Hebrews 12:4-11

Discipline That Yields Fruit

Christian Adjemian

  I. Christ provides all you need to overcome sin [Heb 7:25,27].
 

     A.  He ministers as priest for Christians. [Heb 2:17]
    

     B.  He provided himself as the necessary sacrifice for sin.
         [Heb 9:27-28; Heb 9:11, 14]
    

     C.  He sanctifies fully those who come to him. [Heb 10:10, 14, 18]
    

     D.  The only thing lacking is your desire and will to
         overcome sin. [Psalm 51:17]
    

 II. God disciplines you so you will resist sin.
 

     A.  Discipline is teaching, training, practice. [Ephesians
         6:4;  2 Timothy 3:16; Heb 12:5, 7, 8, 11]
     
         Related words include “teacher” and “child.”
  

     B.  Our fathers did their best; God’s discipline is perfect.
         1. He disciplines us in love [Rev 3:19]
         2. He disciplines us to keep us from condemnation [1Cor 11:32]
         3. He even can use Satan to discipline us for good 
            [1Tim 1:20; Job 2:6; Mt 16:23]
         4. He disciplines us, but not to death [2Cor 6:9]
       

     C.  God’s discipline is purposeful and fruitful.
         1. He works all things for good for his children [Rom 8:28]
         2. He disciplines us because he loves us [Heb 12:6; Prom 3:11-12]
         3. He disciplines us that we may partake of his holiness
         [Lev 19:2; Ezek 36:27; Titus 2:14; Heb 12:10]
       

III. The suffering of discipline yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
 

     A.  Christ resisted sin to the point of bloodshed. [Heb 9:14; 2Cor 1:5; Rev 2:10]
    

     B.  To put sin to death always requires conflict and struggle [Heb 12:11; 5:14]
    

     C.  The peaceable fruit of righteousness is delightful and keeps forever
         [Rom 6:20-23; Jas 3:13-18; Phil 1:9-11; Psalm 1:3]
    

     D.  Consider God’s discipline in your life today.
    

     E.  Our heavenly Father provides all you need to resist sin.