Loyal in the Faith

MEMORY VERSE: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1,2

HEBREWS 12:1-4, 7-15

THE full strength of the opening verses of Hebrews 12 is realized only when they are studied in the light of chapter 11. It is in chapter 11 that Paul presents that gallery of ancient servants of God whose records of faithfulness are set forth in the Old Testament. They were men and women of faith. Their faith enabled them to face the trials which came upon them unflinchingly and with fortitude.

And what is faith? Paul answers: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) The Ancient Worthies believed the promises of God—those promises which were the foundation of their messianic hopes. They believed that God would raise up a “Seed” that would “bruise” the “serpent’s” head, and bless “all families of the earth.”—Gen. 3:15; 12:3; 18:18; 22:18

They rejoiced in the hope of a coming kingdom of righteousness with Messiah at its head. They were loyal to God and to his promises, and were willing to die for their faith—and many of them did. The lives of these bore eloquent witness to their faith, and the followers of Jesus are, as it were, surrounded by these “witnesses” of God’s keeping power in the lives of his people.

And now, beginning with the 12th chapter, Paul reminds us of the greatest Witness of them all, even Jesus. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and our Forerunner in a race in which we are running for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.—Phil. 3:14; Heb. 6:20

In running in this “race” we are to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” and we are to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” We are to continually look unto Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is [now] set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) This will also be our ultimate reward if we continue faithfully to walk in his footsteps.

We are to consider Jesus; that is, meditate upon how much his obedience cost him. It cost him shame and ignominy. He was “contradicted” with respect to the great realities of his position in the plan of God. He came to earth to be a King, and he was the Son of God; but these facts were denied by his enemies, and this denial led to his death.

If we consider Jesus and his suffering, we will realize that we have no reason for being “wearied and faint.” We “have not yet resisted unto blood,” as Jesus did; that is, we have not actually laid down our lives following in his footsteps.

HEBREWS 12:7-15

Christian discipline is an essential aspect of the life of every follower of the Master. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons,” Paul wrote. The Greek word here translated “chastening” means “tutorage, that is, education or training.” (Strong) We are not to think of all chastening as punishment, although in our training the Lord may see that we need disciplinary experiences.

This is why Paul writes that “no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” To this he adds, “Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are [rightly] exercised thereby.”

QUESTIONS

What is the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1?

Who is the greatest “Witness” of all?

How do we “look unto Jesus”?

What is Christian discipline?

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