BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

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.