Explore the Bible Lesson Preview September 28, 2014 Watch Out! Background: Hebrews 3:1-19 Lesson: Hebrews 3:7-15 Motivation: The emphasis is upon perseverance keeping on keeping on. If Satan s most used weapon is discouragement, then the Christian s biggest challenge is to overcome. Examination: I. Faithfulness of Jesus and Moses (1-6) HCSB, p. 2117: 3:1-6 The author appealed to his commonality with the readers, addressing them as holy brothers and companions who had received the same calling from God as he. He asked them to turn their minds and hearts toward the Savior and consider Jesus. God had identified Moses as the one who was uniquely faithful in all God s household (see Nm 12:7). His faithfulness was for the sake of showing the superiority of the faithfulness of Christ, since Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. Jesus was faithful over the household of which Moses was a part. Although Moses was faithful in relaying God s law, his appointed role was to point toward the coming Son of God. Jesus, who was faithful in His role of bringing the gospel to those under the condemnation of the law, is therefore worthy of more glory. A. Jesus Has Proved Himself Faithful Who was faithful to Him who appointed Him ( 2) 1 / 8
1. As an Apostle (1) An apostle was simply the bearer of a message. The content of that message is revealed by the description of the recipients. a. holy brothers Jesus message sets us apart from worldly practices and unites us into one body. (1Cor. 12:12) b. companions in a heavenly calling Jesus message calls us to a higher mission. Our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil. 3:20; 1 Cor. 1:26). 2. As a High Priest (1) Priest (Lat. pontifex) literally means bridge builder. Christ bridged the chasm caused by sin that separates humanity from God. Much will be said in later chapters about Christ s high priestly role. B. Jesus is Superior to Moses For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses (3) Jesus is to Moses as 1. A Building is to Its Creator just as the builder has more honor than the house. (3-4) The theme of God as creator runs deep throughout scripture. It begins in Genesis 1:1 and is magnified in Revelation 4:11. Jesus role in creation is explained in Colossians 1:15-16. The Jews recognized no greater leader than Moses; yet, as Moses creator, Jesus is clearly superior. (John 1:1-5) 2. A Servant is to a Son Moses was faithful as a servant in all God s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope. (5-6) No depreciation of Moses is intended; he is lifted up. The point is that although Moses was great, Christ is better. Vs. 6: introduces the second warning, a more severe warning than the first. The rejection of Christ is far worse than the rejection of Moses. It is an admonition to persevere for the saints. Rather than one losing something he had if he doesn t hold fast, the warning is that a failure to persevere is evidence of never really being saved. Faith that fizzles before the finish is false faith from the first, or as John writes 2 / 8
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might me made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:19) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1784: 2:19 This verse provides further insight concerning the false teachers ( antichrists, v. 18) who were troubling the church. John reaches several conclusions about their departure from the Christian community. (1) They were never really a part of us. Even though they had publicly identified with the church, this association was merely superficial. (2) If they had experienced genuine regeneration, they would have continued in the faith. Genuine Christians carry on in the faith (cf. 2 John 9-10). (3) In their departure from the church, they demonstrated that they had lacked saving faith all along. II. Know Your History (7-11) HCSB, p. 2117; 3:7-19 Having established the superiority of the gospel of Christ to the law of Moses, the author proceeded to explain the meaning of Psalm 95. His purpose was to warn his readers that if the punishment for disobedience of the law was severe, then punishment for faithlessness to the gospel would be far worse. The judgment of God is described in Ps 95:7-11 on the disobedient Israelites in the wilderness. God did not allow that faithless generation to enter the Promised Land because they hardened their hearts against Him. The lesson is that those who hear the voice of God should not harden their hearts against God s Word and disobey His commands. The result of such unbelief is divine judgment. They would not enter God s rest. A. A Warning Against Hardened Hearts Do not harden your hearts (8) 1. What is a Hardened Heart? (Prov. 29:1) a. It begins with a failure to listen to God Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if 3 / 8
you hear His voice (7) God speaks to us primarily through His Word. Failure to regularly read and study the Bible is a failure to listen to God. Seven days without hearing from God makes one weak. (2 Cor. 6:2) b. It continues with clear disobedience As in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works for 40 years. (8b-9) a departure from God s Word lead to a rebellion against God s ways. Associating with God s Work ( 40 years ) does not put us in tune with God s will. (Demas 2 Tim. 4:10) c. It concludes with a breach in fellowship Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. (10) If we find ourselves apart from God s fellowship, He is not the one who went astray. (Isa. 55:7-13) 2. What Results from a Hardened Heart? From this passage we see: rebellion (7-9) Jesus said, If you love Me, keep my commandments. testing (8-9) Trials are inevitable but, we don t have to be unsettled by them (I Thes. 3:3). We re promised that the test won t be beyond our ability in Christ. (1 Cor. 10:13) James 1:12-15 wilderness (8) Hardened heart s put us in a spiritual desert. God s anger (10) His wrath of judgment was propitiated by Jesus death on the cross; however, sin still makes God angry. (1 John 2:2, 4:10) separation (11) While our eternal salvation is not in jeopardy (if it is genuine), our 4 / 8
daily fellowship can be breached. The reference is to the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness, Moses intercession persuaded God not to destroy everyone. It was serious for the Israelites to rebel against Moses; it s even more serious to rebel against Christ. (Ex. 32:30-35) B. What is Spiritual Rest? So I swore in My anger, They will not enter My rest. (11) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1695: 3:11 Rest is used in this section in at least four senses: (1) the land of Canaan (3:7-19); (2) salvation as rest (4:1, 3, 8, 9); (3) God s rest at the completion of creation (4:4); (4) heaven, the Christian s ultimate rest (4:10, 11). In all such cases the word means to desist from one form of activity in order to give oneself to a wholly new enterprise. There is no reference whatsoever to sleep or slumber. To enter God s eternal rest is to devote oneself to the worship and work of heaven, in which there is neither frustration nor exhaustion. (Rev. 21:22-23) III. Heed the Warning (12-15) A. Take Heed Watch out brothers, so that there won t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. (12) This may refer to an unbelieving heart that results in evil or and evil heart that results in unbelief. B. Take Stock but encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin s deception (13) Exhortation is not always positive encouragement. It may also be reproof or correction (2 Tim. 3:16). We re to warn each other of encroaching sin. C. Take the Long Look For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. (14) The implied admonition to the saints is to hold fast to their commitment; they should press on. God gives us the strength to surge ahead. Perseverance is a must to salvation. Don t be so vocal about depending on God that you do nothing yourself. (Phil. 3:13-14; Matt. 5:10-12) The true test of genuine salvation is to continue what was started until the end. D. Take Action While it is Today Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your 5 / 8
hearts as in the rebellion. (15) Today is the operative word. Don t live in the regrets of yesterday or in the fears of tomorrow. Take action today. IV. Example of Disobedience (3:16-19) A. Rebellion For who heard and rebelled? Wasn t it really all who came out of Egypt, under Moses? (16) The essence of disobedience is a spirit of rebellion. John Stott said The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man. B. Sin And who was He provoked with for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned (17) God s wrath is directed toward sin (Rom. 1:18, 2:5, 3:5, 9:22; Eph. 5:6). Sin is acting on a rebellious impulse. It may take the form of a thought (Prov. 24:9), word (Matt. 12:37), action (1 John 3:4) or inaction (James 4:17). C. Death whose bodies fell in the wilderness? (17b) Ultimately, the recompense for all sin is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Even for Christians, sin may kill spiritual fellowship with our Father. (Rev. 20:14) D. Loss of Reward And who did He swear to that they would not enter His rest, if not those who disobeyed? (18) Bruce Wilkinson imagines warehouses of blessings stored up for us in heaven. One day, we may have to tour those structures and view all the things God had in store for us which we never enjoyed because of disobedience and lack of faith. E. Unbelief So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (19) The greatest sin is failure to trust the Father. When the Pharisees asked what works they could do to win approval, Jesus replied This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:29). The unpardonable sin is a refusal to trust in Jesus. (John 5:24; 6:47) Application: 6 / 8
1. Jesus is our example in perseverance. 2. Perseverance prevents hardened hearts. 3. We re to guard against Satan s attacks and exhort others to do the same. Leader Pack Item 14: Poster: Warnings in Hebrews Illustrator: No article this week **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format and notes at: www.hfbcbiblestudy. org Dates: 9/28; Multi-Gen worship; 10/3-4 Women s Retreat; 10/5 Deacon s Mtg/Church Conf.; 10/11 Girl Meets World event; 10/19 Lord s Supper; 10/19 Parent Commitment; 10/23 Pathfinder Dinner at Hunt; 10/24 Big Night Out @ FSC; 10/25 Summit Hoedown/ Men: Serve; 10/26 FBA Day; 10/31 First Fest/Light the Night; 11/2 Deacon s Mtg/Church Conference; 7 / 8
11/2 Daylight Saving Time; 11/4 Election Day; 11/9 Mission Trip Reveal Lunch; 11/14 Truth @ Work Conference; 11/16 Make it Your Church Orientation; 11/18 Staff Appreciation Lunch; 11/19 Last Midlink; 11/23 Christmas Store Collection; 11/23 Preschool DTW Appreciation Lunch/AMP/Wired; 11/27-28 Thanksgiving Holiday, church offices closed; 11/30 No LBS; 12/5 ReCreate Date Night; 12/6 Christmas Store; 12/6 ReCreate: Date Night; 12/7 Natalie Grant 3 Services @ Loop; 12/13 Deacon Christmas Party; 12/14 HUB Christmas Event-Palooza; 12/24-25 Christmas Holiday, church offices closed; 12/28 No LBS; 12/31 Summit New Year s Eve Party. 8 / 8