BIBLE STUDY: Hebrews 12:1-29

For instance, if we are speeding up and down the highways, eventually we'll get a speeding ticket -- as a punishment. Speeding tickets are punishments. They're a way of making sure speeders stop speeding.

Discipline is a little trickier to define. Making a child sit down and do homework is discipline. Discipline breeds self-discipline and eventually the child develops good study skills that come up out of parental discipline.

Discipline sets up good behavioral habits. We read in verses 11-13: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

The fifth warning (all five warnings are cited at the end of today's Bible Study) to the Hebrews can be found in this chapter in verses 14-29: Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile man.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded; if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living god. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'

The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

This particular passage draws a clear distinction again between the old covenant and the new covenant that Jesus brings with him.

The old covenant is the Mosaic law -- all who laid eyes on God would die -- except Moses. And even touching the holy mountain was cause for death, even for the animal. Touching this holy mountain meant being stoned to death.

But then Jesus came to the earth, he brought with him a new covenant from God. Now, the holy mountain was replaced by a holy temple. And all were welcome to come in and hear the message of God. All were welcome, and still are, to come in to the assembly where God is and hear his messages being spoken. This is the new covenant.

But the Hebrews are warned to take care. Back in Moses' day, the voice of God shook the earth.

What will happen if immorality and wickedness continue? God says in the last part of verse 26: "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."

Oh for sure, there are thousands of earthquakes every day here on the earth. Little wigglies that help relieve stresses between tectonic plates of the earth's mantle layer. But every once in a while, there's a really big earthquake in a 9 or greater magnitude. That sends people reaching for their Bibles.

Wouldn't it be better if we all searched our Bibles regularly to see how God wants us to live our lives now -- before he "shakes the earth once more."

Here are the verses for the five warnings that are included in this Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 2:1-4 Hebrews 3:7-4:13 Hebrews 5:1-6:12 Hebrews 10:19-39 Hebrews 12:14-29

There are numerous cross references to the verses of Hebrews shown here, which is why I find it to be a valuable resource:

http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/B58C012.htm

Jane: Do you have a denominational affiliation? I’m a NON-denominational christian. I was just curious. Also are you related to Dean Reinheimer? I used to correspond with him years ago. He was studying for ministry in Wisconsin, as I recall. Are you familiar with dispensational theology? I’ve been an adherent to its doctrine for quite a long time. Thanks, God bless! Chris ><>

GOlightly: Are you familiar with www.olivetree.com ? It’s a great Bible study resource (free). I use it for textual criticism and Greek NT studies, as well as reading the Word of God. Chris ><>

Dean is my husband’s son from his first marriage and yes, he was attending Berea Bible Institute in West Bend, Wisconsin. He has since married and is living in Indiana.

My husband and I are members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Thanks for asking.

Jane

Sorry, I overlooked your question about dispensationalism — it’s not something I’ve studied with any depth.

Now that Quint and I are retired, we have a lot of topics on our list of things to study. This is one of them.

Jane

Jane: It’s a small world, indeed! I’m wondering if Dean graduated from Berea. Is he pastoring a church now? I lost touch with him some time ago; I’ve since relocated to the Denver, Colorado area. If you happen to get in touch with him, tell him Chris (formerly JudgeCMP on aol, now judgecmp2003@yahoo.com) says, ‘howdy’. It’d be good to hear from him. It sounds like Dean’s doing well. Additionally I’m surprised that he hasn’t familiarized you, in depth, with the ‘rightly-divided gospel’ and dispensational theology. It’s the true grace gospel for the Body of Christ today, as opposed to the Calvinistic doctrine that’s so prevalent in most of today’s churches. I pray that you’ll check into it. There are many excellent books on dispensationalism; a few that come to mind are “Things That Differ”, C. R. Stam ; Baker’s Dispensational Theology; “The Big Difference Between the Two Gospels, R. T. Hill. There are many others. At any rate thanks for responding, and God bless..Please give Dean and his Wife all my best wishes. Chris ><>

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