October 21, 2012
Evening Service

Review:

1. This morning the writer gave us his first warning. 

·         Heb 2:1  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

·         Heb 2:3  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those who heard Him;

2. He told how Jesus took on flesh, and blood, and was tempted like we are.  Yet He was triumphant, and victorious even unto the cross.
3. This was all done so He could relate to our problems, and temptations, and be a faithful High Priest for us.
4. He closed the chapter with this thought in mind;  Heb 2:18  For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to rescue those who are being tempted.

 

Let’s begin chapter three.

 

Heb 3:1-19  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 

• Remember back in chapter 2, verse 11;  Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

• And the writer is referring to these Hebrew Christians as holy brethren. 

The word “holy” is applied to them to denote that they were set apart to God, or that they were sanctified. The Jews were often called a “holy people,” as being consecrated to God; and Christians are holy, not only as consecrated to God, but as sanctified.

Peter said this;   1Pe 2:9-10  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  (10)  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

• Jesus, our Apostle, and High Priest.

(2)  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.  (3)  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. 

• Jesus, when He was the Word of God, before his taking on flesh, is the One who made Moses, and He also is the One who called Moses from the burning bush.

(4)  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 

• You see, Moses was not divine, as was Jesus.  Jesus would never have struck the rock, He would have just spoken to it, like He was commanded.  Speak to the rock!

(5)  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 

• Moses was faithful to tell the people that “there will be a prophet raised up among you, Him shall you listen too.”   Deut. 18:15
• Moses indeed was a mighty man of God.  God told Moses that Pharaoh, and his people would look upon Moses, as God, and Aaron his brother, as his prophet.
• Moses was worshipped by many of these Hebrews, and the writer is explaining what they have accepted by obeying the heavenly calling which is, the Gospel message.
• Paul said this concerning being called;  2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is what the writer is referring to, being called by the gospel message, doesn’t matter who is preaching, it matters who is willing to accept it.

 

 

(6)  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 

• Paul said;  2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(7)  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,  (8)  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  (9)  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  (10)  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  (11)  So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 

• Warning number two; ALL CHRISTIANS NEED TO LISTEN, AND TAKE HEED.

(12)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

• These Hebrews were constantly griping, and complaining as Moses tried to lead them to the promised land.
• They first refused to believe God was able to make them victorious over the inhabitants of the land, and from there it just got worse.
• Don’t be rebellious, for the Bible says rebellion is as witchcraft.  God is not pleased with witchcraft.

(14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; 

• There’s that big little word, IF.
• God will never take His hand from yours, but you can take your hand from His, and be lost.

(15)  While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  (16)  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 

• Only two men who were of the age to go to war entered the promise land, and that was Joshua, and Caleb.  You got to remember that even Moses did not get to go into the promised land.  He was allowed to see it, but not enter it.  Joshua is the one who led the children into the promised land.

(18)  And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 

• They did not believe that God could give them victory over the inhabitants of the land.

(19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

So we can see the writer is encouraging these holy brethren, to continue in what they have started, and believed in, the gospel message of salvation, and deliverance. 

 

Our God is a God of deliverance.  A good example is that of Daniel, and the three Hebrew children, Meshach, Shadrack, and Abednego.

Daniel from the lions den, and the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace.

 

Christian, do not go back into a world of hate, envy, jealousy, pride, turmoil, and just downright evil, and lose your salvation, and relationship with God.

 

HOLD FAST YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH, LINED UP WITH THE WORD OF GOD