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sometimes in error, yet we held them in respect. God is the Father of our spirits, His
discipline is never at fault, and it tends to life. Shall we not then much rather render
submission to Him?
The object that the Lord has in view all this time is revealed in Heb. 12: 10: "That we
may be made partakers of His holiness." Holiness is the atmosphere of Hebrews, as
righteousness is of Romans. The sanctification of the believer lies entirely outside his
own deeds or endeavours. He is sanctified by the blood of Him who suffered `without
the gate' (Heb. 13: 12). If he is called upon to go unto Him without the camp, bearing
His reproach (Heb. 13: 13), it is but manifesting in act and character what has been
already accomplished. The going without the camp will never sanctify, but it can
manifest sanctification.
"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all" (Heb. 10: 10).
"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10: 14).
This `perfecting for ever' is in no wise altered or minimized because the epistle
proceeds to urge each to `go on unto perfection', or because it associates perfecting with
suffering and obedience. When, therefore, we read that this discipline has in view the
partaking of His holiness, we do not understand that any amount of scourging can
sanctify, but that the believer, being already perfectly sanctified in Christ, is now trained
and encouraged to walk in harmony with such a blessed position.
While the Apostle urged the believer to treat with all due reverence the chastening of
the Lord, he assumed no stoic indifference. There is something intensely human in the
admission: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which
are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12: 11).
Three items in this verse demand attention. First, the words `Nevertheless afterward'.
While mother-love is immediate and protective, father-love is concerned with the future.
The one sees the babe that is now. The other visualizes the man that is to be. The
underlying thought is very close to that of II Cor. 4: 16-18, which hinges upon the
words, `while we look not at the things which are seen'.
Then comes the Greek expression translated `The peaceable fruits of righteousness'.
We understand this to mean in English, `the peaceable fruits, namely righteousness'.
Holiness in Christ is manifested, and imputed righteousness has produced its peaceable
fruit. The chastening and the discipline has had the effect of pruning; it has produced
fruitfulness. Here is a parallel with Phil. 1: 11 which speaks of bringing forth the fruits
of righteousness.
All, however, turns upon the third expression: "To them which are exercised
thereby", just as prayer in Philippians urges the need for discernment and trying the
things that differ. Watch the effect of discipline upon two of the Lord's children. One
becomes mellow, the other hard and sour. The one is going on unto perfection, the other