Because Of Unbelief - Hebrews 3:15-19

Hebrews 3:15-19 ESV 

" As it is said, 

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

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

Belief is demonstrated with obedience. 

Unbelief is demonstrated with disobedience. 

Belief, obedience, is necessary to enter our inheritance. 

Jesus will lead us through the wilderness. We just need to follow. 

Titus 1:16

" They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

Talking the talk does not replace walking the walk.  It may fool those around you, but not God. 

To The End - Hebrews 3:12-14

Hebrews 3:12-14 ESV 

" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 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. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

To fall away from the living God one must have believed in the living God and drawn near. Unbelieving here seems to be a gradual process which can lead one to "fall away". Hardening takes place over time. Believing can give way to unbelieving. 

Sin is ever present and is always working to deceive. 

In the last verse  we see "We share in Christ, followed by an "if" statement. We must continue believing. Initial belief is the beginning of a journey. For some the journey will end tomorrow. For others years will pass. 

Just as hardening can take place over time, so can our confidence and faith keep us pliable and open to the Spirit. Starting with Christ is good, but finishing with Christ is better. We will reach the end either way. Stand firm. 

My Ways - Hebrews 3:10-11

Hebrews 3:10-11 ESV 

" Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

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

they have not known my ways.’

As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’”"

The heart is prone to wander and the eye to stray. There is a way to God and Jesus tells us plainly, "I am the way". No one comes to the Father but through the Son. 

He tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. Is this not what we seek?

As A Son - Hebrews 3:5-6

Hebrews 3:5-6 ESV 

" Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 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."

There is a difference between a son and a servant. It's good to serve in the Lord's house, but even better to be a son in the house. 

It's a family thing. Come on in!

To Help - Hebrews 2:17-18

Hebrews 2:17-18 ESV 

" 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. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Jesus shared in the universal suffering of man. We are subject to our nature brought into the world when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. We now see and choose between good and evil. We suffer with this choice today. We suffer because we are prone to choose unwisely, yet with many choices before us. 

Christ was tempted but never sinned. Man was never able to do that. Because He experienced what we experience, He knows our struggles intimately and is more than able to help us in time of need. His mercy is new everyday. 

A Far Country - Luke 15:13-24

Luke 15:13-24

" Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."

We all are prodigal sons in a far country, distant from God. 

We were all lost and dead before we came to ourselves, to our senses. When we begin to sense our weakness, we turn to the Father.

On our way to the Father He runs to meet us. 

A celebration awaits us, a wedding feast to come. 

The Purpose - Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28

" And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Bad and good things happen to everyone, though with different outcomes. For those who love the Lord, God uses them in the transformation and sanctification of His children. They are able to learn more of God's love and strengthen their faith in His word. 

The focus is not on things that happen, but how The Lord is using those things in that life to perfect that life. That is the purpose. 

Through Death- Hebrews 2:14-16

Hebrews 2:14-16 ESV 

" 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, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham."

We share in flesh and blood. 

We share in the one Spirit. 

He came to combine the two. 

The power of the devil is in death. It was through death that the Son defeats and overcomes death. It is through death that life comes.

Your Name- Hebrews 2:11-12

Hebrews 2:11-12 ESV   

" For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, 

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

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

By what name shall all be saved?

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There is but one God.

Matthew 28:19

" Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

One Source- Hebrews 2:10-11

Hebrews 2:10-11 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. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,"

We are on a glorious path. We are like a seed that has the potential to grow into the household of God, to be brothers of Christ. The divine had to visit the earth, to enter our humanity our suffering that we would share in His Divinity. He completed, or made perfect, the will of God in the creation of man. We are now reborn into the Way of salvation that we might be perfected through our journey here on earth. 

We are told we are brothers because He and we share the one source of Sanctification and that would be the Father. 

For A Good Conscience - 1 Peter 3:18-22

1 Peter 3:18-22 NASB 

" For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him."

.

The resurrection of Christ turns the believers world upside down. Prior to belief in Christ a person is alive in the flesh, but dead in the spirit with regard to God. Belief begets life, but the flesh is put to death. This new creature may appear the same on the outside though there is something different on the inside. As the body of flesh is put to death the heart begins to transform into a new type of flesh on which the word of God can be written and be lived. 

Baptism here is defined as a type of confession, an appeal to God to fulfill His promise of salvation. A good conscience is the sign of a repentant heart which finds rest in God's grace. Christ has been resurrected above all things, including our sins. We are told elsewhere that He is greater than our conscience when our conscience condemns us. With God all things are possible. 

Crowned - Hebrews 2:7-9

Hebrews 2:7-9 ESV 

" You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

The reign of Christ has begun. He was crowned and is crowned forever as King of Kings. The Greek verb tense reflects something that has happened and continues in the present. He was crowned with glory and honor. This is emphasized by stating this twice. 

While we do not see the physical reality of His kingdom in this broken world, many were able to physically witness His resurrection and ascension into heaven. We see Him now with hearts of faith. His grace allows us the follow Him through death to life. 

What Is Man - Hebrews 2:5-7

Hebrews 2:5-7 NASB 

"Earth Subject to Man

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, 

“What is man, that You remember him?

OR the son of man, that You are concerned about him? 

“You have made him for A little while lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honor,

And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;"

The power of God is made perfect in weakness. The perfect example of this is Christ assuming the weakness of man to overcome that weakness. Just as He received glory and honor by His obedience to the Father, so will those that follow after Him. 

Our wandering in the wilderness is only for a little while, our time on this earth is passing quickly. We will come into our inheritance before long. A new creation will be ours. 

If We Neglect - Hebrews 2:3-4

Hebrews 2:3-4 NASB 

" how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."

The Hebrews had received the great salvation of the Lord, yet they are warned against neglecting that same salvation. It was possible for them to revert to Judaism because that is what they knew and the pressure from their brethren who did not follow the Son must have been very great. 

In the wilderness the Israelites heard God and saw wonders. This did not prevent them from neglecting and turning away from the Lord. This was written for us so that we might learn from their example. 

Without the presence of the Holy Spirit they were unable to hear the word of God. They did give witness to the thunder and lightning on the mountaintop, but they were were not able to understand their meaning. The words had to be inscribed on stone tablets and brought down to them by Moses.  

Jesus descended from the mountain of God and wrote the word of God on men's hearts via the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are various and dispersed according to His will. 

Ministering Spirits - Hebrews 1:14

Hebrews 1:14 ESV 

" Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"

The author speaks of angels as serving those who have placed their faith in Christ. It is a holy ministry involved with the creation and sustaining of a holy people who will inherit the promises of God. We join in that ministry and service when we enter the body of Christ. 

We are surrounded here on earth by this mighty host and will unite with them in the presence of the Father and Son. 

Your Throne, O God - Hebrews 1:8-9

Hebrews 1:8-9 NASB 

" But of the Son He says, 

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. 

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”"

There is one God. These two verses speak to the mystery of how He has revealed Himself. First we are told that God is the Son. Then we are told that God anointed the Son. It is God that sits on throne on high. 

The multitude of God's splendor is beyond our frame of reference. He speaks to us using images we understand to tell us of another reality so that we might know where to place our faith. It is good forever and ever.  

A More Excellent Name - Hebrews 1:3-4

Hebrews 1:3-4 NASB 

" And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they."

The command went forth, "Let there be light" and the radiance of His glory went forth. He made man in His image, then showed the exact representation by wrapping that light in human form. He ascended to God's throne in that perfected form and sat down. 

He removed the sting of death, giving the option of eternal life to those trapped in the clutches of sin. 

A most excellent name He has inherited and it is the name we will inherit if we follow Him. We will be in good company as we share in His life and reign. 

Has Spoken - Hebrews 1:1-3

Hebrews 1:1-3 NASB 

​ God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"

The word of God has been expressed through the ages until taking its perfect form in the man Jesus. The light and nature of God was made visible, love and mercy is revealed. The majesty and judgement will be clear in the end. He is and will have the final word. 

My Son- Hebrews 1:5

Hebrews 1:5 NASB 

" For to which of the angels did He ever say, 

“You are MY Son,

Today I have begotten You”?

And again,

“I will be A Father to Him

And HE shall be A Son to ME”?"

Jesus was the first one to call God Father for He is the first Son. He allows us to be sons and call Him Father. We share in the body of Christ the many blessings of the risen Son. We begin leaving the old man behind, a transformation which will find completion when He returns. We will be like Him. 

Mercy Me - James 2:12-13

James 2:12-13

" So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."

Mercy has freed us from the captivity of sin. The law of Moses revealed that sin and our distance from God. 

We who follow Christ are freed from the law of the old covenant, but we are under a higher standard: the law of liberty. We receive this gift through the mercy of Jesus Christ. The law of liberty requires mercy. As we received we are to give. If we are unable to be merciful, then we have not and will not receive mercy. 

We will be judged. Our fruit will be harvested. Be merciful as you have received mercy. 

Here And There - Romans 6:4

Romans 6:4 NASB

" Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

New life begins when we turn to Christ. Christ is the glory of God Who is the power and Spirit of God Almighty. This new and eternal life is given to us even though we still reside in these tabernacles of flesh. We begin our walk with the Father. We become visible and alive in the kingdom of heaven. We are here and there.

Will - John 6:38-40

John 6:38-40 ESV 

" For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”"

We are in the last days, but it is the last day when we will be raised. 

We will be raised for that is the will of the Father and Jesus will do it. 

In The Light 1 John 1:5-8

1 John 1:5-8 ESV 

Walking in the Light 

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

God is light. 

 

The command, "Let there be light" in Genesis signifies His intent for the world to know Him, to live in His light. It will be that way in the end as written in Revelation. 

Will Come To Me - John 6:36

John 6:36-37 ESV 

" But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."

John 6:40

" For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”"

No one is predestined to live unless they believe in the Son. We are predestined to die. There is nothing to be done on your own. Life comes only through the Son. This is for everyone and anyone who believes. The opportunity is there for all. 

What You Eat- John 6:53-56

John 6:53-56 ESV  

" So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Jesus took on our flesh and blood, our life, in order that we might have His life. That life is ours when we partake in His flesh and blood. Partaking in His life means we abide in Him and He in us. He entered our life that we may be able to enter His. You are what you eat. Somebody pass the bread please.