Unbelief, the Deadly Sin

Hebrews 3:7-19 (ESV)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

[8] do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

[9] where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works  [10] for forty years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

[11] As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’ “

[12] Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  [14] For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.  [15] As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

[16] For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?  [17] And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  [18] And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?  [19] So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Introduction

In the first section of Bunyan’s work Pilgrim’s Progress, we are introduced to a man who lacks faith and conviction.  His name is Obstinate. John Bunyan names his characters after their character. Continue Reading

Jesus, the Faithful Son

Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,  [2] who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.  [3] For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.  [4] (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)  [5] Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,  [6] but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Introduction

Primary Claim- Jesus is superior to Moses as a builder is superior to the house and as a beloved Son is superior to a servant.

Primary Challenge- To consider and hold fast to Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

We have covered the first two chapters, chapters that taught us that Jesus is superior to those who mediated the Law, namely, the prophets and the angels.  The writer takes more territory away from the Jewish Christian who would still want to hold to some of his tradition.  Jesus is not only better than those who mediated the Law of Moses, He’s better than Moses, the one who gave the Law to the people.  To make the bold statement that Jesus is far superior to Moses was a serious statement for the Jew. Continue Reading

Christ, the Great Deliverer

Hebrews 2:10-18 (ESV)

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.  [11] For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,  [12] saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

[13] And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

[14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.  [16] For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.  [17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

If we are to understand this passage before us today correctly, we must do a little biblical interpretation.  The best way to interpret Scripture is to practice what is called Historical-Grammatical Interpretation. Continue Reading