Stick To THe Track
Part of Hebrews - Pastor's Bible Study
March 1, 2018

STICK TO THE TRACK
HEBREWS 12:14-29

1. Stick To The Track (vv. 14-17)

  • In our marathon of faith,
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    can ruin us. IF we don’t resist it, we can get so attached to this world that it will set us so far back that we’ll lose the opportunity to get back into the race.

  • Worldliness isn’t simply indulging the lusts of the flesh by engaging in sinful activity. It is also an attitude that

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    the things of the world over the things of Christ, loving the things of this world more than the things of Christ.

    1) The positive commands.

    First the author implores his readers to pursue

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    with all people. (v. 14)
    Second the author encourages his readers to pursue
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    . (v. 14)

    2) The negative warnings.

    1] Don’t fall short of grace (v. 15)
    - Failing of grace means that we do not avail ourselves of God’s grace.
    - How do we fail of the grace of God?
    - Choosing to live for the

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    things of the world instead of the things of God.

    2] Don’t allow

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    to take root (v. 15)

    3] Don’t be an

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    ! (v. 16)

    • Esau failed to avail himself of God’s grace (his birthright) by opting for the lesser things of the world.
    • He literally chose to trade his birthright for a bowl of soup.

    • He chose the pleasure of food over the pleasure of God.

    • Esau is a warning to not live for the lesser things of life.

    • Don’t trade your priceless spiritual inheritance for something that has no real value at all.

    3) The consequence of choosing the worldly (v. 17)

    • Esau chose the worldly over the spiritual. Once he realized his mistake and came to his senses, it was too late. When he tried to reverse it, he could not.

    • Esau’s worldliness

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      him something of much greater value.

    • If we fail to press on in peace and holiness and become entangled by worldliness, we can eventually end up like Esau. We lose out on the greater blessings of God because we simply trade them away for the lesser things of this world.

2. Press On To Mt. Zion (vv. 18-24)

  • In verses 18-24 the author leads us down a path that passes by two mountains – Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

  • Though these are literal geographical locations, the author uses them to illustrate competing systems – one temporary, earthly, and obsolete (Sinai); the other eternal, heavenly, and absolute (Zion).

  • Sinai represents a

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    approach to the spiritual life – laws, regulations, the sensory approach to worship.

  • Zion represents the

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    approach to the spiritual life – grace, faith, hope, and love.

  • With this illustration, the author simply restated what he has taught over and over. The new covenant is superior to the old.

  • How foolish to have begun the upward trek toward Zion to turn around and head for Sinai.

3. Last Warning: Don’t Defy The Word (vv. 25-29)

  • Do not
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    Him who speaking. (v. 25)

  • Arguing from the lesser to the greater, he reminds his readers about how Israel suffered when they despised Moses. How much more will we suffer if we defy Jesus who has spoken to us through His Spirit and Apostles through His Word?

  • Don’t drift, doubt, grow dull, despise, or defy…there is a coming judgment.

  • If our faith is going to endure, it must rest in the
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    realities of God instead of the
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    things of the world.

Application: Overcoming a worldly mentality

1) Adjust the

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with which you run the race.

2) Calculate the

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of quitting.

3) Get a firm

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on the gift of grace.