GROUP FELLOWSHIP

AUTUMN 2001November 20/22

STUDIES IN HEBREWSWHAT SORT OF PEOPLE OUGHT WE TO BE?

HEBREWS 12.14-29: A PEOPLE REMEMBERING HOLINESS AND REJOICING IN GRACE

INTRODUCTION:

‘Grace’ and ‘Holiness’ are the twin and complementary characteristics of the Christian Life. We’ve received grace in Christ and we are called to holiness through Christ. Grace and holiness go hand in hand. Both are essential.

• 12.14-17: A PEOPLE REMEMBERING HOLINESS

HOW HOLY WE SHOULD BE – the exhortation to remember the holiness to which we are called.

(Justification is righteousness imputed to us – we are reckoned righteous in God’s sight.

Holiness is righteousness imparted to us – we become holy before God)

• Just how important is holiness for the Christian, according to this passage?

(and read Matthew 5.8; Psalm 24.3-4, 73.1)

• In your judgement, is it held to be this important by Christians today?
• What particular things does the writer name here for us to avoid in our pursuit of holiness?
• What does he mean by the expression ‘bitter root grows up to ….trouble…defile’?

(Deuteronomy 29.18 almost certainly provides the clue to his thoughts)

• What was the essence of Esau’s sin?

(Read Genesis 25. 29 – 34) Why was it so serious? What would be the equivalent for us as Christians?

• How essential is sexual purity according to this passage? (and see 1 Cor 6.9-11,18)

Is this a word for us in our day?

• 12.18-29: A PEOPLE REJOICING IN GRACE

HOW TRULY BLEST WE ARE! - the exhortation to remember the grace of God

As Christians grace has come to us in Christ, and we live under the reign of the grace of Calvary not the regime of the law of Sinai.

• 12.15: ‘see to it that no-one misses the grace of God’. What do you think the writer means by this? (Does Galatians 5.4 help?)

a)12.18-24: THE GREAT CONTRAST we can see

The Bible here points out the huge contrast between life under the old covenant and life under the new Covenant of Christ. Christians through Jesus enjoy such wonderful blessings.

LIFE UNDER SINAI: 12.18-21

(Read Exodus 19.10-22)

• What were the chief characteristics of the spiritual experience of God’s people under the old covenant of Sinai? (as described in 12.18-21)
• How close were they to God?

(To see how different it is for us and why it is so different, read Hebrews 4.14-16, 10.19-22)

LIFE AT ‘MOUNT ZION’ : 12.22-24

By God’s grace in Christ we enjoy great present privileges and have such a great prospect ahead of us. Our spiritual life is no coloured and characterised by the fire and thunder of Sinai but by the life and joy, the liberty and grace of Mount Zion.

(Mount Zion was the mountain Jerusalem was/is built on. It is the name given to the new, heavenly Jerusalem’, our inheritance in Christ)

• What are the chief characteristics of the life we have come to in Christ, the life at ‘Mount Zion’? (as described in 12.12-24)

-How exciting do you find this? Which of these things thrill you most?

Do these things characterise our Church life and our worship? Should they? How can they enrich our life and worship?

b)12.25-29: THE GREAT CONCERN we should have

With such great blessings bestowed on us through God’s grace in Jesus, we must not throw it all away.

• What final arguments does the writer use to press home the urgency of staying faithful in our Christian lives?

TO PONDER: ‘Grace’ and ‘Holiness’ : are they both big things in my life?