Consider Jesus

Hebrews Three

After being focused on believers’ Great High Priest regarding his humanity, reconciling atonement, union with believers, and suffering temptation, believers were also assured that Christ is perfectly able to help, aid, and assist the tempted. Now Christians are addressed as holy brethren and participants in the calling to Heaven. As such they must give the most careful attention—fix the mind with all attention on—to Jesus as Apostle, that is, one sent from God with a special commission. They are to also consider Jesus as High Priest, that is, as the one who mediates between God and them while representing them before God (Heb. 3:1).

They had confessed Jesus Christ as God’s “Apostle and High Priest!” What are believers to consider regarding Jesus Christ? It is the fact that He was completely faithful to God Who appointed Him! In fact His fidelity to God’s plan far out distanced the faithfulness of Moses as the servant of God (Heb. 3:2-5). The believer is called to give careful attention to Christ with the purpose of understanding Him while allowing Moses to fade into the background.   

Believers are also called to “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb. 3:6). Their persistence in confessing Christ demonstrates their genuine faith in Him. Continuance is one of several biblical evidences of Christian conversion. Therefore believers must listen to His Voice with submissive hearts full of faith. Such believers will experience rest in the complete and perfect work of Christ. Newell noted that “these warnings… are not given to create uncertainty, but to avoid presumption and carelessness.” Historically Israel greatly grieved and provoked the Lord to anger with their hardened hearts, unbelief, and stubbornness. Because of such evil hearts of unbelief they on occasion forsook the Living God. These believers were being warned to not make the same grave mistake (Heb. 3:7-12).

Solid advice for remaining faithful to the True and Living God is given in this last paragraph (Heb. 3:13-19). The Christians are told several things. First, they were to warn and admonish one another to keep their hope and confidence in Christ (3:13).  This is a ministry of love and service among fellow believers in Christ. It is this mutual caring ministry one to another that serves to prevent the hardening of Christians in the assembly. The deceitfulness of sin is effectively countered through personal and direct involvement and relationships of accountability. Secondly, to encourage one another’s faith and obedience to prove they are indeed partakers of Christ in the blessings of the promised rest (3:14). Thirdly, they must continue listening to God speaking in His Son as long as it is called “today” (v. 15). The danger of developing a harden hearts was ever before them. Fourthly, they must not fail to enter into God’s rest; believe God—live by faith in the Apostleship and Priesthood of Christ who was entirely faithful to God the Father who had appointed Him (Heb. 3:19). The first generation of Israel who left Egypt did not inherit the promises. It was unbelief that prevented them from knowing God’s very best for them. The same is true for us believers today. 

Yes, there is a real danger of tolerating an evil heart of unbelief still.... Do not simply live with doubts! Overthrow them entirely by believing God, and we understand that faith comes by listening to the Word of God. Instead of living with doubts and unbelief, purpose to be faithful to God as the Lord Jesus was most faithful! God is not a liar; believe Him in every respect. Be faithful to a faithful God. Trust Him in every situation. Know that He always has your highest spiritual welfare at heart. Stay in the Word allowing it to build real confidence in the Lord God. Give yourself permission to believe specific promises, statements, and prescriptions from the Bible. Hold on to God's clear promises. Cultivate a heart of unwavering confidence in the Lord Jesus. Do not permit doubts to deceive you and rob you of God's very best. It really is okay to trust an unflappably faithful God.