Posted: 9/07/06
Explore the Bible Series for September 17
Listen to God’s word and remain true
• Hebrews 3:1-15
By Howard Anderson
Diversified Spiritual Associates, San Antonio
Good works cannot generate salvation, but they are subsequent and consequential God-empowered fruits and evidences of it. Our salvation is a byproduct of grace and faith. We are required to believe for salvation, and faith is part of the gift of God that saves and cannot be exercised by one’s own power. Timely obedience is one of the great dynamics of Christian discipleship.
Faithfulness of Jesus and Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)
We are holy, not through self-purification, but through our relationship with Jesus Christ. We share in a heavenly call that cannot be realized in our earthly circumstances, but in the glory of God’s will for our life. We are reminded to consider Jesus, who is both Apostle and High Priest. As Apostle, he represents the interest of God—salvation. As High Priest, he mediates between God and humankind, bringing God’s will to humanity and interceding for humanity in the divine presence.
Our confession is the praise of God. It is the Christian’s recognition that their proper attitude toward God is adoration and praise. The Christian confessions of faith are that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15) and the Christ (John 9:22); therefore, Jesus Christ is the center of our confession of faith in the gospel.
The house of Moses means the nation of Israel, and the house of Christ refers to the church (Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 2:12; 3:6). Both Moses and Christ faithfully fulfilled their individual divine appointments to care for the people of God. Moses was only a part of God’s household of faith, but Jesus was the architect of that household (Eph. 2:19-22), and is greater than Moses and equal to God.
Moses was faithful in his role as servant and was a testimony to that which was to come in Christ (John 5:46). Ministers, deacons and lay leadership would do well to adopt the servant position in the church. Servant to all implies a position of dignity and freedom.
If we hold fast, perseverance in faithfulness is proof of real faith. Members who allow any and everything to interfere with their salvation by withdrawing from the fellowship when difficulty arises confirm they never were truly part of God’s household (1 John 2:19). Our challenge is to abide in Jesus Christ and display the evidence of genuine membership in the household of faith. Hope rests in Jesus Christ for our salvation (Rom. 5:1,2) and ultimately eternal life (John 14:1-3).
Unfaithfulness of Moses’ generation (Hebrews 3:7-11)
The writer of Hebrews cites Psalm 95:7-11 as the words of its ultimate author, the Holy Spirit. This passage describes the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings after their delivery from Egypt. Despite God’s miraculous works and his gracious, providential faithfulness to them, the people still failed to commit themselves to him in faith (Numbers 14:22-23).
The invitation is for God’s people to come into his presence to worship. It reminds us God is the creator of all things, and all creation lives by his bounty. He is our God and we are his people—the sheep of his pasture.
The evidences of God’s goodness and care surrounded Israel in the wilderness, and yet many of the people missed the encounter with God. Often in our own wilderness situations, we miss the blessings of God and crumble under the pressure.
Their problem was not the disgusting carnal appetites but hardness of heart. They were victims of selfishness. They had too many things on their minds to observe the presence of God among them. Because of rebellion against God, an entire generation of the children of Israel was prohibited from entering into that rest in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:65).
Faithfulness required for Christians (Hebrews 3:12-15)
The essence of sin is idolatry—the refusal to worship the true God. We mistakenly adapt an attitude that as long as we avoid the striking sins and crimes, we consider ourselves sound. There is no distinction about sin; therefore, it cannot be measured by severity. Sin is evil and separates you from the love of God. You are gifted, and you sin when you hide your gift under a bushel (Ephesians 4:7). Christians must remain cognizant that they can be cut off from God by sin, as Israel was.
The Hebrews deceived themselves with the reasoning that their rejection of Jesus Christ was being faithful to the Levitical system. Their willingness to hang on to the older system was really a rejection of the living word (Hebrews 4:12) of the living God (v.12), who through Christ had opened up a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20). Choosing the path of unbelief always leads only to death (Jude 5).
“For we are made partakers of Christ” implies an action in the past has made us effective partakers of Jesus Christ if we hold to the solid foundation we have been given. The Christian’s standing is not the product of their decision, their obedience or their theological insight. We stand on the basis of God’s deed in Jesus Christ and God’s act in uniting us to Christ.
We can render our relationship with Jesus Christ meaningless by drifting away through preoccupation or neglect. But even the person who has drifted can recover his or her center again. They can find anew the great event that gives meaning and perspective to their life and build again on the foundation laid by God.
“Today” (v. 15) is used to emphasize it is the present when God’s voice is heard. We never can go back to yesterday; the only thing left is the memory and hurt. We do not have tomorrow in our grasp, so we have to make the most of the day we have. What we do today determines the good or bad of tomorrow. In the finality of life, we must realize: (1) time is short; (2) without Jesus Christ, life is hopeless; and (3) now is the time to prepare to meet God. Listen to God’s word and remain true!
Discussion questions
• How is Christ’s role as High Priest affected by a lack of confession in our lives?
• What evidences of faith are in your life?
• Why do people fail to commit themselves fully to God despite his bountiful care?
• How is the refusal to adequately worship God idolatry?
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