I Feel Guilty at Times

 

I Feel Guilty at Times

Mark 15:34-39, And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. ³⁶ And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. ³⁷ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Mark 15:34-39 recalls our Lord’s final moments on the cross, death, and anticipate His burial. Jesus cries out with a surprisingly loud voice "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (My God, why hast thou forsaken me?), then Jesus intentionally dies after this incredible cry, and the temple veil is ripped in two from top to bottom. A Roman centurion responsible for the entire crucifixion site, who had witnessed many crucifixions before, convincingly admits Jesus is the “Son of God.” While I could examine this passage in many other ways, I feel compelled to focus on the ways it makes me feel inside when I honestly reflect on these thoughts.

Is all guilt for sin bad? I was listening again to Mark 15:34-47 just before and each time I hear it or read it I find that I want to rush through those verses because I don't want to feel guilty at that moment. I'd rather pass through this section quickly to save myself some form of grief or seemly interruptive feelings of responsibility for Christ being there on the cross for my sin. I am ashamed of the things I have done, the sins I sanctioned, and the stuff I permitted because I knowingly looked the other way at times.

On occasion I have read that same passage and felt acutely my guilt, the pain of my sinfulness, and at times I wondered at the crucifying soldiers' conviction that Jesus is the "Son of God." Even now I am struggling to hold back my tears because I still feel so wrong inside.... I feel incredibly responsible for making a mess in so many areas that I am ashamed to name any of them...or to count them…I am inept. I am ‘messed up’ completely!

You see this is why I desperately needed a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am responsible for His being on that cross. It was my sin that placed Him there...though He did this voluntarily and willingly to satisfy justice on my behalf. I am now justified, forgiven, adopted, accepted, and sanctified in the Lord Jesus, but all these spiritual blessings came at an incredible price. I must never dear to take Christ's death for granted.

Yes, I will always know what I am, a sinner, and prayerfully, I will grow in my appreciation of Christ's sacrifice for me. I think such passages record accurately what happened that day at Calvary, but they also help us stay grounded and dependent on the same risen Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, there is tremendous value in looking back and appreciating the Cross anew.

I’m okay with respecting the death of my Savior more, and I sometimes feel guilty for my actions and history even though I have been forgiven. Certainly, this results in real repentance. I can live with this kind of guilt. Paul, Peter, James, John, and the list goes on…. All of them did. Every genuine conversion is predicated on acknowledging our guilt for sin before a holy God. Why should ‘Christian living’ involve forgetting this fact? Jesus wants us to remember His body that was “broken” for us and shed blood as foundational to the New Covenant. Certainly, we are to remember then….

Luke 22:19, And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26, And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. ²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Why Evangelize the Unsaved?

 

Why Evangelize the Unsaved?

Matthew 28:19; Romans 3:23; 6:23

There are several biblical reasons for evangelism in the life of every believer.  First there is the command of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19, where he says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  Every believer should take this command seriously and personally. Then secondly are the sinner’s needs which can be a powerful motivation when we consider passages like Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  And then Romans 6:23, where Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” These are clear commands from our Lord Jesus and the Word.

The reality of Hell and the wrath of God remain in the future of every unrepentant sinner.  A third reason for evangelizing is our love for Christ who was an outstanding evangelist to say the least. He certainly expects believers to obey his command to evangelize and to prove our love for him by our obedience to him. It was Christ who said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  A fourth and very good reason for evangelism is our love for others.  It is only natural to love one’s family and friends and want their good in all things.  Likewise, genuine love will compel us to be concerned with their eternal good.  These are just a few reasons, but there are others like the example of the Lord Jesus and his disciples, the stewardship of the Gospel, the glory of God, the lack of workers, and the promise of rewards which should also compel us to engage ourselves in the process of evangelism.  

Lesson:

I.               What Are the General Evangelism Approaches?  

So, with solid reasons to get involved, where should I start? How do the approaches to evangelism complement each other and represent parts of the strategy of evangelism?

There are three basic approaches to evangelism, and they each complement each other and represent parts of the strategy we need to embrace. The three parts are Presence Evangelism, Proclamation Evangelism, and Persuasion Evangelism.  Presence evangelism relates to the lifestyle of the believer that is his witness and testimony.  Proclamation evangelism focuses on announcing and publicizing the good news of Christ.  Persuasion evangelism concentrates on persuading and motivating the sinner to embrace Christ by faith.  It is intentionally preaching to secure soul-winning results.  Again, these are interrelated and interdependent upon each other.  For example, by our presence we win a hearing, by our proclamation we share the gospel message, and then by our persuasion we convince others to place their trust in Christ. These interrelated approaches affords ways to immediately invest ourselves in reaching people with the gospel.

II.            What Terms refer to New Testament Evangelism?

If we refer to the various words found in the New Testament to describe evangelism, the following is what we would discover.  Some present-day examples of these different types of evangelism are also delineated.

There are various Greek words found in the New Testament which describe evangelism; there are matching present-day examples for each of these words. 

• 1.     Martureo (Acts 1:8) is sharing your experience with others. The present day equivalent is sharing one’s personal experience in trusting Christ as Savior. 
• 2.     Laleo (Acts 4:1) is talking to others.  The present-day exercise of this type of evangelism occurs when we weave the message of the gospel and our faith into the average conversation with someone.
• 3.     Euaggelizo (Acts 8:4) is telling others about Jesus.  This can be achieved today by telling others the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Emphasis would be placed on the message of the good news in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
• 4.     Didasko (Matt. 28:20) is teaching others the gospel systematically.  Today we should explain the gospel message in great detail and systematically especially when working with someone who has questions or is religiously confused.  The goal is to remove misconceptions so people can understand and believe.
• 5.     Dialegomai (Acts 18:4) is answering reasonable questions.  Today as we share the gospel with others, some will have more questions or our presentation will raise legitimate concerns in the hearts of the sinners.  We can afford them opportunity to present their questions and give them Bible answers.  This form of witnessing takes on the form of dialog or a question-and-answer session.
• 6.     Kataggello (Acts 17:3) is driving home the gospel.  This can be effectively used today in public preaching as we bring sinners to understand their need and fervently point them to the reality that Jesus is the answer, solution, and “The Christ.” Such public proclaiming of Christ should be filled with conviction and astutely advocated by the believer.
• 7.     Kerusso (Acts 8:5) is announcing the gospel so people can respond.  Modern day street preaching wonderfully follows the manner of publicly heralding the gospel so that people can hear and understand.
• 8.     Mathateuo (Matt. 28: 19) is convincing others to follow Jesus.  Today we are to lead people to a conversion experience in trusting Christ to save them and then to actually become lifelong followers of Christ.  The elements of repentance, faith, and discipleship are all included.
• 9.     Peitho (2Cor. 5:11; Acts 18:4) is persuading those who are hesitant.  This is the modern effort of fervently bringing someone to the point of a decision for Christ as Savior.  While no one can be coerced or pressured for a decision, it is correct to persuade and encourage a positive choice for forgiveness and regeneration. 

III.         What is Evangelism?

Evangelism is the effort of believers to sustain a lifestyle which witnesses of the power of the gospel, to proclaim the gospel message clearly so that sinners can understand and believe, and to convince or persuade people to receive Christ as Savior.  Evangelism should be accepted as a mandate for all believers and an essential component for Christian living.

Conclusion:

Beloved, we have a clear mandate from our Lord and insight into our very real human condition of sin. God’s perspective is inarguable transparent also; people who die without Christ have no hope of salvation. Regardless of our position in a congregation or lack thereof, we are charged with the message of Christ. We who know the gospel must share it with those who are without the hope of Jesus Christ. As evangelists, we are referred to as fishers of men, witnesses, ambassadors, and stewards.  Several other occupations illustrate the work as NT evangelists. Terms like “builder” (1Cor. 3:10), “soldier” (2Tim. 2:3), “farmer” (1Cor. 3:6-9), and “sower” (Matt. 13:3) also shed light on our work. Clearly our job is placed before us as NT evangelists.  So, go in as many ways as you can to share the hope of Christ with whoever through the gospel.

Jesus is Our Sacrifice for Sin

“Jesus is Our Sacrifice for Sin”

1 Peter 2:21-25

SUBJECT: THE PROFIT IN SUBMISSIVE LIVING

THEME: There are immediate and eternal benefits to living submissively unto God.

RELEVANCY: But why is this important to us?

Christ’s example and the message of the gospel impact our lifestyles and behaviors of submission giving credibility to our faith claims and confidence in our experiences.

INTRODUCTION:

Christ’s Submission to God Involved Suffering to Secure Our Eternal Benefit. Please consider that the Lord Jesus suffered in life as a Servant to God (1 Pet. 2:21-25).

MESSAGE:

I.       Jesus Is Our Voluntary Sacrifice to Our Benefit (1Pet. 2:21, 24). Again, the Lord Jesus is not our Example in suffering wrongfully merely, He died in our place and for our sin! He is our Substitute. His submission to the plan of God involved suffering and dying for our sins at Calvary. 

1.  Jesus Died as Our Substitute and Not a Martyr. This reminds us of the great “Servant Chapter,” Isaiah 53, especially Isaiah 53:5-7, but also verses 9 and 12.
1. Jesus did not die as a martyr; He died as a Savior, a sinless Substitute. The word ‘for’ (1Pet. 2:21) when used in conjunction with the death of Christ has the meaning of a substitute.  This is NOT teaching that Jesus left us the example of how we should be willing to die for the truth or some great cause. It is teaching that Christ died in our place, in our room, as our substitute. The Substitutionary death of Christ.

                                                    i.     John 10:15, As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

                                                  ii.     John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

                                                iii.     Isa 53:5, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. He suffered for the supreme benefit of others!  That we sinners might be saved; let our sufferings lead to the conversion of sinners!

2. The word translated “bare” (1Pet. 2:24) means "to carry as a sacrifice." The Jewish people did not crucify criminals; they stoned them to death. But if the victim was especially evil, his dead body was hung on a tree until evening, as a mark of shame (Deut. 21:23). Jesus died on a tree—a cross—and bore the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13).

                                                    i.     Christ did not deserve to suffer (1Pet. 2:22), because He did not sin at all. The Lord Jesus lived a completely sinless life, therefore He did not deserve to died.

                                                  ii.     There was NO SIN in His pure perfect holy life and there was NO GUILE in His mouth or there was no deceit in His heart either. Matt 12:34, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

                                                iii.     This means that Christ was the perfect candidate to die for the sin of the world. God required a sinless sacrifice and Jesus provide exactly that. 1 Pet 1:18-19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

3. Secondly, it means to us that we must live pure, clean and holy before God and the world. Jesus’ heart and life were free of any anger towards God, any bitterness about His circumstances, or any resentment in his emotions! He was not secretly holding these events against God; he did not expect better treatment because he was the Son of God; he did not feel slighted or mistreated by God for these developments. While he recognized that people were treating him unfairly, he did not make the mistake of blaming God for his pains. Remember there is nothing thank worthy or praiseworthy in being knocked around and beat up for our faults but if we suffer for living godly this is tolerable with God! His kingdom is not of this world.

2. Jesus Died in Complete Surrender as an Act of Trust. Christ suffered willingly and voluntarily as a matter of Trust in God (1Pet. 2:23).  This can be seen in three facts.
1. He was reviled but He did not rail back at His attackers.  He had the power to fight back and end it all with His spoken word, but He didn’t do it.  It would have been lawful for Him to protect Himself, but it would not have been expedient for His cause and us sinners.

                                                    i.     We need to keep this important principle in mind when we want to wage war against our government or when we have a legitimate complaint at work.  You may have a good argument and the right or power to voice your opinion. But remember our Lord suffered and died unjustly.

                                                  ii.     Sometimes we may have to overlook the immediate issue, surrender our power to fight back, look at their need for the Savior, and willingly suffer wrong that they can see Christ in us.

2. He was abused, beaten and crowned with thorns, but He suffered it willingly. He ‘committed’ Himself, His life into the hands of a just God.

                                                    i.     According to verse 23, He knew that God would vindicate Him and He fully ‘Committed’ (handed Himself over to God).  And certainly, God vindicated Him early one Sunday morning when we raised Him from the dead. 

                                                  ii.     We must TRUST God’s wisdom and God’s way. Suffering for any reason at all is not easy, but we must trust the council of God written in this passage. It Will take real faith…super trust…to Commit ourselves to God as Jesus our example did.

3. We as Christians need to stop looking entirely to the government to turn our country around and Trust God to bring us a national revival. We as Christian must first get right with God and then we will see the healing of our land. 2 Chr 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. It is not the government’s fault that our society is going to the devil; it is our fault. Perhaps we have been cowardly quiet where we should have boldly spoken righteousness! And it will not change until Christians repent! 

3. Jesus Suffered to the Ultimate Degree, and it was Extremely Severe. 1 Pet 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
1. Isa 53:5, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
2. 1 Pet 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
3. Jesus Christ took our sin, our guilt, our judgement and our punishment -----and bore them for us. When we trust Him we receive His payment for our sins and we receive His righteousness. We as Believers cannot die for our own sin—as our own substitutionary sacrifice. But it may be necessary to DIE FOR OUR SIN BARER. Not to atone for or sins, but out of loyalty to Jesus Christ. The reality of Christian persecution in America will continue to increase as our society becomes more anti-God and anti-Bible. There are reports of Christians being arrested for street preaching, witnessing, and passing out tracks all the time.  Those who preach on the streets are being arrested all the time.  Churches are attacked with lawsuits and court battles regularly. It is no longer a distant possibility it is an own going battle today and it could mean our lives one day for the cause of Christ. 

4. Jesus Suffered for Our Sin That We Should Live in Righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24 ....that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. This is the clear and expressed purpose for his suffering; that we should live unto righteousness. And the hold purpose of our submission is to point people to our righteous God! So continue to do right!

5. Jesus Died to Secure Our Spiritual Healing. 1 Peter 2:24 ...by whose stripes ye were healed. The paradoxes of the cross never cease to amaze us. Christ was wounded that we might be healed. He died that we might live. We died with Him, and thus we are "dead to sin" (Rom. 6) so that we might "live unto righteousness."
1. The healing Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 2:24 is not physical healing, but rather the spiritual healing of the soul (Ps. 103:3). One day, when we have glorified bodies, all sicknesses will be gone; but meanwhile, even some of God's choicest servants may have physical afflictions (see Phil. 2:25-30; 2 Cor. 12:1).
2. It is not Jesus the Example or the Teacher who saves us, but Jesus the spotless Lamb of Cod who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
3. Clearly, suffering for the benefit of others in not child’s play. Such trust in God is what Christ exemplified. Are we willing to submit to God’s leadership…to be His sacrifice…to lay ourselves down for His offering that will benefit someone else? Will we sacrifice rights, privileges, and opportunities for the spiritual benefit of others?   

6. Jesus’ Death is significant because all sinners abide under the wrath of God and we were all correctly sentenced to death. But JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED AND DIED IN OUR STEAD AS OUR SUBSTITUTE AND AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE! HE DIED FOR US! Therefore, if He took my death then I as a believer am no longer obligated to Death. That’s GOOD NEWS to us sinners!
1. Ezek 18:4, Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
2. Rom 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. Rom 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
4. God Has Declared That the Proper Punishment of Sin is Death. We all have sinned; we all have a tendency to sin and God has condemned that tendency in us all. Because we have sinned against God, we deserve death. This death is threefold:

                                                    i.     Physical Death—This is the separation of the Spirit and Soul from the Body.

                                                  ii.     Spiritual Death—This is the separation from God, we are born in this condition because of a sinful nature. (Ps. 51:5; Ps. 58:3)

                                                iii.     Eternal Death—This is separation from God forever in the Lake of  Fire (Hell) also called the Second Death. (Rev. 20:11-15)

5. The Good News is that Jesus Christ Died for Us. He took the punishment for sin that we deserved.  He was completely sinless and could not sin, therefore He did not deserve death.  But He willingly died in our place and as our substitute.

                                                    i.     2 Cor 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

                                                  ii.     1 Pet 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

                                                iii.     Isa 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The truth is that since Jesus Christ died for me and the penalty of sin was paid for everyone by Him, then we who have accepted Him need not die for our own sin.  If we accept His sacrifice for all sin…our own sinfulness, we receive complete payment to our sin debt the credit of death. We are no longer obligated to pay a debt that is paid in full by Christ. THIS IS GOOD NEWS!

 

Christ Died for Our Sins

 

Christ Died for Our Sins

The phrase ‘Jesus died for my sins’ is a central Christian idea referring to our Lord Jesus, who was sinless, dying on the cross as a substitute to pay the penalty for our sins. This action satisfied God’s justice, resulting in the forgiveness of our sins as repentant believers trusting in Christ. We are thusly reconciled with God…we began a new relationship with Him as his children. Essentially as our ‘Substitute,’ Jesus took the punishment that we deserved because of our sins. Christ did not only die for you and me; He died for our sin. Sin is that serious with our heavenly Father.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4, For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Isaiah 53:5, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 John 2:2, And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Let us avoid the modern trends that downplay sin or dismiss our sinfulness altogether. No, we cannot view sin as a trivial or small matter when God makes such a big deal of this. It is not only solid theology, but it is a principle of the gospel. “Christ died for our sin,” yes, this is correct, important to God for us to acknowledge, and the truth about our human nature.

The Warning (Keep the Faith, Part 3)

 

Lesson Four

The Warning

Hebrews 3:7-11

 

Theme: Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is our Model of fidelity and is infinitely Superior to Moses. Therefore, hold firmly to your faith in Christ, God’s faithful Apostle and High Priest.

 

Reflection

Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question.

 Think of a time when a Christian friend encouraged your faith. What did this person do to help you?

 

Bible Reading

Read carefully and thoughtfully Hebrews 3:1–19.

5.  What is the overall scope of this warning section in the chapter? (Heb. 3:7-19)

 

I.                 In the first exhortation (Heb. 2:1–4), the writer pointed out the danger of drifting from the Word because of neglect. In this exhortation, he explains the danger of doubting and disbelieving the Word because of hardness of heart. It is important that we understand the background of this section, which is the Exodus of Israel from Egypt and their experiences of unbelief in the wilderness.

II.               To begin with, we must understand that there are spiritual lessons in the geography of Israel’s experiences. The nation’s bondage in Egypt is an illustration of a sinner’s bondage in this world. Much as Israel was delivered from Egypt by the blood of lambs and the power of God, so a sinner who believes on Christ is delivered from the bondage of sin (Col. 1:13–14). Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God” whose death and resurrection have made our deliverance from sin a reality.

III.             It was not God’s will that Israel remain either in Egypt or in the wilderness. His desire was that the people enter their glorious inheritance in the land of Canaan. But when Israel got to the border of their inheritance, they delayed because they doubted the promise of God (Num. 13–14). “We are not able” wept the ten spies and the people. “We are able with God’s help!” said Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. Because the people went backward in unbelief instead of forward by faith, they missed their inheritance and died in the wilderness. It was the new generation that possessed the land and entered into their rest.

IV.            What does Canaan represent to us as Christians today? It represents our spiritual inheritance in Christ (Eph. 1:3, 11, 15–23). It is unfortunate that some of our hymns and Gospel songs use Canaan as a picture of heaven, and “crossing the Jordan” as a picture of death. Since Canaan was a place of battles, and even of defeats, it is not a good illustration of heaven! Israel had to cross the river by faith (a picture of the believer as he dies to self and the world, Rom. 6) and claim the inheritance by faith. They had to “step out by faith” (Josh. 1:3) and claim the land for themselves, just as believers today must do.

V.              Now we can understand what the wilderness wanderings represent: the experiences of believers who will not claim their spiritual inheritance in Christ, who doubt God’s Word and live in restless unbelief. To be sure, God is with them, as He was with Israel; but they do not enjoy the fullness of God’s blessing. They are “out of Egypt” but they are not yet “in Canaan.”

6.  What warning does the Holy Spirit give to us? (Heb. 3:7-11)

To drive home God’s call to faithfulness and to warn of the consequences of stubborn disbelief, the classic failure of Israel at Kadesh Barnea which led to their 40-year detour in the wilderness is presented. That generation of Israel that came out of Egypt doubted God; therefore, they never entered the land of Canaan. Paul quotes from Psalm 95:7–11, which records God’s response to Israel’s tragic spiritual condition.

 

I.                 The Spirit’s Warning Issues a Command (3:7-8a).

a.      “Hear His Voice,” whenever God speaks, we should be swift to hear. To doubt His word is to call Him a liar and to incur His wrath.

b.      Israel put God to the test—“temptation in the wilderness”—by asking, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Ex. 17:7)  Instead of trusting God in the midst of adverse circumstances, they demanded that He show His hand in order to demonstrate to them that He was in their midst to help them.

c.      The phrase “harden not your hearts,” forbids the continuance of an action already going on. These Hebrews were already hardening their hearts. Paul exhorts them to stop doing so.

d.      In view of the fact that Messiah is better than the prophets, the angels, and Moses, the warning is, not to harden their hearts in renouncing their professed faith in Messiah and returning to the sacrifices. —Wuest, Kenneth S.

II.               The Spirit’s Warning Illustrates a Calamity (3:8b-9).

a.      The “provocation in the day of temptation” refers to the murmuring of Israel against the Lord at Rephidim because of the lack of water (Ex 17:1–7).

b.      God had delivered His people from Egypt and had cared for them, revealing His power in many signs and wonders (Heb. 3:9). Israel saw all of this and benefited from it!

c.      But the experience did not bring them closer to God or make them trust Him more. This is an extraordinary calamity! All that God did for them did not benefit them spiritually. In fact, just the opposite took place: they hardened their hearts against God! They put God to the test—“proved”—and He did not fail them; yet they failed Him.

III.             The Spirit’s Warning Illuminates a Condition (3:10).

God’s keen displeasure with Israel in the wilderness brought forth this stern denunciation. He accused them of a perpetual proneness to wander away from Him, and of a willful ignorance of His ways. —MacDonald, William; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary

a.      They Consistently Erred in Heart (Heb. 3:10).

                                                    i.     The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart. The people of Israel (except Moses, Joshua, and Caleb) erred in their hearts (Heb. 3:10).

1.      Their hearts wandered from God and His Word.

2.      They also had evil hearts of unbelief (Heb. 3:12); they did not believe that God would give them victory in Canaan. They had seen God perform great signs in Egypt. Yet they doubted He was adequate for the challenge of Canaan.

                                                  ii.     When a person has an erring heart and a disbelieving heart, the result will also be a hard heart. (Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible Exposition Commentary)

1.      This is a heart that is insensitive to the Word and work of God. So hard was the heart of Israel that the people even wanted to return to Egypt! Imagine wanting to exchange their freedom under God for slavery in Egypt!

2.      Of course, all this history spoke to the hearts of the readers of this letter because they were in danger of “going back” themselves.

                                                 iii.     Why was God grieved? (Heb. 3:10, 17)

1.      God was grieved according to Hebrews 3:9, which says, “When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.” But, why was He grieved? The two words “tempted” and “prove” hold the reason why God was so grieved with Israel. According to Wuest, “tempted” means “to put to the test to see what good or evil may be in a person.”  The nation of Israel was in affect saying ‘Can He provide and protect as He said?’  The people kept ‘testing’ God!  Then the word “prove” means “to put to the test for the purpose of approving the person if he meets the test.”  Israel was saying, ‘Is He really God?’ They were demanding more proof while ignoring a mountain of evidence. This is continuous unbelief. This is what grieved the heart of Jehovah. But note also what Carson said, Those who left Egypt with Moses had God’s words of promise and warning ringing in their ears, but they hardened their hearts and would not respond with faith and obedience. Rebellion and testing are translations of the Hebrew names Meribah and Massah (Ex. 17:1–7; cf. Nu. 20:1–13). At the beginning and end of their desert wanderings, the Israelites showed themselves to be particularly unbelieving at these places. They tested and tried God in the sense that they went as far as they could in provoking him to judge them (9). –Carson, D. A.1994. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition

2.      The latter phrase of verse 9 says, “and saw my works forty years.”  This affords us the third reason why God was grieved with Israel. The forty-year period in the wilderness was an expression of God’s anger with that generation, but it was also an opportunity for them to experience his gracious ways, again and again (10). Since they refused to repent and trust him, he declared on oath in his anger that such people could not enter his rest in the land that he had promised to their forefathers as an inheritance (11; cf. Nu. 14). That privilege would only be extended to their children. –Carson, D. A.1994. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition

3.      Israel’s behavior can only be described as continuous rebellion and unbelief. This grieved God greatly because He had given them so much evidence to persuade them to trust and obey Him implicitly. Although God had miraculously rescued them from Egypt and had demonstrated his power and care over his people, the people disobeyed God, complained against him, and refused to take possession of the land God had given them. They tested him, tried him, and saw him work both for and against them during their forty years of wandering. They tested his patience and challenged his authority. Despite seeing God's works for forty years, the people continually rebelled against him. –The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000

4.      God’s keen displeasure with Israel in the wilderness brought forth this stern denunciation. He accused them of a perpetual proneness to wander away from Him, and of a willful ignorance of His ways. –MacDonald, W. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary

5.      Wuest highlights the fact that their proneness to was due to their general ignorance of God—they had little experience with Him and His ways because they neglected Him.

6.      God was offended at the actions of Israel. … Israel was led astray with respect to the heart, the seat of one’s personal character and of one’s moral and spiritual life. The Hebrew has it, “They are a people of wanderers in heart.” … Israel’s ignorance of the ways of Jehovah preceded and was the cause of their being led astray. Their ignorance was due to their neglect of Jehovah, for the knowledge they lacked was experiential knowledge which was to be acquired through experience with the ways and character of God. –Wuest, K. S. 1997, c1984. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament

b.      They were Ignorant of God’s Way (Heb. 3:10b).

                                                    i.     In spite of God’s works and loving patience the Israelites failed to understand the ways He would have had them go to reach His Canaan rest (Ex 18:20).

1.      Yes, the forty-year period in the wilderness was an expression of God’s anger with that generation, but it was also an opportunity for them to experience his gracious ways, again and again.

2.      Instead they challenged God’s sovereign authority by their rebellion in the wilderness (Num 20).They cared not to take God’s road! 

                                                  ii.     Are we any better? Obedience from the heart goes beyond merely receiving instructions. One must respond to God’s wisdom with complete surrender and compliance.  That generation of Israelites perished because they willfully rebelled in spite of a full revelation at Mount Sinai.

                                                 iii.     When one despises the preachers of the gospel they are at the same time despising the message of Christ. Christ continued to speak through his apostles, and buy his Spirit. The general rule is that we should diligently attend unto him, and we are not to refuse any who speak unto us in the name and authority of Christ. This may be applied to all the faithful preachers of the gospel, but they may be despised in this world.

IV.            The Spirit’s Warning Issues a Condemnation (3:11).

a.      God’s judgment fell on Israel in the wilderness at Kadesh Barnea. That entire generation was condemned to die, and only the new generation would enter the land.

b.      God said, “They shall not enter into My rest” (Heb. 3:11).

c.      Dr. Newell made the following observations regarding this same matter.

                                                    i.     The wicked say to God, “We desire not the knowledge of Thy ways” (Job 21:14). The angel said to Daniel, “The people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”  Since not knowing God’s ways is shown as the vital lack in Israel of old, and assured their failing to enter God’s rest, let us ask How shall we know the ways of God?  Mark it well: do as Moses did.  Ask and seek to have His ways shown to you.  Or, with David, plead Psalm 27:11, and the like. We must know our God and His ways. Otherwise, we shall be mere “professing” Christians.

                                                  ii.     From all of these observations regarding the text, it can be concluded men dislike the ways of God because of ignorance, like of experience, spiritual laziness, and they simply did not pursue a knowledge of Jehovah and His ways.  Therefore, despite the abundance of evidence presented by God, Israel still did not know His ways.

Response 

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

 

 

11.  Why should believers distinguish between faith and feelings?

 

 

Question 7. Be careful to maintain balance here. It's easy to get into a gender-related discussion about emotions. Because a person is emotional doesn't mean his/her faith is not real. Faith can lead to emotion. It just can't be based on emotion.

 

 

 

12.  How can you determine if your faith is real?

 

 

Question 8. Read James 2:14–17 (read through verse 26 if you don't mind a longer passage). Discuss current examples of faith without works.

 

 

 

13.  What can you do to ensure that your faith will endure?

 

Prayer

 

Father, we ask you to deepen our faith in you. Give us the strength to withstand temptation, overcome doubt, and remain loyal to you. At the end of our lives, may we hear your words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

 

Journaling

 

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

 

 

What steps can I take this week to strengthen my faith in God?

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Questions

 

 

14.  How can you avoid hardening your heart against God?

 

 

 

15.  What is the danger for Christians who neglect the fellowship of other believers?

 

 

Question 11. If you can, offer some examples of how your own life is different in proportion to the time you spend in fellowship with believers.

 

 

 

16.  What Christian friend can you encourage in spiritual matters? How?

 

For more Bible passages about remaining faithful, see Deuteronomy 11:13–18; 1 Samuel 12:24; 2 Samuel 22:26; 1 Kings 2:3,4; 2 Chronicles 19:9; Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 28:20; Matthew 25:19–23; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 10:12, 13; 3 John 3–5; Revelation 2:10; 17:14.

To complete the book of Hebrews during this twelve-part study, read Hebrews 3:1–19.