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Graciously Straightening Crooked Paths
Hebrews 12:12-17
We’ve all heard of famous sportsmen in the Olympics and other competitions. They win medals and are known for their prowess, perseverance, and purpose. Nadia Comaneci was a five-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. At 14, she was the first ever to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0. On the other side of the globe, there was Mary Lou Retton. She was the first American woman to be an Olympic all-round champion - a title given to the gymnast with the highest combined score across all events. What accounted for their success? They shared the same coaches - Béla and Márta Károlyi. What made these women so successful besides their own grit was the training they received in their form and routine. When they wanted to give up, struggled with injury, or faltered, these coaches helped them press on. In the Christian race, we need such people too. People who’d help us. But we need to be such people to others, never letting them quit. How? We must be convinced of our role to help them do three things in their lives. We must: Firstly, help them to press on. Secondly, help them to accept God’s grace. Thirdly, know the deadliness of rejecting God’s grace.
Firstly, we must help each other press on. As believers, this is our business in the household of faith. We’re saved to be brothers and sisters of one another. And knowing the dangers - the cancerous nature of sin and the world, we’re to help others to set aside their besetting sins. We must be personal trainers. Christ is not the only help we have in our faith; he’s called us to help each other towards that maturity. Verses 12-13 say, “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Not only are we to run the race, we’re to help others run their race. And there are 3 exhortations.
We’re to teach one another. The writer told them to lift or strengthen the hands and knees. In a race, we all get tired. Our arms will dangle down, our knees will buckle. These Hebrew Christians were exhausted. They were faint in heart. They wanted to quit. And because of that, they were in danger of apostasy. Yes, they hadn’t tasted blood yet and they could still press on, but they were tired. They just needed help. So they were to strengthen each other. How? The phrase in verse 12 quotes Job 4:3-4 - “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” So the way we strengthen is through instruction. The word is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. But fools despise instruction; but give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser. So we strengthen by teaching and admonishing one another.
We also rescue each other from sin. Verse 13, says to make straight paths for the feet. When we walk or run, we must watch our step. Step on uneven ground, and you could roll and sprain your ankle. You drop out of the race. Crooked paths are a description of sin in the Bible. Psalm 125:5 - “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.” Proverbs 4:27 - “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Therefore, to make straight paths means to help each other walk righteously, to consider one another to provoke unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). We’re to admonish one another (Romans 15:14). If someone is overtaken in sin, those who are spiritual, are to restore him (Galatians 6:1). James 5:19-20 - “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” As verse 13 says, to help restore those struggling that they may be healed, lest they be turned out of the way and drop out of the race. As God disciplines because he loves, we’re love each other enough to correct and restore. Leviticus 19:17 - “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.” Folks, how do we help each other press on? We must teach and restore. Never let a brother continue in sin.
But we must also pursue peace and holiness. Verse 14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Now, what does this mean? We must pursue peace and holiness in the church. When it comes to brethren who live in sin and don’t persevere in the faith, we have two choices. We can say, fine, I let you go. Or, no, it’s not fine, I can’t let you go. But we’re told why we mustn’t let go. If God is the God of peace, and Christ purchased peace between God and man by his death, and the gospel is called the gospel of peace, then we must preserve peace in the church. Sin breaks peace in the church. When a person goes astray, it hurts the body of Christ. We’ve all experienced this. People abandon the faith by profession or by holiness. They leave church. That’s why the author exhorted them meet and stir themselves to holiness. The word “follow” is a hunting word. A hunter pursues his prey; he doesn’t only wait for it. Often, we wait until it’s too late - when people have given over to their sin - and we wonder why it happened. We must work hard make sure all are walking aright. Why?
Because when a person leaves, divorces, and abandons Christ, and abandons holiness and the church, verse 14 says that person shall not see God. This also hurts the church. One of our brothers wants out of the family - he wants to be illegitimate. That hurts. So the motivation for admonition and rescuing is for the peace of the church and the eternal soul of the person. We allow sin in the camp when we allow a person to stay in sin. We hate the person whom we leave in sin by not saying anything. We hate the person whom we allow to divorce Christ. We must help others to press on in Christ.
Secondly, help them to accept God’s grace. Verse 15 tells us to look diligently lest any man fails of the grace of God. God’s grace encompasses all parts of our Christian walk. We need it. We’re saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8,9), to overcome hardship, grace is sufficient to help (2 Corinthians 12:9), we are told to pray for grace at the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), we need grace to serve God (Ephesians 4:7), and we need God’s grace which teaches us to turn away from sin (Titus 2:11,12). And God freely offers grace so we can be saved and overcome trials. Without grace, we can do nothing. And so, the author tells us not to fail or lack God’s grace. But how can a person lack God’s grace? By rejecting it. We’ve all experienced God’s grace in times of temptation - the still voice of the Spirit that tells us not to sin, or give in, or quit, or harden our hearts. But when we silence that voice, we are treating God's grace with contempt.
That’s why there are warnings all over Scripture not to resist God’s grace. There’s great danger in a graceless life. Consider 2 Corinthians 6:1 - “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Remember Cain? He was warned by God not to let sin cross the threshold of his heart, to let it have control of his heart. That warning was gracious. But he rejected that grace and killed his brother. Judas was shown grace when Christ offered him the bread dipped in gravy, something given to the honored guest. But he betrayed Christ anyway. This entire book is a gracious plea for the Hebrew Christians to remain in Christ. Remember Hebrews 4:1 - “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Hebrews 4:11 - “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 6:11 - “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” The alternative to pressing on is a “certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries,” Hebrews 10.
Therefore, what is our duty as a church? There’s need for the diligence of gracious brethren. Our duty is to make sure that no one rejects that grace. We’re to look diligently, to watch over others so they don’t resist God’s grace. Make sure no one becomes an apostate. That no one turns from Jesus. That no one goes from Christ to the world, from life to death. In pressing on, we must not resist God’s grace. Tempted to sin? There’s sufficient grace to resist it. Want to give up Christ? There’s grace to press on. Don’t fear God? Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. But if one rejects God’s instruction, admonition, God’s grace; there’s no hope for that person. That is why each must make sure the community is biblically healthy, that there is peace with God and holiness. Do not resist God’s grace. But that kind of diligence takes much grace. A healthy church requires people to be walking healthily. It requires people who are willing to have others come alongside them. But sometimes there’s an unwillingness; there’s a rejection of that grace. I don’t want people who know me too well to counsel me. I thought that’s the whole point! I want affirmation instead of change. Grace doesn’t do that. Grace doesn’t leave you in the same position. For there to be diligence, it also requires a healthy eldership with gracious men who are willing to come alongside others. It requires as Romans 15:14 says, spiritual people filled with knowledge and goodness. But yes, sometimes we’re full of grit but no grace, or grace but no grit. But if we really knew the consequences of rejecting God’s grace, we’d be a lot more diligent in making sure no one rejects the grace of God.
Thirdly, we must know the deadly consequences of rejecting God’s grace. If we’re not diligent in helping believers walk in grace and holiness, what happens? Verse 15 - “lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” A root of bitterness will reveal itself and will defile many. What’s this root of bitterness? The author is quoting from Deuteronomy 29:18. It says, “Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.” A bitter root refers to a false brother - someone who lives among God’s people, pretends to be a believer, but loves idols. Here’s the context. Moses was gathering the people to enter into covenant with God. Verse 10 - “Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel...v 12 - That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God.” But he warned those who entered into covenant with God, that there’d be those among them who didn’t truly believe. They’re bitter roots - not part of the true vine - they may be visibly part of the church, but they love idols not God. They may even think they’re part of God’s people; and may even take comfort in the covenant. Verse 19 - “And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse (covenant), that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination or stubbornness of mine heart.” I’m saved, I can do what I want. Once saved always saved! God will always forgive me. Such a one will continue in his sins and he won’t keep the covenant. So if we don’t do this work of teaching, admonishing, convincing; a person who isn’t a true believer will think that he is.
And according to verse 15, he will spring up eventually to trouble the church, and many will be defiled. This is the danger of the false believer. Apostates aren’t innocent. They’ll try to influence the church. They’ll cause others to think it’s okay to sin grievously and remain in the covenant, or that it’s nothing to leave and deny Christ. Why do you think the author had to write the book of Hebrews? It was to warn the people against this very thing - because some had already left. Perhaps they were whispering - it’s better to leave Christ. You don’t have all these rules. It’s so much easier to give in to your sins. What are sins anyway? No restriction. No Christ. No God. Hey, look at that person. Calls himself a Christian, but can live however he wants to. Maybe I’ll do that. No peace in the church, no holiness in the church. Church history is filled with examples of this.
Korah influenced many to oppose Moses. The 10 spies convinced the entire nation. They can cause trouble in church by destroying the peace and holiness. They will defile or stain many. They bear no good fruit. And this necessitates discipline. Korah was removed. The 10 spies put to death. The unrepentant adulterer in Corinth was cast out. Otherwise a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One such defiled person was Esau. Bitter root people have always been in the church. They soon manifest themselves as those who want nothing to do with God, but they want to please themselves. Esau rejected his firstborn rights to spiritual blessings for a bowl of red bean soup. He looked at his spiritual blessings and that soup, and happily made the switch. Not only was he firstborn, he was also circumcised - he bore the sign of the covenant. Yet this covenant child became apostate. By his lack of perseverance, he showed that he was not truly God’s child. How do we know?
As verse 17 says, he never truly repented. We see it in his ongoing denial. A person who rejects Christ and never comes back will be like that rich man, begging Father Abraham for a finger worth of water. He seemed to have regret, but didn’t have it when he was alive. All his weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell will bring no relief. Why? Such people in life love the world more than God. They love the 30 pieces of silver more than Christ. The choice may seem hard for them, but a choice is plainly made in the end. Judas regretted in the end - but didn’t come to the upper room in repentance. He rather die than repent. The rich young ruler was unhappy in life, but he chose his wealth over Jesus and eternal life. Was there grace? Absolutely. Jesus gave Judas the sop - it was a plea to accept him. Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him, giving him the words of life - sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Yet Esau repented not. Judas repented not. We can sin grievously, but when there is repentance, the Lord always accepts us back. Peter denied Christ 3 times; these are Jesus’ words to him and us, given in grace - lovest thou me more than these? Yes Lord, you know that I do. Will there be those in our midst that will, like the Lord Jesus ask this question to our loved ones in the church who are sinning? Do you love Christ more than the world? More than life? More than all? Because Christ loves you more than his life and his glory, that he emptied himself of his glory to die for you.
Beloved, how can we apply this? The instructions are - firstly, help each other press on in grace. Are you teaching, rescuing, and pursuing? It’s a gracious thing? The Bible says it. And you know it. And here is where you can think of someone. You know someone living with sin, struggling with the faith, weak - what are you doing? Are you teaching, comforting, even admonishing with all right timing? It takes communication. It requires you to speak. There’s no other way to lift up hands and knees. If you don’t talk - you’re showing no grace. You’re not gracious, but gratuitous in allowing sin to continue. You hate your brother. These are strong words. But not my words. We read them earlier in Leviticus.
So go to that person to strengthen him. Don’t resist God’s grace to do it. If the Lord has given you that name, pray and approach. Call on him to repent. Call on her to return. Why? Such a bitter root defiles. And dearly beloved - we need to receive the grace of God in a similar fashion. Does the Lord not call upon you to do so? Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? May our words, accepting his grace be - Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
1. Help Each Other Press on in God’s Grace
A. By teaching each other the Word
B. By rescuing each other from sin
C. By pursuing each other’s peace and holiness
2. Help Each Other to Accept God’s Grace
A. The need for grace in our lives
B. The danger of a graceless life
C. The diligence of gracious brethren
3. Know the Deadliness of Rejecting God’s Grace
A. The description of the false believer
B. The danger of the false believer
C. The denial of the false believer
Conversation for Change:
1. If I see a believer sinning, what is my duty to him? Why is it that I fail to admonish him?
2. What will happen to a church when no discipline is carried out on sinning believers or false believers in a church?
3. What are the hindrances to receiving God’s grace readily?
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2025, Rev. Mark Chen
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