Trust Issues Hebrews 3:1-19

1. Trust Issues Hebrews 3:1-19

2. The author has established that Jesus is superior to angels in His deity and humanity. 1:1-2:18 • Now, the author is establishing the Jesus is superior to Moses. • 1st century thought was held in almost God-like esteem, even higher than the angels.

3. His audience are believers: holy “brethren” and “partakers of the heavenly calling.” • Partakers of Messiah. Heb. 3:14 • Partakers of the Holy Spirit. Heb. 6:4 • Partakers of divine discipline Heb. 12:8 • Therefore, he calls them to move on to the next step and learn of the Messiah. (Matt.11:29)

4. Jesus has proved that He is faithful as the divine envoy (apostle) and faithful high priest and greater than Moses. vv. 1-2a • Moses is acknowledged by God as chief steward over God’s household, Israel. Moses was faithful in this role as well as a special envoy and mediator/advocate between God and Israel. (Exd. 32:11-14; 31; Num. 14:13-19)

5. The Son of God is superior to Moses since He is the creator , which implies that He is the founder, inheritor, and ruler of the household while Moses was a servant and part of the household. vv. 3-5 • The ministry committed to Moses foreshadowed the things to come in Christ. v.5 • The Son of God is superior since He is the author of the New Economy/dispensation, while Moses was not even the author of the Mosaic dispensation. v.6a

6. The background includes the Numbers 12:8. God issued a solemn warning to anyone who might “speak against My Servant Moses.” Therefore, a greater warning is the implicit against an apathetic or indifferent attitude concerning our salvation. Heb. 2:1-4 • Therefore, those who are believers who adopt this indifferent attitude will be exemplified by • Not “retaining the scriptures” or “not keeping a tight grip on the scriptures” v.6 • A lack of public boldness concerning their faith. v6 • They will fall away when various pressures come to them. v.6 (the “if” clause)

7. The result: A continuance in faith (not for salvation but in a faith life) evidences that the person actually continued in their faith life. A lack of continuance in faith is evidence that the person stopped trusting in God. V.6 Note: this has nothing to do with salvation. This does not mean that believers are saved only if they just hold on to the end. This would mean salvation is attained by works, not by faith. This has to do with one’s faith life. This leads to cutting themselves off from the blessings of being in the new household (the church) and lose rewards in the Kingdom. V.6b

8. III. The Danger of Disobedience: The Second parenthetical warning. • The rejection of Jesus is more serious than the rejection of Moses. 3:7-19 • Learn from a bad example of giving up faith and hope and experiencing divine discipline for it. V.7-11 (Psalm 95) • The Provocation of Kadesh-Barnea Numbers 13-14 • Widespread revolt against God and Moses. Israel almost killed Moses and Aaron until God intervened.

9. The judgment: The Exodus generation that came out of Egypt but refused to enter into the Promise Land would not be allowed in and would wander for 40 years until all of that generation died, except Joshua and Caleb. • The Exodus generation had reached the point of no return and their decision was irrevocable. The judgment was physical death outside the Land and a loss of temporal blessings. • The Exodus generation would not enter God’s rest.

10. Three rests in the Old Testament: • Canaan Rest: to cease struggling with the enemy. Has to do with subjection of one’s mind, will, and heart to God’s power. This type of rest enables the believer to conquer sin. The Promise Land is a picture of rest and ceasing to struggle with the enemy • Creation Rest: emphasizes a completed work. Salvation rest in the finished work of the Messiah. The future aspect is when a believer finishes his or her work on earth and goes to Heaven. • Sabbath Rest: spiritual rest. The spiritual rest of spiritual maturity or “faith life rest” which the writer of Hebrews is encouraging them to enter into.

11. The application • The believers (the readers of the book of Hebrews) are in similar danger or making an irrevocable decision which will also subject them to the judgment of physical death a divine discipline. • This is a physical judgment and not a judgment concerning a loss of salvation • Numbers does say that the Exodus generation repented and God forgave their sin. Numbers 14:20 • Their sin did not affect anyone’s salvation, but the physical consequences of their sin did need to be paid.

12. Once a point of no return is reached, no matter how much repenting one does thereafter, physical judgment cannot be changed. • By the time the book of Hebrews is written, it has almost been 40 years since the crucifixion. • God’s reaction to the Exodus generation’s unbelief was anger. • Therefore, believers are not to develop a heart of unbelief which will evidence in apostatizing or “falling away” from God and become hardened.

13. The deceitfulness of “this sin” tricks one into thinking that this is the best way out of your present situation. • This leads to cutting oneself off from the blessings of being in the new household (the church) and the loss of rewards in the Kingdom (based on the authors analogy). V.6b-12