Hebrews 3:1-6
Tonight's study took a different turn at the end than the notes will reflect. We will be diving more deeply into the concept of assurance and preservation of the Saints in the coming weeks. For tonight, I was happy to leave the focus on the magnificence of Christ, which is where the author of Hebrews was hoping to leave our focus as well. The video is below, and the notes follow.
A. Verse 1:
1. Therefore: It’s been a while. Let’s review:
a. Jesus is greater than the angels in office, word, authority, ministry, and sacrifice.
b. Jesus is our prince-founder and elder brother.
2. “Holy Brothers”
a. The audience is either entirely saved, or is a mixed congregation where at least most of them are saved.
b. Not an evangelistic text to the unconverted.
3. Partakers in a holy calling
a. The calling and inheritance of Israel is largely tied to the land
b. Life after death is almost always physical life in a resurrected state, and usually national.
c. One exception: Dan 12:2
d. The author is upgrading the blessings of Israel from an earthly calling to a heavenly one.
4. Consider
a. Kata: down, intensifying:
b. Noeo: think on, ponder.
5. Jesus as Apostle (>Moses):
a. Jesus is only called “an Apostle” here, but the verbal form is used a bunch.
b. Verb: John 3:17; 3:34; 5:36-38; 6:29; 6:38; 6:57; 7:29; 8:11; 8:15; 10:36
c. He is the preeminent apostle:
1) Sent by the Father from heaven vs. From among men
2) Has the spirit without measure vs. according to the measure of the Spirit
3) Is the word of God vs carries the word of God
4) Perfect example vs jars of clay
6. Jesus as High Priest (>Aaron): Hinted at in the end of Ch 2, developed fully later.
7. Of our confession:
a. G: ὁμολογία homologia, to say the same thing.
b. Perhaps in reference to a creed already in circulation (2Cor 9:3; 1Ti 6:12-13; Heb 4:14; 10:23) Phil 2?
B. Vs 2-6: Comparison of Moses and Christ: Jesus is Greater than Moses
1. Never deprecates Moses. No need.
a. Hebrew Christians hold Moses very highly.
b. Jesus is just even higher.
2. Moses is faithful in all of God’s House.
a. Attested to by Moses: Deut 4:5
b. Attested to by God: Num 12:7
c. Did everything asked of him (well, almost…. More on that next week)
d. God honored him by:
1) Protecting him as a Baby (Ex 2:1-2)
2) Superintending his being raised and educated in Pharaoh's house (2:3-6)
3) Teaching him leadership as a prince of Egypt (2:7-10)
4) Protecting him from punishment for murdering the Egyptian (2:11-14)
5) Teaching him humility as a shepherd (2:15-22)
6) Calling him to the ministry miraculously (2:23-3:22)
7) Using him as an instrument of his miraculous power (Ex 7:14-11:10)
8) Giving the law through him (Ex 20; 34)
9) Allowing him to see God (Christ) face-to-face (33:11)
10) Calling him a friend (33:11)
11) Allowing him to see the promised land (34:1-4)
12) Personally burying him (34:6-7)
e. Spoke of the things to come:
1) Deut 18:15-19.
2) Jesus is the greater prophet to come.
3) Moses spoke of Jesus (and saw him!)
3. Jesus is faithful over the house as son and builder
a. Review of son vs. servant from Ch 1
b. God built the “house”
c. The house is not as glorious as its builder.
d. (A servant in the house is less glorious still)
a. Tabernacle (Num 12:7)
1) God gave the plans for the building of the tabernacle and inspired the gifts and the workers.
2) Moses served in it.
b. The Church: vs 6
1) 1 Cor 3:9-17; 6:19-20; Eph 2:21-22; 1 Pe 2:4-5
2) If we are the building, then we, the church are more glorious than Moses, but less than Christ.
C. Warning passage begins: “If we hold fast to our confidence…”
1. Remember, these people are saved, but perhaps not all of them.
2. The key in this passage is perseverance.
3. The verse is about Not fearing because we are confident: “boast in confidence” and “hope”
4. John 10:25-30
5. Those who are saved will persevere to the end, and it is those who are persevering who are proving that they are saved.
6. Not permanence of salvation as a passive work.
7. Col 1:21-23
8. 1Pet 1:5-7
9. 2 Tim 1:12
10. Moody Bible Handbook: The doctrine of perseverance has often been expressed “once saved, always saved.” Concisely defined, the perseverance of the saints means that believers “will persevere in trusting Christ as their Savior.… Thus they will always be saved.” Berkhof defines perseverance as “that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion.”
The doctrine is sometimes referred to as “eternal security,” which emphasizes the certainty of the salvation of the elect. However, perseverance also has an important emphasis, namely, that the Christian perseveres in believing. Although the term perseverance seems to suggest that continuance in the faith depends on the believer, that is not the stress of the doctrine. Continuance in the faith is dependent on God.
The doctrine is sometimes referred to as “eternal security,” which emphasizes the certainty of the salvation of the elect. However, perseverance also has an important emphasis, namely, that the Christian perseveres in believing. Although the term perseverance seems to suggest that continuance in the faith depends on the believer, that is not the stress of the doctrine. Continuance in the faith is dependent on God.
11. “To be saved is to be preserved in the faith to the end. ‘He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.’ (Mt. 24:13) Not that perseverance is an accident in Christianity, or a thing performed by human industry; they that are saved ‘are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.’ (1 Pet. 1: 3-6) But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul….He that goeth to sea with a purpose to arrive at Spain, cannot arrive there if he be drowned by the way; wherefore perseverance is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul.” (John Bunyan, Saved by Grace)
12. God Keeps Us with His Five-Finger Grip http://www.ccwtoday.org/article/the-preservation-and-the-perseverance-of-the-saints/#sthash.bfGhS8wi.dpuf
a. We are kept by the PROMISE of God.All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (Jn. 6: 37-39)
b. We are kept by the POWER of God.And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. (John 10: 28-30)
c. We are kept by the PASSION of God.For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8: 38-39)
d. We are kept by the PRIESTHOOD of God.Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7: 23-25)
e. We are kept by the PRESENCE of God.In Him You also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph. 1: 13-15)
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