PARTAKERS OF THE
HEAVENLY CALLING
-- HEBREWS THREE
The Hebrew writer appealed to his readers to seriously
consider Jesus Christ as faithful High Priest. Christianity was founded by one
superior to Moses. Moses was only a servant in the house. Jesus is the Son over
the house. Jesus Christ, as high priest, was likewise superior to the high
priest of the Jews.
Much of this section
of scripture is occupied with showing the superiority of the Christ over Moses.
If we accept the fact that Jesus is superior to Moses certain consequences will
result.
Moses was faithful as a servant of God. Christ was faithful
as God's only begotten Son. Jesus is greater than Moses just as the builder is
greater than the house he built. This being true there would be serious and
grave danger to any who turned away from Christ. Those Israelites who were
disobedient to Moses suffered sever consequences. What of those who in unbelief
and rebellion have turned away from the Son of God?
Christ is to be preferred to Moses -- Hebrews 3:1-6: The
"partakers of the heavenly calling," must seriously consider Jesus,
"the Apostle and High Priest of our profession." Those that “partake
of the heavenly calling” are called "Holy Brethren." The heavenly
calling is extended to man by gospel preaching. Paul wrote,
"Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
The "partakers of the heavenly calling," must
consider Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is Lord over His
church. He is the king, priest, prophet, and apostle of all. God appointed Him
as Mediator. He is faithful to that appointment. Moses was faithful in the
discharge of his office to the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. His
faithfulness was typical of Christ's faithfulness to those under the New
Covenant.
The Hebrew writer did not attempt in any way to
undervalue Moses. But, he did say that Jesus, "was counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour
than the house." (Hebrews 3:3)
Jesus Christ, the builder of the church, the house of God, is worthy of
all glory and honour.
Every house has a builder. Every family has a founder;
every age or dispensation has someone responsible for it. Someone had to be
over the old and the new dispensations --- Moses was over the Jewish age and
Jesus Christ is over the Christian age. Christ is the Son and we are His house.
We are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and Christ dwells
in us by faith (Ephesians 3:17).
God expects us to
maintain a bold and open profession of the truths of the gospel firm unto the
end. "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
Christ desires hearts that are not hardened -- Hebrews
3:7-11: It is our duty to hear the voice of Jesus, our great
High Priest, speaking in the gospel. We must hear and obey the voice of Christ
"Today." All of God's commandments relate to the present. "For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2) Our obligation to God is to turn from
sin, and to love Him NOW.
We must be careful not to allow our heart to be hardened by
sin. The hardening of our heart to one sin may open the door for many other
sins.
The sins of others should serve as an example to us. God
used the "provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness"
when
The source of their sins was they "erred in their
heart." The result of their sin was that God said, "They shall not
enter into my rest." The result of sin is always great loss. The worst
result of all concerning their sin was when God said, "Wherefore I was
grieved with that generation." How sad it would be to face God in judgment
having been a grief to Him in our lifetime.
Christ demands that we hold on to our faith -- Hebrews 3:12-15:
Christians must be careful that they do not sin. Sin is a departure from God.
Unbelief, in particular, is the root of all such departures. Unbelief makes the
soul negligent and careless in opposing sin. We must be extremely careful that
an "evil heart of unbelief" does not give birth to the sin of
backsliding.
While it is called "Today" much encouragement to
faithfulness should be given. Close friends in the church should admonish and
encourage one another. Parents should daily encourage their children to
faithful service to God.
The need for this encouragement is seen in that, "we
are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3:14) We have been spiritually united
with Jesus the Saviour. Our goal now should be to become like Him and one with
Him. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the
sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as
in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When
your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I
grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their
heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they
should not enter into my rest." (Psalm 95:7-11)
Christ expects steadfastness to the end -- Hebrews 3:16-19:
It was not all of those who came out of
Unbelief, resulting in rebellion against the will of God is
the great, damning sin of the world. This sin shuts up the heart of God against
the rebellious. It also shuts up the gate of heaven against them. It puts them
under the wrath of God forever. No unbeliever or unfaithful soul shall enter
into the rest of God!
Through obedient faith you should become a Christian now.
(Matthew 28:18-20) Our love for God
should then lead us to persevere till death. (Revelation 2:10)