The Superiority of Christ, continued

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In Endurance, (Christ's)

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"Therefore, sense we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..." Apostles, teachers, preachers, believers and even martyr's, "we are to do two things." First, lay aside every thing that is an offence to God. Sin is a weight that we do not have to carry around. There may be "thrones in the flesh" over which we have no control, but most sin is the result of our own choice even when we have deliverance in Christ. Matthew Henry says "fondness" for the present life is a great burden on the soul. It pulls us down when we want to go up. It pulls us back when we want to go foreword. Here that Author speaks to these Jews of the "sin that so easily besets them", their fondness for their old ways of worship in the dispensation of the Law. They were now under Grace and free from the burden of the Law.

Secondly, they were to "run with patience" or perseverance, the race set before them, i.e. the life of the Christian. Notice it is a "well marked" route, marked by the Word of God. It had limits and directions. It has regulations that test the patience and the perseverance of the believer. Difficulties also test our patience and temptations test our endurance.

But the Author reminds them and us that we have an excellent example to follow. We can look to Jesus, the pioneer (author) and perfecter (finisher) of this race of faith. He set the example of patience and perseverance in the face of persecution. He is the source of our Grace, He is the Judge and Rewarder of faith, from Him and by Him we will all receive the "prize".

Notice the trials that tested the patience and endurance of Jesus. He endured the hostility of sinners. He bore their opposition. He endured the cross, He carried it, he endured the pain of being nailed to it, He suffered and died on it. All this He did with patience and perseverance. Thirdly, He endured the shame of the cross. Innocent, yet condemned, crucified yet without sin.

Notice what sustained Christ during all this. "The Joy that was set before Him." He knew that by this humiliation and death that He would purchase salvation for all who would believe in Him. By His death, He knew that he would make peace between God and man. This knowledge brought great joy to Christ.

Now notice what is now our duty. We are to "look to Jesus" for example, for salvation, for direction, for assistance and for acceptance. When we are discouraged or suffering in some small way, we are to look to Jesus and compare his suffering to ours and by doing this, we shall be strong, we shall be comforted and encouraged.

Then the Author closes these verses with words that support the idea that these Hebrews at the time of this letter, were only being socially and perhaps financially persecuted. Verse 4, "In your struggle, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." They probably were becoming social outcasts and may even have experienced trouble in finding jobs, but at least at this point, they had not been called on to be martyrs. They were "back sliding" under what Paul considered to be minor persecution compared to what Christ had endured.

In Endurance, (Exhortation to Endure)

Here the Author tells them that they are to endure in whatever persecution that they are called to experience, reminding them of the 94th Psalm in which the Author instructs the people concerning God's disciplining those whom He loves. The Author of Hebrews takes another route here concerning persecution, reminding them that is is God's prerogative to punish those whom He loves for their disobedience and it is also His prerogative to use whatever and whomever He wishes to do this. He had in the past and will in the future, use even His enemies as instruments for afflicting suffering upon His people. This is divine chastisement that is entirely in His hands. Religious persecution has served to purify the church.

Here we are instructed on how we are to behave under persecution.

1. We must not hate the persecution nor the persecutor, for they are the hand of the Lord.
2. We must not grow weary in the midst of persecution. We must not quit, complain, nor loose faith or patience. If we find ourselves doing either, it will be a sign that we have forgotten the promises of the Father or have lost faith in them.

It is hard to accept persecution meted out as "paternal love", but verse 6 says, "The Lord disciplines those whom He loves." Matthew Henry reminds us that the best of God's children needs discipline and that God will leave alone, in their sins, those who are not His. That discipline is the act of a good father and as parents, we must not ignore the faults of our children. He also suggests that we should take stock in our lives if God is not, in some way, chastising us.

Then the Author reminds them of something that many believe is outdated and even harmful in the rearing of our children. Verse 9, "We have had earthly fathers discipline us and have respected them for it." We tend to forget that this is the duty of the parent and that it is the duty of the child to accept this as evidence of the parents love. We may, as verse 10 suggests, as parents be improperly motivated in the correction of our children, but not so with the Heavenly Father. He always disciplines out of love and for our own good. For God condemns us now that we may not be condemned with the world.

Verse 12, "Therefore, lift up your drooping hands and straighten your weak knees." Endurance is called for here, do not become discouraged, disgruntled or slow to respond as might be human nature, but be as is Christ's nature and rise up under persecution as Christ did.

Verses 14 thru 17 speak of a common condition in the church today. Where there is no love, there is no peace. The "root of bitterness" that is spoken of in verse 15 takes away the joy of fellowship within the church. Matthew Henry says that thius condition bankrupts religion, it destroys the very foundation on which the church is built, it produces corrupt doctrine and practice which only further creates dissension within the body of believers. Peace is impossible without love and holiness. Without holiness, no man can see the Lord.

As a Christian, when we loose sight of the Lord, we loose our usefulness and the joy of our salvation. As a church, when we loose sight of the Lord, we also loose our usefulness in the community and the joy of our fellowship. The Author does not leave the Hebrews nor us without encouragement for in verses 18 thru 24 he encourages us to persevere in the faith and to them he encourages them not to relapse back into Judaism and to help them, he shows them how the Gospel Church differs from the Jewish Church.

The Author continues the comparison between the Jewish Church (Mt. Sinai) and the Gospel Church (Mt. Zion). Verses 18 thru 21 describes the Jewish Church and verses 22 thru 24 describe the Gospel Church. Four comparisons are made:

1. Mt. Sinai, where the Jewish Church was constituted was a very earthly and physical place. Mt. Zion, the Holy habitation of the Lord, where the Gospel Church was constituted, is a spiritual place.
2. On Mt. Sinai, where the Law was given, there was a blazing fire, a tempest and the mountain was covered by darkness and gloom. Zion is clear and bright for God's Grace brings understanding and light to the dispensation of Grace.
3. The fear of the Law is compared to the joy of Grace. In the declaring of the Law, God's voice was preceded by lightening and thunder, loud trumpet soundings and His voice brought fear and trembling to man. Access to God was for but a few. The Gospel came in compassion and love and brought access to where man, by repentance, can come boldly to the thrown of Grace without fear of God. At Sinai, only Moses and Aaron could approach God. At Zion, all can come with boldness to God through Christ Jesus.
4. At Sinai, if man or beast approached they had to be stoned and thrust through the heart with a dart. At Zion, the only requirement is repentance and the result is not death but life.

Are we not blessed to be living in the dispensation of Grace, in the Gospel Church. Matthew Henry says that at Mt. Zion, people may find God ruling, guiding, sanctifying and comforting them. That brings joy not fear. So we now belong to a "Heavenly Society" and the Author lists six characteristics of that society.

1. They belong to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.
2. They are party to innumerable Angels in a festive gathering.
3. They are part of the assembly of the first born who are enrolled in Heaven, enrolled in the "Lamb's Book of Life". The first born were those who were the first fruits of the Gospel.
4. They belong to a Judge who is God of all, Jew and Gentile, each according to the dispensation under which they lived. Wouldn't you rather be judged under Grace rather than the Law. This blessing was what the Author was trying to get these Hebrews to see and understand.
5. They will associate with "just men" made perfect by their faith in Jesus Christ. Heaven is home for all who have put their faith and trust in Christ. In Heaven, the "worst" will be associating with the "best" by God's Grace, all will be perfect.
6. They will be in a "state of communion" with Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, the Covenant of Grace, whose blood speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel. Christ's blood cries for forgiveness to God on the behalf of sinners. Abel's blood cried out for vengeance upon the one who shed it, Cain.

Thus the Author, in making these comparisons, exhorts the Hebrews to continue in the Gospel and not regress back into the bondage of the Law.

In Endurance, (Fifth Warning)

"Warning, do not refuse (ignore) Him (Holy Spirit) who is speaking." Under the Law, they may have had an excuse for disobedience, because of lack of communication, but under Grace, there is no excuse, we are in a continual state of communication as we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. God speaks directly to the believer who is under Grace, therefore, much more is expected.

Because of this more excellent way of communication, the guilt is greater from disobedience because the punishment is greater (loss of the joy of our salvation). It is also inferred that because of this favored position under the dispensation of Grace, that God will deal more harshly with those who refuse the Gospel than He will with those who rejected Him under the Law. Those who were under the Law were warned here on earth by Moses, those who are under Grace are warned from Heaven by the Holy Spirit. We cannot escape if we reject Him who warns us from Heaven.

Even as His voice shook the earth there on Mt. Sinai, once more He has shaken the earth with the Gospel. Matthew Henry says that by the sound of the "Gospel Trumpet", the former dispensation was shaken and removed and by the sound of the "Gospel Trumpet", a new dispensation was ushered in that cannot be shaken.

Therefore, let us show our gratitude by offering to God an "acceptable" worship as Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice. What is an "acceptable" worship? The Author says that it is one that is done in "reverence, awe and fear". We stress so much the "love of God" that we often forget His wrath. When we truly realize our position as sinners before God, we cannot help but fear Him. As faith is a necessary part of salvation, fear is a necessary part of worship, for "God is a consuming God".

Our God, in Christ, deals with us in a kind and gracious way, but let us not forget that He is a God of justice who will condemn the unbelievers and the apostates of this world.

So the message of Chapter 12 is look to the superiority of Christ in His endurance and lay hold to the blessings of the Gospel, not reverting to the works of the Law but laying hold to the freedoms that we have in Christ.

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