A Call to Endurance
(2 Timothy 2:1–13)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Ti 4:71Co 9:24-27Php 2:16Luk 21:34Heb 10:35-39Php 3:10-14Gal 5:71Pe 2:1 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author 1and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Mic 7:71Pe 3:181Pe 2:23-24Heb 1:3Php 1:6Eph 5:2Heb 9:28Php 2:8-11 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Gal 6:92Co 4:16Rev 2:31Co 15:58Heb 12:2Heb 3:1Jhn 15:18-242Co 4:1
God Disciplines His Sons
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 1Co 10:13Heb 10:32-34Rev 2:132Ti 4:6-7Heb 12:2Mat 24:9Rev 12:11Rev 18:24 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: Pro 3:11-12Job 5:17-18Rev 3:191Co 11:32Psa 94:12Jas 1:122Co 4:8-9Psa 118:18
“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, Rev 3:19Pro 3:12Psa 119:75Pro 13:24Psa 94:122Sa 7:14Jer 10:24Deu 8:5
and He chastises every son He receives.” 2
Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? Deu 8:5Pro 19:18Pro 13:24Pro 29:15Pro 29:17Pro 23:13-142Sa 7:14Job 34:31-32 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Heb 12:61Pe 5:9-10Psa 73:1Psa 73:14-15 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? Num 16:22Num 27:16Isa 42:5Jhn 3:6Job 12:10Zec 12:1Exo 20:12Isa 38:16
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 2Pe 1:4Lev 11:44-45Tit 2:14Eph 5:26-27Ezk 36:25-27Lev 19:2Col 1:22Eph 4:24 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace 3to those who have been trained by it. Rom 5:3-52Co 4:17Heb 12:5-61Pe 1:6Heb 12:10Psa 118:18Isa 32:17Jas 3:17-18
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. 4 Isa 35:3Heb 12:31Th 5:14Job 4:3-4Ezk 21:7Ezk 7:17Heb 12:5Dan 5:6 Make straight paths for your feet, 5 so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Pro 4:26-27Gal 6:1Isa 35:3Isa 35:6Isa 40:3-4Jas 5:16Jud 1:22-23Jer 31:8-9
A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13–21)
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 2Co 7:11Pe 1:15-161Th 4:7Mat 5:8-91Pe 3:11Rom 12:18Pro 16:7Rom 14:19 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness 6springs up to cause trouble and defile many. Heb 3:12Deu 29:18Gal 5:42Co 6:12Jn 1:81Co 15:332Pe 3:141Co 5:6 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. Gen 25:31-341Co 6:15-20Heb 13:4Rev 22:15Mrk 7:211Th 4:3-7Act 15:291Co 10:8 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears. Pro 1:24-31Mat 25:11-12Mat 7:23Heb 10:26-29Heb 6:8Gen 27:30-41Heb 6:4-6Jer 6:30
An Unshakable Kingdom
(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that 7 is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; Deu 4:11Exo 24:17Deu 5:22-26Exo 20:182Co 3:9Exo 19:12-22Rom 6:142Ti 1:7 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. Deu 18:161Co 15:52Deu 4:12Exo 20:1-19Deu 4:33Deu 5:3-22Exo 20:221Th 4:16 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 8 Exo 19:12-13Deu 33:2Exo 19:16Gal 2:19Gal 3:10Rom 3:19-20 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 9 Exo 19:16Deu 9:19Isa 6:3-5Exo 19:19Psa 119:120Rev 1:17Dan 10:17Dan 10:8
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels Gal 4:26Php 3:20Psa 48:2Rev 14:1Isa 51:11Heb 11:10Heb 13:14Jol 2:32 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, Jas 1:18Heb 11:40Luk 10:20Exo 4:22Gen 18:25Rev 14:4Rev 20:15Psa 94:2 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Heb 9:15Heb 11:28Heb 8:6Heb 11:4Gen 4:10Mat 26:281Ti 2:5Mat 23:35
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? Heb 8:5Deu 30:17Heb 2:1-3Heb 11:7Pro 13:18Zec 7:11Exo 20:221Ki 12:16 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” 10 Hag 2:6-7Isa 13:13Exo 19:18Isa 2:19Jol 3:16Hab 3:10Heb 12:27Psa 114:6-7 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. 1Co 7:31Mat 24:35Rev 21:12Pe 3:10-11Rev 11:15Ezk 21:27Psa 102:26-27
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Rom 12:1-2Psa 2:11Heb 13:15Dan 2:44Heb 4:16Heb 10:22-23Rev 1:61Pe 2:5 “For our God is a consuming fire.” 11 Deu 4:24Deu 9:32Th 1:8Heb 10:27Isa 66:15Exo 24:17Dan 7:9Psa 97:3