September 24th

HEBREWS 3

The writer of Hebrews continues his argument for Christ’s superiority over Judaism by comparing Christ to Moses and Joshua.  Those who rebelled against God in the days of the wilderness wanderings were excluded from His rest in the Promised Land.  However, there exists an even better rest that that for the people of God—the one His Son spoke about.  Moses was a servant in God’s household but Christ is the divine Son Who is Lord over God’s household.  Joshua brought Israel into an earthly land of rest, but Christ will bring His people into an eternal heavenly rest.  Thus Christ is the fulfillment of the O.T. patterns—the goal toward which these signposts point. 

Chapter 3 presents us with REST FROM WORKING

Chapter 4 presents us with REST FROM WANDERING

And both present our Christ as our All-Sufficient Leader!

Piercing sirens, piercing screams, piercing stares, piercing words!!! In each case, your body reacts with quick determination.  Adrenaline sends a message to your heart.  “Action needed NOW!”  The piercing sensation may not be pleasant, but it alerts you to the need for instant response.  The same could be said of the Word of God.  It pierces the heart with Truth too important to ignore.  PARTS OF THE BIBLE SHOULD CAUSE US DIFFICULTY, BUT NONE SHOULD CAUSE US DOUBT.

Sometimes the Bible is not a source of comfort, sometimes it acts as an unwelcome intruder.  You may find it a bit unnerving to know there is something that can penetrate all your defenses and pierce your heart with convicting truth.  You cannot change the truth any more than you can change the law of gravity.  But you can allow it to change you.

The book of Hebrews is a book of BETTER…remember?  Consider Jesus…1-3…v.3 ‘as much greater honor and glory than Moses … the house builder has more honor than the house itself.  We are members of the LORD’s house now.  I am His temple! 

Next to Abraham, Moses was undoubtedly the man most greatly revered by the Jewish people.  To go back to the Law meant to go back to Moses, and the recipients of this letter to the Hebrews were sorely tempted to do just that.  It was important that the writer convince his readers that Jesus is greater than Moses, for the entire system of Jewish religion came through Moses.  In this section, we learn that Christ is superior to Moses in several respects:

Moses was a mere man…called to be a prophet and leader while Christ is the Son of God sent by the Father into the world.  Moses was called and commissioned by God, but Christ was sent as God’s last Word to sinful man.  Jesus is our High Priest.  Moses was a prophet who on occasion served as a priest but he was never a high priest.  Jesus now represented God to men as a high priest He now represents men to God in heaven.  Both Moses and Jesus were faithful in the work God gave them to do.  Moses was not sinless as Christ is. 

Moses was a servant in the house, while Jesus is a Son over the house.  Moses was a member of the household, but Jesus BUILT the house! Moses spoke of things to come, Jesus brought the fulfillment of these things. V.6  There is NOT an indication that we must do certain things to stay saved, but rather that those who hold fast their confidence and hope are proving that they are truly born again.  In other words, those who have trusted Christ PROVE this confession by their steadfastness, confidence, and joyful hope.  We are to live in the future sense.  It is our heavenly calling that motivates us to keep on living for the Savior even when the going is tough. 

v.7…We have addressed DRIFTING…and now we see the progression into DOUBTING AND DISBELIEVING THE Word because of harness of heart. 

DO NOT do what the children of Israel did.  They were freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt…crossed the Red Sea, but continued to wander in the wilderness.  This is a picture of the person LOST in the world…in bondage to sin…crossing the RED Sea of the LORD’s blood and provision…freed to walk in newness of life.  Out of Egypt but not in Canaan!!! A picture of the first rest…Sabbath Rest!  Rest in Christ through salvation 4:3 Matt. 11:28.  The Canaan rest is a picture of our present rest as we claim our inheritance in Christ. (Chapter 4) And one day there will be a third rest:  our future rest…when saints enter heaven, it will be like sharing God’s great Sabbath rest with all labors and battles ended. 

The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart.  Moses, Caleb and Joshua did not have heart problems…all others erred.  Then a person has a erring heart and a disbelieving heart, the result will also be a hard heart!  This is a heart that is insensitive to the Word and work of God. 

Every believer is tempted to give up his confession of Christ and go back into the world system’s life of compromise and bondage…especially when persecution and suffering are experienced.  As true believers we must be willing to suffer for Christ and hold firmly to our convictions and our confession.  CONVICTION – willing to lay down your life! 

V. 12 THEREFORE, take care lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart. 

EXAMINE YOURSELF:  Are there areas where I am hardening my heart?  UNDO it today!  V. 8 and 15. Do you find yourself in a personal dilemma as a Christian...so wanting to "fit in", to be liked by EVERYONE that you do not speak of those Godly principles and quote the Word? (Hebrews 3) "Brethern, take care that one of you in unbelief refuse to cleave to, trust in and rely upon the LORD [EXAMINE YOURSELF] But instead warn and encourage one another every day as long as it is called Today that none of you may be hardened into settled rebellion by the deceitfulness of sin......the glamor of sin will pull you away!" Sin always promises what it cannot deliver!!!!!
Yes...we must be ready to stand up and speak out for holiness:
[Romans 1] "Though they are fully aware of God's righteous decree that those wHo do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them." Are you expressing approval by remaining silent regarding sin and NOT examining your own lifE?

WHO could not enter?  Those who hardened their hearts, were provoked and irritated, embittered, heard and were yet rebellious and provoked, (those who had come out of Egypt), those who sinned, those whom He swore that they should not enter His rest, those who disobeyed, would not listen to His Word, refused to be compliant or be persuaded. WHY:  unwilling to adhere to tRust and rely on God…UNBELIEF SHUT THEM OUT!!!!