Hebrews 12:3-11
The Christian life is marked by resting in Christ. “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest,” Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. “Be anxious for nothing . . . let your requests be made known to God . . . and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). The Christian life is also marked by wrestling with or against sin. Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” So at times our lives will be restful in Christ and wrestling with sin.
The Process of Endurance (Hebrews 12:3-4)
- Look at the endurance that Jesus showed on the cross. v.3
- Look at what it could have been. v.4
The Promise of Discipline (Hebrews 12:5-10)
- If you are a child of God you will receive discipline. vv.5-8
- Discipline can be for punishment. v. 6
1 Corinthians 11:27-30 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
- Discipline can be for prevention v. 7
An example of the discipline of prevention would be in 2 Corinthians 12:7 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”
The Product of Discipline (Hebrews 12:11)
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”