Hebrews 3:14-4:1 - Staying Faithful

INTRODUCTION:

The mark of a true believer is faithfulness.

Hebrews 3:14 ESV

14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

we have come to share in Christ - perfect, genosko, experience knowledge.

Past tense to future tense.

IF - So if we do not hold onto our original experience. We never actually experienced. Eternal security discussion.

we hold - confidence, not Jesus, but our belief in Jesus. As we hold on to him, he holds us.

original confidence - original or beginning confidence. The same belief and confidence that we had at the beginning.

(parable of the sower, visual or conclusion)

firm to the end - (firm, or steady until the end). - Eternal security. Perseverance of the saints.

Children leaving church - discussion.

Becoming faithful is not hard, staying faithful is.

Hebrews 3:15 ESV

15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

This verse was already spoken - Everything in the Bible is important. If it is mentioned twice, it must be extremely important.

They would read this to start worship service.

So if you hear the truth preached today. And you leave without changing, you have hardened your heart. Its not always a big rebellion. Sometimes it looks like a good christian. yet they refuse.

Hebrews 3:16 ESV

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

They heard it - they heard the truth, they heard what is right, yet walked away.

rebelled - became bitter. debate. They heard all the right teaching and law, but still rebelled.

You now heard the truth, but if you do not respond that is on you. The worse punishment was always reserved for those who knew the truth and yet

It wasn’t some heathens. It was people who were God’s people. That saw the miracles, who were provided for.

led by moses - the greatest leader of all time. The readers thought this too, yet he kept losing people. Encouraging to me as a leader. Even Moses lost people. Even Jesus “lost” people. Which means in this church as well people will fall away. I can only do what the author does. Plead with you: don’t let your heart be hardened by sin.

You are always just a few decisions away from falling away.

Don’t think it can’t happen to me.

If I fall away, it should have an effect on you. Sure be sad and pray for me. But if anything let that help you see Jesus more clearly!

Never think we are to far along to fall.

Hebrews 3:17 ESV

17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

He was provoked for forty years - HAHA wife and husband story about not going to bed angry.

God is provoked to anger.

He is never provoked to love. He is love.

Whose bodies fell - bodies mean dead bodies, corposes.

Hebrews 3:18 ESV

18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

Rest -

While they were upset with God, really God was upset with them and he was the only one who was warranted to be upset.

Hebrews 3:19 ESV

19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

unbelief - NOT WORKS! but their unbelief. Not because of what they did, but because of what they did not believe.

Their rebellion was the symptom. The real problem was a lack of belief.

We can fall into the trap o being a Christian atheist. Where we say we believe in Jesus but our lives fall short.

What you believe will determine your direction.

Hebrews 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Quick - Don’t miss it.

CONCLUSION - parable of the sower???