BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 7

The Unexpected High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10

November 1, 2015

 

It has always fascinated me to read stories of men who had no plans to be used by God as they were. Some even struggled with the concept of Christianity. They were as surprised as anyone to find himself or herself serving God in various ways. Some were called to become ministers while others worked in secular positions to make the world a better place. I know there are many such persons throughout history but the space I have here will not allow me to speak of more than a few. D.L. Moody who set out to become wealthy as a travelling salesman ended up becoming an evangelist who brought about great harvests both in America and Europe. Charles Finney as a lawyer struggled with becoming a Christian but was instrumental in the revivals that took place in the middle of the nineteenth century. The writer of the hymn, “Amazing Grace” was a slave trader until God got hold of his heart. William Wilberforce, a contemporary of John Newton, fought in parliament for forty plus years, to end the slave trade by the English. An ex baseball player, Billy Sunday, became a well-known evangelists in America during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

 

None of these men started life with the idea that God would touch their lives as He did but we are the better for the fact that He did. Each of them was prepared in a special way by life’s circumstances to accomplish the task God gave to them. In the class called “The Real Me” that is offered at Bethany Place there is an exercise where each person is asked to look back over his or her life and record those things that they believe they have done well. I usually say, “Don’t worry whether others think you did them well. It is important what you consider as accomplishments.” From this exercise they are able to see a pattern that has taken place. God is able to use those experiences in serving Him.

 

I mention the opportunity that looking at one’s life to see how God has prepared him or her for ministry. There are many other areas that play a part in whether God can use a person. One, there has to be a passion to do something with the gifts that God has given. There are three responsibilities that a church has to help a person to be prepared. First it must disciple everyone who is willing to grow beyond conversion to become mature Christians. Secondly, it must recognize the potential in them. Lastly, it must provide the mentoring process that will raise up mature and godly leaders who will respond to the call on their lives to sacrificially serve Him, even in the difficult times that face every church. These are the very unexpected leaders who will carry the church forward into the next generation. Some of these positions are not those for which a person volunteers but must sense a call from God to serve. God chooses those He desires to be leaders. We must take great care that we do not cop out of the opportunities given to each person. If God has placed a call on one’s life there is probably no reason not to serve without being disobedient. Almost no leader will choose the difficult road of leadership, but will respond to a need that he cannot avoid.

 

Hebrews 5:1-2

If one would look back to the beginning of the priesthood in the Jewish faith there is not a more unlikely candidate than the family of Levi. Levi was not to receive an inheritance in the Promised Land because of his brutality. (See Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:5-7) Aaron, Levi’s grandson, who became the first high priest was a weak leader who could not even control the people while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments. He even lied about the origin of the golden calf. (See Exodus 32:2-6, 21-24) The writer wrote that it was this kind of man that God sovereignly anointed as priest from among men to offer to Him both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

 

It is clear that he was able present the offerings because he was just every other man with a sinful nature. The very characteristics given by the writer that the people were ignorant, misguided, weak, fit the high priest as well. Because he understood the nature of all men there was no criticism or lording it over others but dealing with them with gentleness. There was no way that he could judge others for the very acts that he himself committed.

 

1. In your mind what would have disqualified the descendants to Levi from being the priest of the nation of Israel?
2. What does this say about how God operates?
3. What is the source of leadership in the Church? (Those who God sovereignly calls out from among the people)
4. What lesson can be learned from God’s selection? (Since He chose sinful man to be priests, we have to remember that we have no right to look down on others but are to deal gently with them as others do so for us.)
5. In what ways would the characteristics given by the writer fit us?
6. What do we have that the nation of Israel did not possess? (The teachings of Jesus.)

 

Hebrews 5:3

Knowing that he was a sinner the high priest offered the sacrifice for sin first for himself and then for the people. (See Leviticus 9:7)

 

1. In what way does this practice match up with the teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 7:5?
2. What does the fact that the high priest was to offer the sacrifice for himself first say about him? (He was not above others because he also was guilty of sin.)

 

Hebrews 5:4

The position of high priest was not one for which a person volunteered. It was given to man by appointment from God.

 

1. What are some of the positions in Christendom for which a person should not volunteer?
2. What does it mean to be called by God to serve?
3. How are we to respond to the call of God?
4. What are some of the ways that you can recognize the call?
5. How does God use others to help a person recognize a call?

 

Hebrews 5:5-6

Not even Jesus, the Son of God took it upon himself to declare that He was high priest among men. God, however, anointed Him to that position.   It was out of the norm for Jesus and Melchizedek to have been priest. Neither of them were descendants of Aaron which would have disqualified them from the position. The story of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14:18-21. The significance of the story, according to the writer of Hebrews, will be discussed a little later in Hebrews. Both were anointed by God to be priest. (See Psalm 2:7; 110:4) Although Jesus did not assume the practice of offering sacrifices during His earthly ministry, especially because of His own sinlessness, He did make the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of others on the cross thus sealing the perpetual eternal priesthood for Himself.

 

1. Why did Jesus not assume the role of priest during his first coming? (It was given to the sons of Aaron at that point.)
2. What gave Him the right to be called high priest? (God anointed Him.)
3. How did He qualify? (By becoming the ultimate bridge builder to God through His death on the cross.)
4. What one fact do we need to know about Melchizedek at this point? (God anointed him as priest forever.)

 

Hebrews 5:7-8

The idea of His prayers and supplications could have referred to His cries on behalf of the people that are seen throughout the gospels. This verse, however, is probably about His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane on that last night before His crucifixion. One commentator stated that He may have been praying that His death would not be a premature one at the hands of those who came to capture Him. It was also in all likelihood a cry out of the horror He was about to face in taking all of man’s sin upon Himself. God listened because of the righteousness of His Son but answered that the event of the crucifixion must take place. God could have saved Him but Jesus was obedient to carrying out the last act of what He had come to do.

 

1. What are some of the examples we have in Scripture when Jesus cried out on behalf of others?
2. What made the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane different? (The events that were to take place were both universal and personal. He was about to be touched by the sins He was incapable of committing during His lifetime.)
3. What events have occurred that have brought about the strongest prayers in your life?
4. How have you been comforted by God even though you knew that you must face a situation head on?
5. What is the one word you would use to describe such a time? (Courage is knowing what lies ahead and following through with the action necessary anyway.)

 

Hebrews 5:9-10

His total obedience had made Him perfect in the eyes of His Father. Because of His life and sacrifice He had provided eternal salvation to those who were willing to obey Him. God had decided that Jesus would be the unlikely high priest, not according to family ties, who was different from all the others because He accomplished what they could not with all of their sacrifices. A picture of that priesthood was once again shown by Melchizedek who stepped onto the pages of history to bless Abraham and then disappeared.

 

1. What brought about the perfection of Christ?
2. How can we become mature in Christ?
3. What did Jesus provide for every man because of His obedience leading to perfection? (Eternal salvation)
4. What was lacking in the priesthood of Aaron’s descendants?
5. Why did the writer spend so much time speaking of the priesthood of Jesus? (To show to those who were about to desert Christianity the superiority of Jesus over every priest who was limited in what he could accomplish)

 

• Help others recognize the call on their lives for service.
• Seek to discover the purpose God has for your life.
• Realize that you as a sinner must have compassion on all fallen people.
• Be an encouragement to those in leadership roles knowing that they are your representatives in certain ministries of the church.
• Make sure that prayer and God’s word are the foundation upon which you make decisions
• Remember that God is the One who has placed call on your not to be comfortable but to service even
• Give honor to those who have been called into positions of leadership knowing that they have received a specific call to that area of service.

 

As I began this lesson I want to emphasize the fact once again that the plans that we make are not always according to the purpose of God in our lives. All through history the directions of a nation or a people have been altered because a person responded to an unexpected call upon his or her life. What a different world might be in place today if those individuals had chosen to ignore God’s hand on them. There is a Proverb that says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) Many other Scriptures say that God is ultimately in control of man. Our responsibility to be open and willing to change our desires to match up with what God wants to do. Remember our lives are to be all about Him and not ourselves.

 

Lesson 6

Heed the Word

Hebrews 4:1-16

October 25, 2015

 

The old description of the tools that God provided to each person holds true for me. I have never seen a set of instruction manuals that I like. What usually takes the normal person a short period of time to assemble or to understand how something works becomes a major project for me. The Bible can be that way for many of us. There are many things that are difficult to understand but the central core teachings are very clear. Having said that I came to realize a long time ago to make that happen I must put forth the effort to read and study what it says. Even though I am in the word every day I find myself forgetting details from one reading until I get back to that same material several months later. I cannot imagine how much I would lose if I chose to put the book on the shelf for many months or a year. God’s word will only have meaning if I read, study, read and study on a continual basis. Personally, I hope that at the end of my days God’s word will be just as dear to me as it is today. I truly want it to be the guidebook of my life. Drifting away would only allow false ideas to enter into me and cause me to get further and further from God.

 

Josh McDowell in his book, “God Breathed” gave an important perspective of God’s word. He wrote, “No matter who we are, or how varied our human experience, God’s word has been transmitted through the perspectives, emotions and circumstances of His spokesmen to meet our needs just at the right time.” This fact has been true ever since Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament.

 

Unfortunately, just the opposite is happening to many so-called churches around the globe today. Because the entire counsel of God is not important to them they have cherry picked the verses or passages they want to believe. To do so will lead them down a path of spiritual destruction and compromise with the world. All one has to do is turn on the TV to one of the many religious networks available and he will be inundated with  prosperity messages that say God is like a Sugar Daddy who will take care of all of ones needs. Their mindset is that God does not want His people to suffer at all. It is difficult to bring people back to the truth when the Word has been sugar coated and pretty much allows them to live in the world of false teachings.

 

As we continue our study we must not forget the reason the author penned this sermon/letter. The priests in Antioch were in danger of falling away from the faith and returning to dead religious practices. All the writer said was not only for them but to exhort each of us to keep strong in our faith.

 

Hebrews 4:1-2

The greatest fear that any man should have is to come up short and too late to enter into the place of rest with God. Resting in God signifies that relationship in which a man finds joy and peace. Man can hear the good news of the Gospel but because he refuses to heed its words he will receive no benefit from. To understand what God is trying to say it must be received with faith. To hear and respond is a clear indication of man’s salvation. A person who is truly saved will not lose it but, can spend a life of warring within himself full of anxiety and doubt.

 

1. What should be the greatest fear a man has? (Missing out on salvation and the peace and joy it brings)
2. How does a man miss that opportunity?
3. How long is it available to him? (Hebrews speaks of today because that is all any man is given.)
4. What has God given that leaves us without any excuse of coming into His rest? (The Gospel message)
5. What allows a man to profit from the word of God? (Faith in its truth.)
6. In what ways were the men of old, the recipients of the book of Hebrews and us alike? (We have all heard the message of God through the Gospel.)

 

Hebrews 4:3

For the children of Israel the idea of rest was a place, the Promised Land, that God had promised to them. The writer indicated that it takes faith to enter into God’s rest. Because the Israelites were stubborn, unbelieving and disobedient at Kadesh-Barnea they were not allowed to enter the place God had promised them. Everything they were to receive had been prepared before the world began. The way a man comes to salvation and rest in God was established long before Christ ever came.

 

1. In what way did the children of Israel think about the idea of rest in God? (It was a place, the Promised Land.)
2. Why could the Promised Land never be what God meant by rest? (Because it is a relationship not a physical spot on the earth. They did not trust Him therefore they missed out on what He wanted to do in their lives.)
3. What was the one act that kept them from the early entry into Israel? (Disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea.)
4. When was the work complete for the provision of man’s salvation? (Everything that God has planned for man from the beginning was already put into place before the foundation of the world)
5. How does that make you feel?

 

Hebrews 4:4-5

When God had completed His creative work on the seventh day, the Bible tells us that He rested on the seventh day. He saw that all was good and He rested. Although He had finished with creation, He has from that time kept His watchful eye on His creation. He wanted the Israelites to reach the point when their work of destroying God’s enemies was complete and they could rest in the comfort of all He wanted to provide for them. They however have never experienced that kind of peace because they have always been a disobedient people.

 

1. What does the Bible mean when it talks about God resting?
2. What would happen if He ever stopped watching over His creation for one second? (It would fly apart. He is the One who sustains the order of the universe.)
3. In what way were the Israelites to enter into God’s rest? (By completing the task God had given to them. They did not trust Him enough to finish the destruction of His enemies.)
4. How do we enter into His rest and not miss out? (Trusting Him with everything in our lives.)

 

Hebrews 4:6-10

Three things are obvious in what the writer had said:

• At the time he wrote Hebrews there were those who would still have the opportunity to enter the rest of God.
• Those for whom the promise was originally given by God did not enter into His rest.
• Much later David wrote that those who were living in his lifetime should listen to what God had to say and not become disobedient while they still had time today to do so.

 

He went on to say that David would not have written those words if the rest actually came at the time that Joshua led the people into Canaan. Therefore the opportunity to enter into that relationship with God is still available for man even today. The one who has availed himself of the joy and peace that comes with the completion of the task given to man is in the same position as the Father. Both are in a state of rest.

 

1. What assurance was the writer trying to give to the priests who were thinking about leaving the faith?
2. What does that mean to us?
3. How do you hear what God is saying to you?
4. How do we know that the rest about which David spoke is still available? (The writer of Hebrews argues that the Israelites did not obtain the rest because of disobedience. David then implies that the door is still open to each man who responds to God’s call while he has the opportunity and does close his heart to the word of God.)
5. How do we know that we can have the rest? (God has set the example and allows us to enter into His rest. In the Old Testament He gave them the Sabbath Day as a picture of what man is to do.)
6. How are so many hardening their hearts today?
7. What is the danger of doing so?

 

Hebrews 4:11

The recipients rather than giving up on their faith were called to be diligent in seeking that relationship with God. The writer once again encouraged them to remain steadfast and to not fall away in disobedience as their ancestors had about fourteen hundred years earlier and were not able to receive the promise of God.

 

1. What does it mean to be diligent in something? How do we stay diligent in our faith and obedience?
2. Why must we be diligent in our seeking after resting in God’s provision? (It is all too easy to drift away if our focus does not remain on Him.)
3. What are some of the things that may cause you to fall away?
4. What are some the ways that we show our disobedience to the Father?
5. The Israelites did not enter into the Promise Land because of fear of the unknown. In what way is fear a sign of disobedience?

 

Hebrew 4:12-13

The word of God is described as:

• It is dynamic and vital to understand our relationship to God
• It is active and effective in pointing out God’s ways to man
• Sharper than a two edge sword. It penetrates and exposes the very depths of man’s true being before the Father. Nothing can be hidden from Him for He knows every thought and sees every deed done by man. (See Psalm 139.) Ultimately, every man will be confronted by God in a way that leaves no room for an escape from His judgment.

 

1. How does the writer describe God’s word?
2. What does it mean for it to be living?
3. How is it effective in your life?
4. How do you react to the idea that there is nothing in your life that can be hidden from God?
5. In what way will you be judged at the end of time? (Two judgments are possible. The saved with their name in the Book of Life and the unsaved facing eternal separation from God. The second one every man will have to answer for his deeds and thoughts.)
6. What must we do to be pleasing to Him?

 

Hebrews 4:14-16

The writer returned to the theme of speaking of the high priest available to every man. He first indicated that Jesus had passed into the place in the highest of heavens where His Father welcomed Him and where He now sits at the right hand of God. Because man has such an eternal high priest he is to hold fast to the decision that was made at some point to follow Him. The reasons man can have confidence in Him are:

• He is able to sympathize with man’s weaknesses
• He was tempted as man but was completely without sin.

 

For those reasons man is able to come to His throne when he is in need and know that he will receive mercy and grace from the One who completely understands what man is experiencing.

 

1. How was Jesus as high priest different from the high priests of the Jewish religion?
2. What did the writer mean when he wrote that Jesus had passed through the heavens?
3. What is to be the result of viewing and understanding Jesus as our high priest? (We are to hold fast to the faith we have placed in Him.)
4. What did Jesus do that gave Him the right to be called our high priest? (Never sinned.)
5. Because of the completion of His work how are we able to approach Him?
6. What does it mean to receive His mercy and grace?

 

• In order to find salvation you must be sensitive to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you through God’s word.
• Be on guard against the things of this world including false religions that will try in every way to separate you from God.
• Know that any decision you make must be made while you have time and no one knows how much you have.
• See that God’s word as living and effective.
• Know that no matter how hard you try to hide from God He is there. (Psalm 139)
• Put your total trust in Jesus Christ who has been proven to be the great bridge builder between God and man. It is the real meaning of priesthood.
• Know with all confidence that you can approach God in prayer and He will hear you.

 

Rest in God’s kingdom does not mean idleness. Even He after creating all that exists still watches over His creation with love and compassion. We have the opportunity to be at peace with the Father with the full assurance that He cares for us. He went to great lengths to make room for us in His family. Rather than falling away at any point in our lifetime we are to be busy serving Him and proclaiming the Gospel in a world that finds it difficult to accept the grace and mercy He provides.

 

He says over and over listen to and truly hear My word. It is only through diligence in studying and meditating on His word can we truly come to know Him. Only by staying in the living word are we able to persevere to the end of our days. In the message of the Bible we have the weapons to fight against the enemy and have the assurance of the victory He has guaranteed. Jesus was and is still the answer for each of us because He has won the victory over sin and death once and for all times. In confidence we can come to the high priest who will walk along side of us in all of life’s situations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 5

What About Today

Hebrews 3:1-19

October 11, 2015

 

The “P” word has been my mode of operation for as long as I can remember. I have been a procrastinator with a capital P. There may be such a thing as a procrastinator club but I doubt if it could ever meet because no one would be able to decide when to hold the meeting. There have been many times when I would be finishing up a report or paper on the way to school. I often spent a whole day studying for a test hoping that I would be able to cram enough knowledge in my brain to pass. One excuse that people like me use is that I work best under pressure. My theme song is Manana which in Spanish means tomorrow. There was one decision that I did not dare put off until another day. When the Holy Spirit spoke to me about becoming a Christian I accepted the call on my life. I was too young to know that failure to accept Christ carried with it dire consequences. As I have grown and seen others that have put it off until it was too late I realize how blessed I am. We have all heard stories of people who believed they had plenty of time left in life to come to Christ only to have their life cut short by an accident or heart attack.

 

Many are putting off until tomorrow a major decision that should be addressed this very minute. There is urgency to the decision, especially when we see the world collapsing all around us. I am truly concerned about all of the people who I know have not turned their lives over to Christ. I am truly thankful that Christ opened the door for me to become part of His family and receive the heavenly blessings that He offers. When I read Matthew and Revelation that tell us how unexpectingly the end times can come I worry even more about their spiritual condition. Jesus said that no man knows when the day or hour will come when there is no more opportunity to become a Christian. In the Book of Revelation often God brings plagues on people not to destroy them but to bring them into a relationship with Him. Sadly, rather than turning to God they turned their backs on Him, therefore suffering ultimate death.

 

Statistically, the church is losing ground. There are less people attending than there was even five to ten years ago. One reason is the decline in the number of millennials who have no desire to be part of the Church. Another factor has been the emphasis on evangelism without following up with discipleship training for new believers. There is probably an even greater threat than those. People have lost interest in church because the world offers so many other alternatives from participation in all kinds of sports to other forms of just having fun.

 

Many of those who have become church members have drifted away because they never learned what it meant to be a member. Up until recently we have done a fairly good job of getting people inside the building. Our problem is what do we need to do to keep them from leaving. Sadly, most of us have not been discipled, thus we are not capable of leading others down the path of being true followers of Christ. The writer was dealing with the same situation during the time he was writing. The bloom and initial excitement of the new life had worn off and the reality of the cost to be a believer had set in on them. Thankfully the writer had not given up on them and continued to lay out for them the very reasons not to give up.

 

Hebrews 3:1

Christ had done His part in God’s plan for mankind. Because Jesus had accomplished the salvation of man every person now had a new relationship with the Father. The writer used two words that were very descriptive. Believers were now called holy brethren. The word holy denotes one who as been set apart and consecrated to the work of the work of God. In one place God had said that man was to be holy as He was holy. The writer had already indicated that Jesus was not ashamed to call those who followed Him brothers. See Hebrews 2:11.

 

These believers were now recipients of a heavenly calling. It was a two-pronged call. First it was from heaven to men in the life of Jesus. Secondly, it was call that leads man heavenly. His full attention is now to be given to Christ who is at the right hand of God. This same idea is found in Colossians 3:1-3. Jesus is then described in two ways. They were as:

• The word Apostle is apostolos, one sent in the name of or to represent someone else. Another word for this kind of representative is ambassador. Christ came with a the message of salvation from the Father
• High Priest. More will be said about this title in later lessons, but for now it can be described by the word pontifex. To be a pontifex was to be a bridge-builder. Jesus was the one who bridged the gap between sinful mankind and a holy God.

When man confessed his sin and became a believer it was because Christ had filled both of those roles in his life. The High priest was the only one who could go into the holy of holies. It is the very place into which Christ has entered and through His work now grants man to enter there.

 

1. What gave believers the status of being called holy brethren? (The work Christ did for him on the cross.)
2. What does it mean to you to be called holy?
3. What are the two parts of the heavenly calling? (God reaching down to man to bring him into a relationship with Him. It is both heaven to earth and earth to heaven in it scope.)
4. What does it mean when the writer calls Jesus an Apostle?
5. Why did he also designate Him as High Priest?
6. What does it mean for us that Christ is our High Priest?

 

Hebrews 3:2-3

Jesus was sent by the Father to accomplish one task. He faithfully carried through with it. There is another man who is mentioned at this point. The writer said that Moses was also faithful in his work in the community of the Israelites. That having been said the writer goes on to point out that as great as Moses was Jesus was greater. Moses’ work was limited to the nation of Israel. Christ had a greater honor because He was the Son of God and the creator of the entire universe. In Ephesians 3:15 Paul spoke of the fact that every family in heaven and on earth had received its name from God. Man is limited and serves where God has put him in a family or society. Christ is infinite and directs what goes on in the lives of people as the owner of all that man can behold.

 

1. In what way was Christ faithful to the Father?
2. What is the difference between Moses and Jesus? (Moses was God’s servant in Israel while Jesus is the Son of God in control of all things.)
3. What was another distinguishing difference between the two? (Moses had his limits of time and space in which to operate. Christ was still God even when on the earth.
4. What gives you the greatest satisfaction in your faith? (Hopefully it is that you are doing what God has taught you to do so that He might receive the glory.)
5. In what way do these verses describe humility? (Realizing that we are the created and not the creator.)

 

Hebrews 3:5-6

Once again Moses is described as a servant of God to the nation of Israel. By His actions Christ proved Himself faithful to the Father over all of creation. The writer emphasizes this by calling the followers of Christ the Son of God as His house. Man is part of that house or building if he stays committed to Him who is man’s only hope to the very end.

 

1. How did Jesus show His faithfulness over all of creation and especially all who believe in Him? (By carrying out the plan of salvation for all men.)
2. What was Moses’ role in the world? (As servant to one nation.)
3. How do we show that we are part of God’s house?
4. What does hope mean to you? (See Romans 8:24 and Hebrew 11:1 to understand.)

 

Hebrews 3:7-11

Psalm 95:7-11 refers to either one or two incidences in the life of Israel and the Moses. The first is found in Numbers 20:1-13. As they had done so many times before the children of Israel were complaining because things were not going their way. The source of their grumbling was the lack of water. Back in Exodus 17 Moses had obeyed God and struck a rock bringing water to the people. He named that location Maasah, meaning testing and Meribah, translated quarrel. In this incident in Numbers God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come. Out of his frustration and anger he did not seem to hear God’s command and instead of speaking to the rock he struck it twice with his staff. He also claimed to be the one who was providing the water. That place was aptly named Meribah meaning contention. Because of his disobedience he was not allowed to lead the people into the Promised Land, the place of rest.

 

The second reference is found in Numbers 14:1-10, 22-23. Moses had sent 12 spies into Canaan to see what the land held for them. Upon their return ten out of the twelve brought back a bad report stating that there was no way that the Israelites could possibly conquer the land. When the people heard the report they refused to go into the Promised Land. God then spoke to Moses with this message for the people. “Surely all of the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it.”

 

At that point God had had enough of their grumblings and murmurings. It was the proverbial “Straw that broke the camel’s back.” As a result of their disobedience they spent the next thirty-eight years wandering around in the wilderness until everyone over twenty years old had died except for Joshua and Caleb who had been faithful and had not agreed with their fellow spies. The people missed out on the reward that God had planned for them because they made the wrong decision on that day. Like so many others in the Bible they hardened their heart and did not hear the word of God.

 

1. What do these two incidences tell us?
2. What does it say about God? (He expects our obedience.)
3. What were the consequences of their rebellion?
4. Why had He not destroyed them prior to this incident? (The others were for personal needs which He would have supplied them anyway.)
5. What was different about the occasions in Numbers 14 and 20? (They were acts of open rebellion against God’s commands.)
6. In what ways do we rebel against God?

 

Hebrews 3:12

The writer now returned to the real message behind the passages. The priests were about to commit open rebellion against God by rejecting the very salvation that had been given them and putting themselves back under the law. The writer indicated that such actions came from and evil and unbelieving heart. They were about to deny the work of Christ in their lives.

 

1. What was the message behind the passage he used from Psalm 95? (Not understanding that God gives the opportunity to enter to His rest but man needs to hear His voice and take advantage of His call while there was still time.)
2. What were the priests about to do? (Make the same mistake that the Israelites had made and rejected God’s offer for salvation in the Promised Land.)
3. In the mind of the writer what did the action to become a Jew once again say about the priests? (They came from an evil and unbelieving heart.)
4. What are some of the things in our society that once again can enslave us?
5. In what ways is falling away and indication of an evil and unbelieving heart?

 

Hebrews 3:13

When a person is weak and is about to succumb to the pulls on his soul by the world it is the responsibility of those who are more spiritually mature to provide the encouragement one needs to face the challenges that may come his way “Today.” Hopefully such a word will keep a person from becoming enslaved by sin. Many times in the Bible examples of a hardened heart lead to the destruction of an individual. The writer wanted to warn them and keep the person from falling into sin.

 

1. What is the danger for man when he is not rooted and grounded in faith?
2. What is the responsibility of the spiritual mature toward that person?
3. When is the only opportunity, according to what we have seen in this chapter, to encourage and strengthen a person’s faith? (It is during the limited amount of time a person has in this lifetime. Beyond that it is too late to do anything.)
4. What was about to happen to the priests who were thinking about returning to the Jewish religion? (Become slaves of the Law.)
5. What is the consequence for us when we walk away from Christ?

 

Hebrews 3:14-15

The evidence of the decision made at the opportune time, “Today,” is the faithfulness that lasts for a lifetime. By using the word persevere, the writer indicates that it is not going to be easy and will take all the energy man has in him to live such a life. To walk away a man says that the confession to follow Christ was not genuine one. Care must be taken not to interpret this verse as saying that a person can lose his or her salvation because once a person is truly saved salvation cannot be lost. The writer is specifically talking about those who were about to give up and walk away from their commitment. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

1. What is the evidence of a true believer? (He or she perseveres in their faith for a lifetime.)
2. What does it mean to persevere? (A person weathers the storms of life without losing faith. See Matthew 7:24)
3. What care must be taken in interpreting these verses regarding salvation? (Man cannot lose a salvation that is genuine. Those who walk away never were truly saved in the first place. We are to be the judge of who is saved or not that is up to God to judge.)
4. How does Luke 9:62 and Matthew 7:24 relate to these verses?
5. What do you believe about your own salvation?
6. What evidence is there in your own life that you have been truly saved? (Have no desire to turn one’s back on Christ but perseveres in one’s walk.)

Hebrews 3:16-19

The writer asked several questions related to those who had received the promise of God but then rebelled. He asked:

• Who provoked Him when they heard the words of God? (Those who had come out of Egypt with Moses.)
• With whom was He angry for the total of forty years?
• Was it not the sinners, rebellious ones, who suffered death because of their disobedience?
• Who were declared unworthy to enter into God’s rest, the Promised Land? (It was those who were disobedient.)

He then reinforces the truth that it was the disobedient who missed out on the opportunity before them because of their disbelief.

 

1. In what ways could we make these questions applicable to what is taking place around us today?
2. How might the church be guilty of some of these charges?
3. How can we be sure that God would not be addressing us with these questions?
4. What are the opportunities you may miss out on if you are disobedient?

 

• Do not take your salvation for granted remembering that it cost the life of Christ.
• Try to understand that you have a new relationship with Christ as holy brothers.
• Guard your salvation with all the energy within you knowing that the devil would have you drift back into the world.
• Do not procrastinate in taking advantage of the opportunities God gives you to serve Him.
• Be rooted and grounded in your own faith that you may be an encourager to those who are weak.
• Live in such a way that there is evidence in your life that you are truly a follower of Christ.

 

We live in a world today that lacks an understanding of commitment. On every level there are those who walk away from their responsibilities. There is no better example of this attitude than the church. This chapter has warned us of the consequences for failing to fulfill the calling of God in service. Jesus continually called His disciples to greater and greater degrees of loyalty to Him and His work. We are in long line of followers who have continued to work faithfully for the kingdom. This chapter gives two words that will serve us well. The first is “Today.” I once read a statement by William Barclay that has stuck with me. In essence he said of all of us that if we miss and opportunity to witness, to share, to serve in the moment the chance for the circumstances to be the same will be gone. I will finish with a story about D.L. Moody, the great evangelist of the 19^th century. One night in his church he closed the service by telling the people to think about what had been said and to return the next week with a decision to follow through on what they had heard. Sadly that night the Great Chicago fire burned a good portion of the city including the church where Moody preached. Reflecting on the fact that the same great crowd would never be brought together again, He committed himself to making sure no one ever left a service where he was preaching before having the opportunity of making the most important decision any of us can make. Today is the day of salvation 2 Corinthians 6:2.

 

The second word is persevere. We are to be steadfast in our faith. Being an example of those who remain committed to our faith will speak volumes to the world that believes in easy Christianity. The writer stated very clearly that it is those who are steadfast to the end are those who are going to be saved. We are to do our part in encouraging those who are being wooed by all the world seems to offer to choose the better part and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.