HEBREWS: Lesson 11 - Redemption, Sanctification, Glorification

We have been touching on the topic of salvation in previous lessons. I believe it is an important topic for us to look at in our study of Hebrews since the author is at times talking to Jews who, although they have turned away from Judaism, have not fully accept Christ.

We started with a brief review of what we have studied in Hebrews Chapters 1 thru 6. Next, I reviewed the terms REDEMPTION, SANCTIFICATION, and GLORIFICATION. These three terms divide and define the journey of a Christian.

REDEMPTION is possible because of Christ. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Col 1:14). The sinner who believes that Jesus died for him/her, repents of his/her sins and receives Christ as their Savior and puts their complete trust in God to do what He promised is redeemed. Those that are redeemed are eternally saved and can never be unsaved.

SANCTIFICATION is the process by which one becomes more Christ like in his/her Christian walk. It is a process not a sudden change. When one first becomes a Christian he has little knowledge of what a spiritual walk is. He must grow. The Christian grows spiritually by the word of God. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

GLORIFICATION is the final step in our salvation. We are saved when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus then adopts us into his family. We are born again. Yet, we are still in our bodies. Any Christian knows he is not perfect ("If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - 1 John 1:8). Glorification occurs for the Christian when he/she ends up with God in Heaven with resurrected incorruptible bodies. We shall be like Jesus Christ. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2)

One of the main messages of Hebrews is for the Jewish audience to make a total break with the pattern of the Old Covenant in their acknowledgement of Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks of seven different covenants God made with the nation of Israel.

One of those covenants, the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 11 and following), was conditional in nature. That is, this covenant would bring either blessing or cursing depending on Israel's obedience or disobedience. Part of the Mosaic Covenant was the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the rest of the Law, which contained over 600 commands--roughly 300 positive and 300 negative.

The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) is a covenant made first with the nation of Israel and, ultimately, with all mankind. In the New Covenant, God promises to forgive sin, and there will be a universal knowledge of the Lord. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people. Now that we are under the New Covenant, both Jews and Gentiles can be free from the penalty of the Law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Although we are now free from the Levitical Law (moral and ceremonial), we must realize that our freedom is in Christ. We have been bought with a price. We are no longer our own. We belong to Christ. Therefore, it should be our goal to glorify Him in all we do which should originate from our love for Him.

"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:20)

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being." (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Next week we will begin with 6:9: "But, beloved...". Beloved is never used in the NT to describe unbelievers. The contrast word "but" signals a marked change in tone as the author addresses the reader as beloved rather than "...those who..." (v. 6:4). The severity of the previous warning passage is further balanced in this section by an exhortation to be diligent and an encouragement (vs. 6:9-20).

HEBREWS: Lesson 10 - Maturity, Eternal Security, & Apostacy

After the author's very encouraging words in verse 6:3, the text drops abruptly into a very dark passage extending from verse 6:4 to verse 8.

Hebrews Chapter 5:11 thru Chapter 6:8 (especially 6:4-8) is a most controversial section of Scripture which has caused many believers considerable distress. For centuries Hebrews 6 has been a battleground. The crux of the issue is whether or not a born-again believer can lose his salvation.

The Bible clearly teaches that anyone who is truly born again and indwelled with the Holy Spirit is saved forever. They can never lose their salvation (see verses on Eternal Security below).

If you can spare 23 minutes and want to get a great overview of Hebrews Chapter 6 on the topic Does Hebrews 6 teach you can lose your salvation?, check out Todd Friel's animated teaching:

  Does Hebrews 6 teach you can lose your salvation? 

Todd Friel from WRETCHED

The concern of the author is with those of his unsaved Jewish readers who under stress of persecution were in danger of renouncing their professed faith in Messiah and returning to the abrogated sacrifices of the Old Covenant. These he repeatedly warns against this act, and repeatedly exhorts to go on to faith in the New Covenant through Christ Jesus. The fact that he urges them on to faith, shows that they merely made a profession and were not saved.

The question to be answered is if one's profession of faith at one time was truly a possession of faith. Did the mouth speak something other than what the heart believed? If one is truly indwelled by the Holy Spirit, then we should expect that one would be "steadfast to the end," (v. 3:14). Paul said in Philippians 1:6: "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;". Based on scripture, we must assume that those who "fall away" (v. 6:6) were never saved. They might have made a profession of faith at one time (intellectually believed) but never truly trusted Christ as their Savior.

"Fall away" does not mean to stumble, backslide, or sin. It means to renounce the faith they once confessed. This is called apostasy. This is why the warning in Chapter 6 is so very important. The author is warning these Jews of the danger of having intellectually believed and then fallen away. The results were to be forever damned.

Eventually, one who has only intellectually believed will drift away (Hebrews 2:1), then their heart will grow hard (Hebrews 3:8), then they will become dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11), and finally they will fall away (Hebrews 6:6) and be lost forever--an apostate. The author is warning his audience to NOT let this happen!

So, can one who is truly saved lose his/her salvation? Absolutely not! So, how do you know if you are truly saved?

Ask yourself...

Is the Bible my joy and the delight of my heart? "Your words were found and I ate them. And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart: For I have been called by Your name. O Lord God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16)

Is God's Word my love which I seek to meditate in all day? "Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97)

Is God's Word sweet to my taste, sweeter even than honey?" "I have restrained my feet from every evil way. That I may keep Your word." (Psalm 119:101)

Ask yourself...

What are you longing for most earnestly and with the greatest passion in your personal walk and relationship to Christ?

Are you longing for greater intimacy? Are you longing for greater depth? Are you longing for greater power? Are you longing for greater clarity as you see His glory in the Scriptures? Are you longing to hear His voice with greater confidence as you read His Word? Are you longing to discern His will more confidently? Are you longing to walk more closely with Him in a real, living relationship, as a real person? Are you longing for His smiles of favor rather than His frowns of discipline? Do you even think in these terms? Do you go to bed with these longings? Do you wake up with these longings governing your life? Do you devote time, perhaps on the Lord’s Day, to seek His face to intensify these longings?

Ask yourself...

What are you longing for in your relationships with other people?

Do you long to represent Jesus with greater compelling forcefulness? Do you long for a greater love for people and a greater zeal for their salvation? Do you long to have greater boldness and encouragement from God in your own representation of Christ? Do you long to be a means of other people’s holiness, and purity, and power? Do you long to bring the Word of God from your encounter with the risen Christ into the lives of other people with effectiveness? Do you long for readiness to speak hope-filled words into the face of those who are dying or suffering or coming out of divorces? Do you have the aroma of Christ about you and do you long for it in conversations with others so that they say, there is an aroma about you that is different. Do you long to be able to inspire others by your own example in a life more consistent and deep and satisfying prayer

In the first slide, I showed two identical characters and asked "What is different between these two men?" Assume that both made a profession of faith at a young age. Both are regular church attenders. Both are even deacons. Both have been on foreign mission trips. The difference is that one man is saved and the other man is not saved. Sadly, there are many "pretending" Christians in churches today that are very actively involved in religious activities. Only God knows the condition of their heart.

Paul said, "Test yourselves whether you are in the faith, examine yourself." (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Next week we will begin with 6:9: "But, beloved...". Beloved is never used in the NT to describe unbelievers. The contrast word "but" signals a marked change in tone as the author addresses the reader as beloved rather than "...those who..." (v. 6:4). The severity of the previous warning passage is further balanced in this section by an exhortation to be diligent and an encouragement (vs. 6:9-20).

 

Eternal Security

The Bible teaches that everyone who is born again is indwelled with the Holy Spirit and is saved forever.

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28)

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6)

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." (1 John 2:19)

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares: Matthew 13:24-30
Parable of the Sower: Matthew 13:1-9

"Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men," (Isaiah 29:13 & Mark 7:6)

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16)
 

"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." (2 Tim. 1:14)

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)

HEBREWS: Lesson 9 - Requirements for Priesthood & Spiritual Maturity

Chapter 5 is divided into three main sections:

1st - The Requirements for Priesthood (1-4)

2nd - Jesus Meets and Exceeds the Requirements (5-10)

3rd - Warning: Spiritual Maturity (11-14)

In his first two sections, the author reminds his audience of the requirements for becoming a priest. The Jews knew how special the priesthood was, especially the position of High Priest, and they had great respect for the position. The author then highlights how Christ far exceeds the qualifications to be THE Great High Priest.

The Levitical priesthood began at Mt. Sinai through Moses and ended when Christ abolished the Law of Moses on the Cross ("Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split," - Matthew 27:51). When the veil of the Temple was "torn in two from top to bottom", at that moment the Priesthood was abolished. All those who were/are "in Christ" were/are given full access to the Holy of Holies through Christ who is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven--the Holy Place.

God established the Levitical Priesthood (also referred to as the Aaronic Priesthood) through the three sons of Levi (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari). The Tabernacle began at Mt. Sinai in 1446 BC and it was at that time that special duties were given to each of the three lines of priests, but only the sons of Aaron could offer animal sacrifices or incense. Therefore, all of the High Priest came from descendants of Aaron.

Moses functioned as a priest on three occasions, all before the priesthood was consecrated to serve "after the order of Aaron."

1. Ex 24, when he sprinkled the book and the people at the ratification of the Law.
2. Ex 40:22f, when he set up the tabernacle, put bread on the table, burned incense on the altar of incense, and offered a burnt offering and meal offering on the altar of burnt offering.
3. Lev 8, when he anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, the priests, and offered a sin offering, a burnt offering and an ordination offering  for the consecration of the priests.
4. After that priests must be "after the order of Aaron," Heb 7:11.

Why Moses is called a priest in Psalms 99:6 may be a matter of special privilege since he functioned as HIGH priest before Aaron got his exclusive rights. It really should not surprise us. Why would he lose this power and position when he appointed Aaron? I think the answer is that he did not. Moses must have been a full priest forever, but thereafter Aaron's sons were the chosen ones.

High priests were appointed for life by Moses, but at the time of Jesus were appointed annually by the Romans. This is why we have multiple high priests at the trial of Jesus (Annas and Caiaphas). Annas was High Priest from 6-15 AD. Then from 16-30 AD Caiaphas was High Priest. In 60-63 AD, Ananias was the high priest who tried Paul in Acts 23:2.

The priesthood continued down to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD when it became physically extinct, but it was rendered spiritually extinct at the death of Christ (33 AD) being replaced by the priesthood of believers in Christ. Today, every Christian is a priest and Christ is our high priest.

NOTE: When King David designed the Temple, had all the stones precut and ready for Solomon to build it without a cutting tool, he also reorganized the priesthood into 24 divisions. These 24 divisions continued down to the time of Christ (1 Chronicles 24:1-6).

Below is an extensive diagram showing the Levitical Priesthood.

After making the argument that Christ fulfills the requirements to be the One and Only Great High Priest, the author then turns to his third warning which will continue through Chapter 6. He realizes that he can't continue discussing the deep things of the spiritual life because of the dullness of hearing (vs. 5:11) which is apparent among many of those in his audience. Dullness is interpreted stupid, thick, lazy or sluggish.

In verses 12-14 the author speaks very strongly to the Jews who have yet to accept Christ fully. He tells them that "by this time" they should be mature enough to be teaching others, but instead, they have forgotten even the basics of the things of God. The time period is unknown but could have been as long as 10 years. It would be like trying to teach 6th graders who had forgotten their A-B-Cs.

He goes further using the analogy of a baby needing milk and being unable to eat solid food. These unsaved Jews were like little birds in a nest with their mouths wide open waiting to be fed by their mother. They were "unskilled in the word of righteousness".

The last verse in Chapter 5 gets us ready for the first word in Chapter 6: "Therefore...". He says in verse 5:14: "solid food belongs to those who by reason of use have their sense exercised to discern both good and evil." 

"Reason of use" means to learn, obey, and apply. It would mean to actively study God's Word, pray, worship, serve, and fellowship. Without "exercising" all these spiritual disciplines in your life you will not be able to discern good from evil. This is the beginning of a passionate warning the author is bringing to these unsaved Jews. They are Jews who have turned from Judaism but have yet to fully commit their lives to Christ.

So far, the author has issued three warnings:

1st WARNING: Neglecting the Gospel

2nd WARNING: Drifting and Hardening of One's Heart

3rd WARNING: Lacking in Spiritual Maturity

The author will continue through chapter six addressing this third warning as he points out the great need for spiritual maturity ("let us go on unto maturity...") and exhorts the unsaved Jews against being dull of hearing and "sluggish" ("And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.")

Next week we will begin Chapter 6 and also revisit our discussion on sanctification and holiness.

Jesus said to His Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. your word is truth." (John 17:17)

HEBREWS: Lesson 8 - Tabernacle, Temples, & High Priest

Today we completed the last three verses of chapter 4 (14-16) which introduces the topic Jesus is Better Than The High Priest.

So far the author has made the argument that Jesus is better than angels, Jesus is better than Moses, and now, the author begins the argument that Jesus is better than the high priest.

The focus of our lessons for the next few weeks will be on chapter 4:14 thru chapter 10:18 where the author will be showing his audience how Jesus is better than the high priest and also better than the sacrifices made by the priests.

I started today by looking at the background of the Tabernacle, the Temples, and the high priest.

TABERNACLE: 

The tabernacle was the portable earthly dwelling place of God from the Exodus through the conquering of the land of Canaan. It was designed and build according to the specifications given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai. You can read about the specifics in Exodus:

Exodus 25: Materials needed: Ark, the table for 12 showbread, the menorah.
Exodus 26: The tabernacle, the bars, partitions.
Exodus 27: The copper altar, the enclosure, oil.
Exodus 28: Vestments for the priests.
Exodus 29: Consecration of priests and altar.
Exodus 30: Incense altar, washstand, anointing oil, incense.

One of the key elements placed in the Tabernacle, within the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holiest), was the Ark of The Covenant.

 Pillar of Cloud by day... Pillar of Fire by night...

Nehemiah 9:12. "By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take."

Nehemiah 9:19. "So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels."

ARK OF THE COVENANT

There were three items placed inside of the ark that represented some of the most embarrassing and disgraceful events in the history of the Israelites.

First, the pot of manna:

“This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer [portion for one man] of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 16:32)

God had provided this bread-like food for the Israelites when they grumbled during the wanderings in the desert. It was bread from heaven! He continued to provide the food daily and faithfully, but the people were not one bit thankful. They complained and wanted something else. The pot of manna was an uncomfortable reminder that despite what God had provided for them, the Israelites had rejected God’s provision.

Second, Aaron’s staff that had budded: 

The people, out of jealousy, rebelled against Aaron as their high priest. To resolve the dispute, God commanded the people to take 12 sticks written with the names of the leader of each tribe and place them before the ark overnight. The next day, Aaron’s rod from the house of Levi had budded with blossoms and almonds. God confirmed his choice of Aaron’s household as the priestly line.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.’” (Numbers 17:10)

The staff reminded the Israelites that on more than one occasion, they had rejected God’s authority.

Third, the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments:

God had chosen the Israelites as His special people. For the Israelites to qualify for that distinction, God had demanded one thing. They must obey His Law, the Ten Commandments. This was a conditional agreement:

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6)

The Israelites had said heartily, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do,” in response to God’s covenant (Exodus 19:8). But how did they fare in fulfilling their end of the contract? Miserably. It was impossible for them to keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. Over and over again, they violated God’s holy Law, and God made it clear to them the consequences of their sin by sending plagues, natural hazards and foreign armies upon them. The stone tablets in the ark were a reminder that the Israelites had rejected God’s right standard of living.

These three articles were preserved in the ark throughout Israel’s history as an unpleasant symbol of man’s sins and shortcomings, a reminder of how they rejected God’s provision, authority and right standard of living. It pointed to man as a helpless sinner.

It may have been uncomfortable to think that God’s splendor was so close to the three articles associated with man’s sinfulness. But this is where God’s provision comes in. When God looked down from His presence above the ark, He did not see the reminders of sin. They were covered by a necessary object — the atonement cover.

The Ark of the Covenant led the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan until it was captured by the Philistines when the Israelites were defeated. After much misery and death came upon the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:19-21), because of the ark, it was returned to David. In 1001 BC, David brought the ark to Jerusalem and placed "inside the tent David had pitched for it." (2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Chronicles 1:4-6).

TEMPLES:

First Temple: Built from 967 BC to 960 BC by King Solomon (1 Kings 6:37-38). This beautiful new Temple was built to replace the Tabernacle. The ark was moved into the new temple. The Tabernacle of Moses was stored in the new temple and is last mentioned in 2 Chronicles 5:5. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, totally destroyed the first temple in 587 BC. At that time the Ark of the Covenant was lost.

Second Temple: Built by Zerubbabel, the leader of the tribe of Judah, with the help of Joshua from 541-515 BC (Ezra 1:2; Haggai 2:1-9). It was much smaller than Solomon's magnificent temple and did not have the Ark of the Covenant. The Most Holy Place was an empty room.

During the period of the second temple the High Priesthood was corrupted. Many high priest died on the day that they entered the Most Holy Place because of their sin. This is where the tradition began that the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with a scarlet rope tied to his ankle and bells around his waist. The priests outside the Holy of Holies would listen for the bells jingling to know that the high priest had fallen to the ground dead. They would then drag his body out with the rope.

The High Priesthood during the second temple period was so corrupt that during the 420 year span of the second temple there were 300 high priests. In comparison, during the 410 year span of the first temple there were only 18 high priests.

Zerubbabel's second temple was later completely restored by Herod the Great in 30 BC. It was totally destroyed by Roman Emperor Titus in 70 AD. Jesus had predicted this in Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 21:20.

The Muslims control the Temple Mount area and in the late 7th century they build the Dome of the Rock in the exact location of Solomon's and Herod's Temple. The Jews believe that their Messiah can not return until the third temple is build. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has as its ultimate goal to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah -- the Temple Mount -- in Jerusalem. The plans are drawn and everything is ready, down to the smallest detail. All that is left is for the Jews to reclaim the 36 acres of land occupied and controlled by the Muslims.

THE HIGH PRIEST:

The High Priest was the supreme religious leader of the Israelites. It was a position only available to those in the line of Aaron (brother of Moses) of the Levite tribe (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:7).

He had to be without physical defects and holy in his conduct. “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord’s food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.” (Leviticus 21:6)

He had to oversee the responsibilities of all the subordinate priests (2 Chronicles 19:11). The high priest was the only priest that could wear the Urim and the Thummin (engraved dice-like stones used to determine truth or falsity (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8). People would go to the high priest in order to know the will of God (Numbers 27:21).

He had to make a sin offering for the sins of the whole congregation and for himself (Leviticus 4:3-21). When the high priest died, all those confined to the cities of refuge for accidentally causing the death of another person were granted freedom (Numbers 35:28).

The most important duty of the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement once a year. He entered the Most Holy Place behind the veil and stood before God. He made a sacrifice for himself and for the people. He then sprinkled blood on the mercy seat -- God's "throne" (Leviticus 16:14-15). He made atonement for himself and the people for all their sins during the year just ended (Exodus 30:10).

CHRIST IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST:

Christ made one final offering for all sin (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10, 12).

Christ entered God's presence on our behalf and secured "eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12).

Today, there are no priest between man and God. Those who are in Christ can "...come boldly to the throne of grace..." (4:16)

All forms of earthly priesthoods have been nullified. All worship or pretended connection with God by men calling themselves priests (Judaistic, Catholic, or pagan) is sinful. Earthly priesthood is an open defiance of the finished work of Jesus Christ!

Paul wrote: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)

The Most Holy of Holies is available to those who are in Christ. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." (4:14)

Jesus passed through to the third heaven and into the presence of Almighty God! That is now the place of the Most Holy of Holies.

It all began when Jesus Christ died on the Cross at Calvary.

"Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:51

Next week we will begin Chapter 5. Be sure to read the entire chapter and look up the meaning of sanctification and how it relates to holiness. Also, how does sanctification and holiness apply to our lives as believers?

 

HEBREWS: Lesson 7 - Entering Into God's Rest (Part 2)

Are you standing at the boundary of Canaan unable to enter God's full rest because of some issue/idol/pleasure/lust that keeps you from full surrender or in a state of unbelief? Or perhaps you are clinging to the sin of compromise. To compromise one's total allegiance and devotion to God is to allow the allurements of this world, with its accompanying worries, to take precedence and priority over Christ and His will and purpose for your life. This is what kept the Israelites from entering Canaan and enjoying the full rest of God. This is what the author is desperately trying to urge his audience to consider. Don't turn away from God's rest!

Today we completed the second warning (Danger of Hardening the Heart) given to the Jews that started back in chapter 3:7 and continued through chapter 4:13.

As a refresher:

First Warning: Danger of Neglect. (2:1-4)

Second Warning: Danger of Hardening the Heart. (3:7-4:13)

This brings us to the third main point of this section. "The NATURE of rest."

I. The AVAILABILITY of rest

II. The BASIS of rest

     A. Personal Faith

     B. Sovereign Decree

     C. Immediate Action

III. The NATURE of rest

IV. The URGENCY of rest

III. The NATURE of rest:

(v. 8) "For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterword have spoken of another day."

Note: The KJV renders "Joshua" as "Jesus" but the context supports that it is more accurately rendered Joshua. It is also somewhat surprising that this is the only mention of Joshua in the NT (he is not even in the Hebrews 11 "Hall of faith" although clearly he was a man of great faith). The man Joshua could never have given Israel rest outside of the enablement of the God-Man Jesus. So interpreting this passage as descriptive of Joshua the man (son of Nun) makes the most sense.

According to Psalm 95:7, God was still offering His rest in the time of David (long after Israel had been in the Promised land and long after Joshua 23:1 was written) which indicates (1) the rest of God was still available to the Hebrew readers and (2) that the rest was not a "land" but a "life"; i.e., the rest that was now available was a spiritual rest not a promised land! And this is the same rest the writer of Hebrews desires for his readers to enter! And to do so "Today"! It is the same rest every sinner needs to enter in order to experience rest in their souls (Matthew 11:28) from the power and fear of the penalty (eternal death) of sin.

(v. 9) "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God."

The "rest" that remains was not the land Israel was to receive along with rest from wars (Deuteronomy 25:19), for Israel had been in their land several centuries when David penned Psalm 95. Especially in Psalm 95:11 when David alluded to a rest yet not entered, implying that there was a component or aspect of rest that Israel had not yet obtained. In fact, the rest that remained was a soul rest (a "life" not a "land"!) offered by Jesus to all who would come to Him (Matthew 11:28, 29, 30). 

(v. 10) "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His."

From Psalm 95 the author has shown that the rest that the Israelites enjoyed in Canaan was not the rest God intended for his people. The intended rest is a Sabbath-rest, which, of course, is a direct reference to the creation account (Genesis 2:2); see also (Exodus 20:11; 31:17) of God’s rest on the seventh day. For the believer the Sabbath is not merely a day of rest in the sense that it is a cessation of work. Rather it is a spiritual rest—it entails an awareness of being in the sacred presence of God with his people in worship and praise.

There is still a “rest” that is available to us “today.” I understand this to have present and future dimensions, just as salvation has. There is surely a “salvation rest,” a resting from our works in an effort to earn God’s favor, when we come to faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. And there is the eternal rest which all Christians will experience. But there must also be what we might call a “sanctification rest,” a rest from striving as Christians in the power of the flesh, in a futile effort to attain godliness.

Romans 7 and 8 expand on this. Romans 7 is the description of a Christian trying to live up to God’s standards in the power of the flesh, and failing badly. Romans 8 is the solution. The Christian is to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raised the dead body of Jesus from the grave (John 6:63). By the working of His Spirit in us, we are able, to some degree, to live a godly life (see Romans 8:1-17). This is resting in Him, or we might even say, abiding in Him (see John 15:1-14). This is the key to fruitfulness.

IV. The URGENCY of rest:

(v. 11) "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."

The need for God’s rest is urgent. A person should diligently, with intense purpose and concern, secure it. It is not that he can work his way to salvation, but that he should diligently seek to enter God’s rest by faith—lest he, like the Israelites in the wilderness, lose the opportunity.

Diligence is the opposite of drifting (2:1) and is the admonition that some of these hesitating, vacillating Hebrew readers needed to hear. How? By hearing and heeding the sharp Word of God (Romans 10:17). That was the very problem the writer had alluded to with ancient Israel in the wilderness. They heard but they did not heed and as a result their corpses fell in the wilderness (3:17).

And thus we see that based upon what the writer has just said about entering or not entering God's rest, he is cautioning his readers to not make the same mistake that the majority of Israel in the wilderness made.

(v. 12) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

So what is the writer referring to by the word of God? This verse is frequently taken as a description of the "word of God" in general which of course is not an inappropriate application. But the careful reader must remember that accurate interpretation is dependent on interpreting the text in context and failure to interpret "word of God" in the context of the writers argument is to miss his main reason for inserting this description at this point in the book of Hebrews.

In the present context, Hebrews 3-4, the author has been emphasizing that it is urgent that his readers enter God's "rest" ("today"). He emphasizes that the way in which one enters His rest is by faith, faith that obeys and perseveres and holds fast until the end (holding fast doesn't save anyone - but it does show that such a person is saved for otherwise they would not be able to hold fast solely by their efforts).

The immediate context indicates that some of the readers were in danger of seeming to fall short of entering God's rest and even falling back into Judaism. It is in this background that he warns the readers that the "word of God" they have just heard is alive and can pierce right down into the innermost part of the heart to see if their belief is real or not.

Jesus alludes to the living aspect of the Word of God declaring "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (John 6:63)

"The Word of God is alive. This is a living Book. This is a mystery that only living men, quickened by the Spirit of God, will fully comprehend. Take up any other book except the Bible, and there may be a measure of power in it, but there is not that indescribable vitality in it that breathes, and speaks, and pleads, and conquers in the case of this sacred volume. It is only because Jesus is not dead that the Word becomes living and effectual, “and sharper than any double-edged sword”; for, if you leave Christ out of it, you have left out its vitality and power. As I have told you that we will not have Christ without the Word, so neither will we have the Word without Christ. If you leave Christ out of Scripture, you have left out the essential truth that it is written to declare." Spurgeon

 (v. 13) "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Both soul and body are effectively "naked" to the eyes of God. Remember that truth the next time you commit a willful, premeditated sin. You are sinning against great grace, great light, a great God! (Genesis 39:9). As it is the same sun that melts the wax which hardens the clay, so it is the same Word of God that leads some on to salvation, and turns others who will have none of it away into outer darkness (contrast these two reactions to truth - John 3:19, 20 versus John 3:21).

Did you ever stop to think that God sees everything you do and hears everything you say every moment of the day? This truth is both comforting and sobering--comforting because God stands ready to deliver us when we are in trouble (Psalm 33:18-19), and sobering because "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverb 15:3). What a profound effect this should have on the way we live!

The discussion in class today was fantastic! Seems were were just getting warmed up when we ran out of time. Keep reading Hebrews. Repeat, repeat, repeat! The more you read Hebrews the more it will become real to you. What an amazing book!

Next week we will complete the last three verses in chapter 4 (possibly begin chapter 5) as we look at Christ as our Great High Priest.

FIRST GRADE RECOGNITION

 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 4 
Pray for these families to have God's wisdom as they raise these beautiful children that God has put in their care.

HEBREWS: Lesson 6 - Entering Into God's Rest (Part 1)

VIDEO REVIEW

Or click to go to YouTube

Beginning in chapter 4, we find ourselves in the middle of a warning to those Jews who were sitting on the knife edge of making a complete decision for Christ. The warning began in chapter 3:7 and continues thru chapter 4:13. Although the warning is aimed at the Jews who have turned from Judaism but not yet completely surrendered to Christ, it is also a warning to the Jewish Christians who are teetering on the brink of turning back to Judaism. The author makes a very solid argument spelling out the dangers of unbelief. He continues to refer back to Psalm 95 where David remembers the Israelites and the grave consequences of their unbelief.

In chapter 3:7 thru 3:19 we looked at the dangers of developing a hard heart. Today we began looking at the next section, chapter 4:1 thru 4:13, which outlines the requirements and urgency of entering into God's rest.

For the Israelites, Canaan, the Promised Land, was a place of total rest. It was a place of peace and freedom. But on the way to the Promised Land the Israelites stopped. Although they had turned from Egypt, on their way to the Promised Land they halted at the crucial place of decision. Their hearts grew hard with unbelief and they were ultimately denied entry into the Promised Land.

(22) because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, (23) they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. (Numbers 14:22-23)

The author uses the Israelites as an example, warning the unsaved Jews who had turned from Judaism but had not yet made a total commitment to Christ. The warning from the author is:

Do not do what Israel did. Do not be taken away from the old life but never commit yourself to that new relationship with Jesus Christ. The more you hang on the balance, and the longer you continue to hear the message of the gospel, the easier it will be to reject Christ. One day you will wake up to realize that your heart has hardened to the point that your unbelief has resulted in your departing from the living God.

Here are five definitions of rest from the dictionary and the meaning as it would relate to God's Rest:

Rest means 1. Cease from action or motion; stop from labor or exertion.
God’s Rest: No more self-effort; trying to please God with feeble, fleshly works; Cessation from legalistic activity.

Rest means 2. Free from whatever worries or disturbs you; to be quiet, to be still, to be peaceful, to be free from guilt and the things which drive us to neurosis or psychosis.
God’s Rest: Be at peace with God; No need to worry about sins that have been forgiven; No more anxiety, pressure, or guilt.

Rest means 3. Lie down; to be settled or to be fixed. No more flux.
God’s Rest: Positionally established in Christ; No more running from philosophy to philosophy; No more being blown about by every wind of doctrine; No more floating on relativism; but grounded, rooted, and established in the absolute of God and His Word.

Rest means 4. Remain confident; to put your trust in something.
God’s Rest: Enjoy security without fear; Absolute trust and confidence in God’s care and charge of your life.

Rest means 5. To lean on something for comfort and security.
God’s Rest: Rest on God and lean on Him knowing He will be there.

We all understand the body's need for physical rest. We need daily physical rest and we also need mental rest from our routines. But simply taking a trip to the beach, the lake, or the mountains, or sitting at home doing nothing will not give us spiritual rest. Spiritual rest can only be found in Jesus. Jesus said:

(28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Our bodies definitely need rest but, more importantly, our souls need rest. Your soul consist of your mind, will, and emotions. It is here where your greatest  need for rest exist. Anxiety, worry, stress, fear and regret are enemies of the soul. These demons rob us of "soul rest." The only place we can fine true soul rest is in Jesus. Total surrender and commitment to letting God's will be the number one priority in our lives is how we find "rest for your souls."

Below is my outline for this section. We will continue with it next week and hopefully have some more great discussion as we uncover the many jewels found in this amazing book.

I. The AVAILABILITY of rest
II. The BASIS of rest
     A. Personal Faith
     B. Sovereign Decree
     C. Immediate Action
III. The NATURE of rest
IV. The URGENCY of rest

I. The AVAILABILITY of rest:

(v. 4:1) “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”

The author wants the Jews to know that, although the Israelites blew it, the promise of entering God's rest still remains. Just as Paul said: "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!” (Romans 11:1)

He even goes further in his warning by telling these unbelieving Jews that they should fear God if they don't enter His rest. He reminds them of the anger God had towards the Israelites for their evil hearts of unbelief.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him [God] who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.” (Matt. 10:28)

As Jesus said, true believers need not fear: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) 

Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

II. The BASIS of rest:

(v. 4:2) “For indeed the gospel [good news about rest] was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

Faith is the key to rest. Unbelief forfeits rest. The Israelites did not enter Canaan because of their evil hearts of unbelief. Although Joshua and the younger generation did enter Canaan, they were eventually driven out because of their unbelief.

How do you get God's rest?
 
1. Personal Faith:

Hearing without believing does no good! Israel had what is called a grasshopper complex. “There we saw the giants…and we were like grasshoppers…” (Numbers 13:33) Israel did not believe God!

Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians because of their belief and for receiving the truth of God's Word. “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

 (v. 4:3) “For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: ‘So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest.’” The author continues the argument for faith.

(v. 4:4) “seventh day” – God’s rest began on the seventh day after creation. At that point He had established a place of rest for His creation. Satan robbed the rest from Adam and Eve.

(v. 4:5) “And again in this place [Israelites in desert] ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”

Adam and Eve blew it! And now the Israelites blew it!

So God had to deal with the sin problem. He did this through Jesus. The O.T. people were saved on the basis of believing what God was going to do through Christ; the N.T. people were/are saved on the basis of what God has done in Christ.

2. Sovereign Decree:

You are saved by two things:
Your personal faith – “...and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)
The absolute sovereignty of God – “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” (John 6:44)

(v. 6) “Since therefore it remains that some must enter in…”
 God knows the outcome of who will and will not enter into His eternal and final rest.

“Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:5)  This shows God’s sovereign decree.

3. Immediate Action

(v. 7) “…again, He limiteth [designates] a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,”

God limits the day of grace and the opportunity for salvation.  “And the LORD said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.'” (Genesis 6:3)

After the flood life spans began to shrink. Several hundred years after the flood, Moses declared, “The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10)

The author strongly urges his audience as he repeats "Today". The time to enter God's rest is NOW!

This lesson will be continued next week.

HEBREWS: Lesson 5 - The Dangers of a Hard Heart

VIDEO REVIEW

Or link to YouTube: Hebrews 05

In this section (Chapter 3:7-19), the author warns these "brethren" not to be like the Israelites who hardened their hearts and tested God. He quotes Psalms 95:7-11 where David is referencing the Israelites and their unbelief. The author is encouraging his audience to remember God's anger, His wrath, and His harsh punishment that came upon the Israelites as a result of their "evil hearts of unbelief."

(v. 7) "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:" This verse gives us an excellent confirmation of divine inspiration. It is the Holy Spirit that brings us the Word of God through men.

The remainder of this section addresses the warning and consequences of a hard heart.

It must be important because at three separate times the author repeats the warning: "Do not harden your hearts..." (v. 8); "...lest any of you be hardened..." (v. 13); "Do not harden your hearts..." (v. 15). A similar warning was given in Chapter 2:1 when he said, "...lest we drift away." Drifting and hardening of the heart have the same end result of moving away from God, or losing interest in the things of God (His Word, prayer, worship, fellowship with other believers, etc.) They both result from giving-in to the "deceitfulness of sin" (v. 13). In the case of the Israelites, it cost them Canaan and eventually their lives.

(vs. 16-19) The urgency of this warning is better understood when reminded of how God dealt with the Israelite's unbelief (Numbers 14:22-23). The author wanted these uncommitted Jews to act quickly. He quoted David in Psalm 95:7 when he said, "Today, if you will hear His voice..." (vs. 7, 13, 15). In other words: Act now! Don't wait until tomorrow! Do it now! He reminded them that because of their constant unbelief, God swore that His wrath would be upon them (v. 11). At the end of Chapter 12 the author quotes from Exodus 24:17 where God is described as "a consuming fire...". Bottom line: GOD HATES SIN! He hates it just as much now as He did then.

The author continues to point out the seriousness and urgency. Because of their unbelief (v. 19), not only were they not allowed to enter Canaan, their "corpses fell in the wilderness." (v. 17). They came up to the edge of Canaan and after 40 years of angering God, because of their unbelief, He wiped out the entire generation (v. 17).

Jesus warns us that not everyone who claims to be a Christian will enter the kingdom of heaven. He even said, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord..." but He will say, "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:21-23). He warned that "...wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many who go in by it." (Matthew 7:13)

The author of Hebrews is warning these uncommitted Jews that their love of sin will slowly harden their hearts and if they continue, it will cost them everything. They must act today. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (v. 15).

PARABLE OF THE SOWER (Matthew 13:18-22): In this parable, Jesus seems to be confirming how few true Christians there are among us. Based on His parable, only 25% of those who "hear" the Gospel will actually be saved. Although there is no magic formula, Jesus does make it clear that MANY will be surprised to find out that a mere intellectual belief of the Gospel was not enough to gain a place in Heaven.

Based on the parable, "When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom..." (v. 19) they do one of four things:

1. "...does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." (v. 19);

2. "...immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he stumbles." (vs. 20-21)

3. "...the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful." (v. 22)

4. "...understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (v. 23)

In the first three responses, none would be considered Christians. The last response resulted in hearing the Word, understanding it, accepting it, and becoming fruit-bearing disciples of Christ--some more productive than others.

Many of those who attend church today are not saved. They might call themselves "Christians", but they are much like the intellectual Jews in Hebrews. They have turned from the world's ways (morally good) and intellectually believe the gospel, but have not yet surrendered everything to Christ.

Next week we will begin Chapter 4 which addresses what is required to enter God's Rest!