhortation’ (ESV) occurs only here and in Heb 13:22 and Acts 13:15). It also means encouragement or comfort. Who does this coaching, and how? How could the readers forget?
- v10: What does it mean to ‘share’ in God’s own holiness? 2 Pet 1:4
- What is the difference between the biblical idea of God living in believers, versus believers becoming God themselves (‘theosis’)? cf Jn 3:30 [Holiness consists in mortification, not deification of the self]
5) What ‘action’ do verses 12-17 call for?
- v12 is a quote from Isa 35:3. How do vv13-15 explain what Isaiah’s metaphor of physical exercise and the ‘healing of the lame’ stand for?
- Make peace: With whom?
- Strive for holiness: Why?
- See to it that no one fails to obtain grace: What for, vv15-17? And how can we do that?
- Why is it urgent, v17?
- What do you find surprising about this ‘to-do’ list? How does it compare to what Moses commanded his followers?
6) vv18-29 contrast two sources of motivation: Which ones?
- vv18-20: In the old covenant of the law, what caused the Israelites to fear God’s presence, and what was the effect of such fear? [v19: cf Gen 3:10]
- Read again v28: In the new covenant, why is fear of God more like a sense of awe about being admitted into his presence? v24
- Read again v25: Who warned on earth, and who is said here to warn from heaven? (cf Jn 3:31)
- Therefore, what will faithful preachers of the new covenant warn about? What does it mean to ‘refuse him who is speaking’ (according to Hebrews)?
- vv26-27: Does this threat of a final judgment contradict the notion that believers should be motivated by God’s grace? Why or why not?
7) Personal and application
- Do you think your own running of the race of faith fits the description ‘growing in grace’? Or do you experience it more like a treadmill getting you nowhere? Why?
- Forgetfulness of the words of God in Scripture promotes falling back into moralism (v5). What helps you to instead remember their continuous encouragement to run by faith in Jesus? How can you help one another in that regard?
- How can you accept personal attacks or discrimination as the means of a loving Father to train you in godliness? Does this mean you should never seek justice if you are assaulted or harassed?
- Seeing justice served, e.g. by the hanging of a mass murderer, is that enough? Why not?
- In your own experience, how can one ‘obtain’ God’s grace, and ensure that no one fails to obtain it?
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