Dr. M.J. du Plessis Reformed Church, Bellville: Sunday 17 August 2003, Morning Service

Reformed Church, Bellville: Sunday 17 August 2003, Morning Service

Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Beloved, grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the mighty working of God the Holy Spirit. Amen

Psalm of praise: 118: 1+9
Confession of faith
Ten Commandments
Psalm: 66:4
Prayer
Psalm: 2:5

Scripture reading: Hebrews 12

Text: Hebrews 12:8+14

v8: "If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline) then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
v14: "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;without holiness no one will see the Lord."

Every father who understands his duty towards his children and their education knows that there are times when it becomes necessary to discipline them.

The punishment the children receive from their father is intended for their education - so that they will emerge as better people.

The Lord's discipline is likewise.

In this sermon we consider the following:

1.    The admonition.
2.    Who are punished.
3.    What do we become.

1.    The Admonition

The first part of this chapter told us that there are many witnesses around us.

They are no longer on earth for they have all died.
They are so many that they resemble a cloud.
On this earth these witnesses all experienced suffering and trials and discipline.The encouragement in this part is that the church on earth must lift up their eyes and look to Jesus Christ.
He reconciled us with God.
By this reconciliation He also provided us with strength to resist sin in our life's struggle.
Verse 3 adds to this that we must not grow weary and lose heart.
This probably was the trouble with the Hebrew congregation - they grew weak in their worship hence the long admonition that they must lift their legs and be more zealous in their worship.

The admonition grows in gravity.

Verse 2 said that we must keep our eyes on Jesus.
In verse 4 the Hebrews are told that they have not yet sinned with sufficient force.
Then the Lord admonishes them with a text from the Old Testament. The Lord quotes Proverbs 3:11+12 where the following is written:

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves as a father the son he delights in."

In the New Testament the last part is phrased differently: There it says:

"... and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Striking in the above quotation is that what in the Old Testament was given as a rule for every good father is shown in the New Testament to be God's procedure.
In their educating earthly fathers are doing the work of God.

Verse 5 does not admonish only:

it also carries a comfort;
the base of this admonition is love and fidelity;
with this the Lord (for this is His word) is depicted as a Father who is speaking to his children in a kind and soft voice.

It is as if the Lord says to them: Why does it amaze you that you are disciplined when you grow lax in your faith?

From the Old Testament you know that it will happen.
From the Old Testament it is clear that people who grow lax in their faith are disciplined by the Lord so that they may be saved because the purpose of the punishment is to make them repent.
The purpose of God's punishment is the salvation of the sinner.

2. Who are punished?

The Bible was written as the truth for all times. Accordingly the Bible starts in verse 6 to show God's Fatherly love. God does four things.

He disciplines.
He loves.
He punishes.
He accepts.
God does this to all those who belong to Him.
He does this because they belong to Him.
God's discipline and punishment is for those who are His and who do wrong (as did the Hebrews when they grew lax) so that they may improve.

This text meant much more to the people of the New Testament than to us because many parents then left the education of their children to slaves who ill-treated them.

God is opposed to such fathers.
He also disciplines - but does it Himself - He does not leave it to a slave.
He does not discipline in anger but in love.
He does not reject but He accepts.

The Lord disciplines the Christian church (the Hebrews) in that they may know clearly that it is only through Christ that they can exercise their vocation.

How should those who are disciplined deal with the Lord's discipline? The answer to this question is of personal importance to each of us because it shows where we stand.

Accordingly in the Greek text verse 5 contains a double admonition:
"do not make light of the Lord's discipline" and "do not dislodge yourself out of the Lord's punishment"
The first is "do not".
The second is "dislodge". Dislodgement means apostasy - this epistle thus warns against apostasy.

The believer must be steadfast when disciplined by the Lord. People react differently to the Lord's punishment.

Some are indifferent.
God and His punishment does not concern them.
A believer may not be unconcerned.
Others are fatalistic.
There may not be any fatalism. Many people have the attitude to punishment that it is their lot, so be it.
Such people lack introspection and growth in their faith.
It is true that the Lord wills punishment on us but we must then reflect on it and enquire why it happens.
And there must be repentance.
Then there are those who resist the Lord vigorously who resist God with human power and try to change His dispensation.
Such people also lack introspection and do not change.

One must read this chapter in Hebrews in this context.

The Lord reveals the richness of His grace.
He does not permit people to drop off into sin and misery.
He disciplines His sons so that they turn back to Him.

The Lord's discipline is a compassionate approach.

In His discipline He treats us, who are sinners, as sons because discipline cannot be lacking in the relationship between father and son.

The Greek word which we translate with "discipline" means to lead a child to becoming an upright person.

It is what happens when a child moves into a wrong direction and starts doing wrong.
And his father guides him back onto the right way.
Accordingly it is written in verse 8 that all who are not disciplined are illegitimate children.

The true sons will always experience the discipline of their Heavenly Father.

Further the purpose of this verse is to move you to introspection.

You must examine your life.
Is the Lord disciplining you because you are His child?
When we are disciplined do we see in this the grace and the seeking love of God?
And do we repent of our sins?

God is the Father of the Spirits.
He is the God of the heavenly hosts of angels.

It is within His power to give life: obedience to the discipline of our Heavenly Father gives us life.
This the earthly father cannot do.
He can with discipline move his child to obedience but life everlasting he cannot give his child.

The Lord puts this clearly (v9-10)

"but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness".

3. What do we become?

The Hebrews are instructed to strengthen their feeble arms and weak knees.

They must stand up and again become strong in their faith and service to the Lord.
The Lord demands of them to grow in holiness.
He admonishes us - be holy.
The Lord demands of us humble subjection.

Can we do that?

The answer is yes.
The Lord sent His own Son so that He should bear the true punishment for our sins.
He did.
The Lord's discipline on the Lord Jesus Christ was true punishment.
We cannot bear God's punishment of our sin because that would destroy us.

Accordingly the Lord's discipline of us is of a different kind:

It is not to satisfy His wrath.
It is to move us to repent.
To make us children again.

When we look at the merit of Christ on the Cross we see that He enables us to bear the Father's discipline and to accept it.

Through His reconciliation on the cross the Holy Spirit gives us the insight to understand the Lord's disciplining of us so that we truly come to repentance.

Let us then together with the Hebrews listen as God admonishes us.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men.
Be holy because without it no one will see the Lord!

If we are disobedient in this the Lord will discipline us until we obey.

When this happens - be grateful that the Lord in His love visits you with His discipline because it is for your salvation.

Where does this all lead to?

The answer is in verse 28 - God gives us a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Therefore we must worship and fear God with reverence.

Amen

Closing prayer

Closing Psalm: 25:6

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen

Dr MJ du Plessis
Reformed Church Bellville
17 August 2003
Quotation from NIV