On a recent Freedom From Addiction webinar, a question came up about Hebrews 12 basically asking if God punishes believers when they sin; the word used in the passage is the word "discipline". When you think of that word, what comes to your mind? For many, it is the idea of punishment for wrong doing, like being spanked as a child. So, is God punishing me as a believer when I screw up?
First, let's be clear. Just because something bad happens in your life that does not equate to God punishing you. Remember, the world is broken because of sin and sometimes bad things just happen to both the unbeliever and believer. Sometimes you end up suffering the consequences of a bad decision and sometimes not (there are times when God intervenes and rescues you out of natural consequences for His purpose). Don't spend a lot of time trying to figure all that out, it's not worth it. Certainly learn from it all but in the midst of the bad stuff, KNOW that God loves you and is NOT punishing you. Let me give you what I see as the "bottom line" then we'll jump in head first to the book of Hebrews.
Bottom Line: As a believer, Jesus Christ took the punishment for ALL your sin; there is not one sin you have done or have yet to do or think that was left off the cross...Jesus took care of them all. As we grow in grace, God will use whatever He deems best (what we might view as good things going our way to challenging situations, events and relationships) to lessen our dependence on our old ways of thinking and responding (e.g. flesh) so that we might experience His righteousness, holiness and love in Christ. He is growing us up to experience, in this life, our new creation in Christ.
Now, there are a number of Greek words translated "discipline" in the scripture. In Hebrews 12, you find the word "paideia" or "paideuo" (Greek Dictionary of the New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance):
3809. παιδεία paideia; from 3811; the rearing of a child, training, discipline: —discipline(5), training(1).
3811. παιδεύω paideuo; from 3816; to train children, to chasten, correct: —correcting(1), discipline(2), disciplined(2), disciplines(1), educated(2), instructing(1), punish(2), punished (1), taught(1).
The words can be used in the sense of punishment (like in the negative sense to "teach you a lesson") but more often they are used in the sense of education and training and correction like in Acts 7:22
“Moses was educated ["paideuo"] in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
Our focus will be the book of Hebrews, a letter written to Jewish believers and unbelievers highlighting Jesus Christ as the author of a new and better covenant. Before we dive-in to Hebrews 12, let's take a look at a few key passages along the way. I think you will find that throughout the book of Hebrews the author bridging the conversation with the common ground of Jewish tradition and law with a goal for the Hebrew readers to consider Jesus and believe, to receive His salvation and share in His holiness / sanctification. Check out a few key verses below that either urge the reader to consider Jesus or to believe. I will highlight a few passages from Chapter 1 through chapter 11 so we can understand a bit of context and then focus on chapter 12.
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Consider Jesus
- Heb. 1:1-2 ¶ God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
- Heb. 3:1 ¶ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;
- Heb. 7:22, 27 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. ...who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
- Heb. 8:6-7 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
- Heb. 10:9-10 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- Heb. 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
- Heb. 10:16-18 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD. I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Believe and receive His Salvation
- Heb. 2:2-3 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,
- Heb. 3:12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. [not a believer falling away from God but an unbelieving Hebrew falling away from God by not choosing Christ]
- Heb. 3:19-4:2 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. ¶ Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
- Heb. 10:19-22 ¶ Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Heb. 10:26-31 ¶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth [we choose not to believe], there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins [Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice], but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES [Believers in Christ are not adversaries, those who reject Christ have set themselves against God]. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE [Israel].” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- Heb. 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction [shrink back from choosing to believe], but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
- Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Well, the letter to the Hebrews continues in chapter 11 describing what faith looks like with some very key Old Testament figures as will as the "others" identified in Hebrews 11:36. When we finally get to chapter 12, the author continues urging the Hebrew readers to consider Jesus and believe. Let me take you through the chapter and simply
add a few comments with the text that I hope will provide some insights. I certainly do NOT claim the below as the only or even best interpretation of this passage, just how I see it. Here we go!
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The Offer - 12:1-3
Heb. 12:1-3 ¶ Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us [
unbelief or anything keeping us from believing], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ¶ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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the race begins, continues and ends with faith]
As noted throughout the book of Hebrews, the author is asking the reader to consider Jesus. If you jump down to Hebrews 12:25, the author is telling the reader not to refuse Jesus. Everything in between those verses is convincing the reader to consider and accept Jesus. And who are the readers again? The Authors own countryman known as Hebrews, the children of Israel.
What you haven't done, He did as your Savior - 12:4
Heb. 12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
[
The age old question, what do we do with our sin? Jesus took care of it through the cross. You're not going to find a scripture telling the believer to strive against sin]
What you have forgotten, He still does as a Father - 12:5-11
Heb. 12:5-11 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
[
So who is this for? It is for the children of Israel "addressed to you as sons" who have forgotten; the author quotes from the book of Job and Proverbs]
“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
[
By the way, that is exactly what happened to Jesus, and as a believer, you were in Him when it happened (you were scourged in Christ, crucified, buried and raised a new creation when you were received by the Father). Perhaps they did not realize God was still guiding and correcting them as they pursue Him. Perhaps the Hebrews couldn't accept all that Jesus went through on their behalf taking the punishment for their sin]
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
[
Perhaps God is doing what he's always done with the children of Israel, he is disciplining or correcting them to obedience, and in this case, the obedience of faith. No matter, this is addressed to them]
The Plea to pursue - 12:12-14
Heb. 12:12-14 ¶ Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. ¶ Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
[
Walk the narrow path to pursue Christ. When this was written, believers were going through a very difficult time and would soon go through an even greater amount of persecution. In light of the Hebrews current environment and misunderstanding of the Law, accepting Jesus as the one offering for sanctification and being identified as a "Christian" was a very challenging decision]
Illustration 1: Esau - 12:15-17
Heb. 12:15-17 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
[
The birthright was essential for the blessing; no birthright, no big inheritance. The author urges them through this historical illustration not to be short sighted like Esau and come short of God's grace, but rather put their faith in Christ ("born again") and as holder of this new birth right, receive the inheritance]
Illustration 2: It's not like Mount Horeb / Sinai - 12:18-24
Heb. 12:18-24 ¶ For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
[
The Law is very tangible and scary at times; grace through faith, however, is not and it is so much better]
The plea not to refuse - 12:25
Heb. 12:25 ¶ See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.
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Again, the point of this chapter is simply, do not refuse Christ]
The Promise - 12:26-29
Heb. 12:26-29 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.
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God will shake up and consume all things outside of Christ, so receive Christ and His kingdom; the only way to offer acceptable service to God is in Christ]
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What's your take away from Hebrews 12? Are believers punished when they sin? I really don't think so, it's just not consistent with the new covenant and not close to what this chapter is talking about in my opinion. Are believer's disciplined, trained, corrected and taught by their loving Heavenly Father? Yes, but again that's not even the point of Hebrews 12. If you want to talk Christian discipline, try
Titus 2:11-14 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing ["paidueo"] us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
You are God's own possession. Trust Him in the good and the bad times; He loves you and longs for you to experience His love and His life right now. Punishment was finalized on the cross..."it is finished".
I had a conversation with an awesome gentleman on our Freedom From Addictive Behaviors Advanced Webinar this evening; he kept saying he believed God's truth but just doesn't comprehend it or really get it in his life? I wonder if that is true for you? Perhaps the issue is your underlying assumptions on the idea of "victory". If you assume that "getting it" or "comprehending it" means that you will not often fail, and thus every time you fail you obviously never "got it", you have misunderstood the concept of God's grace and freedom. If we try to measure our faith, love or even comprehension of the truth by our wins, losses or other behavioral means, we have not yet grasped the grace of God. Now, I'm all for winning and seeing results in our behavior, that's awesome, but we often find the true measure of understanding God's grace and victory in the midst of our failure.