A Faithful Life - Hebrews 2:14-18; 3:1, 5-6, 7-11, 12-14 - August 10, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – A Faithful Life – August 10, 2008

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study.

Our scripture is Hebrews 2:14-18; 3:1, 5-6, 7-11, 12-14.

When I accepted CHRIST as my SAVIOR at the age of about nine (9) years old, I did not understand what I had done. As I grew in age, my concept of being a Christian was going to church on Sunday and trying to be being good. I thought if you were a preacher or a church leader you had to follow a stricter moral standard than a regular church member. Accepting CHRIST as your SAVIOR was one thing but dedicating your life to CHRIST was another. In my mind, I had a stricter standard for a “dedicated” Christian. I knew I did not measure up to that standard and questioned if could remain “faithful” over the long haul. Simply, my life had no power or sense of the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT. I had a self directed life but wanted GOD to direct it. All I knew to do was try harder.

Notice the use of “I”. I thought for a Christian to be a “dedicated” or “faithful” believer, he or she had to be a really strong person morally – hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. To me, the Christian life was lived in a person’s own strength. Years later, after struggling to live the so called Christian life, out of frustration, I gave up. I asked the LORD to take my life like it was, good and bad, and to give me the strength to live the Christian life. In a nanosecond HE did and it has been an awesome journey ever since. The first thing I noticed, I could read the Bible and understand it without a commentary. The second thing was an assurance of my salvation. The third thing, I knew I would go to heaven when I died, not because of my goodness but because of what CHRIST did for me.

Since that moment, some thirty-seven (37) years ago, it has been an awesome journey. This by no-means means that I have arrived at the spiritual Promised Land but it does mean that since that moment I have never doubted the presence of GOD in my life. There have been some rough roads traveled during that journey.
The secret to living the victorious Christian life is making CHRIST the LORD of your life. That takes a decision and a realization that we cannot live for CHRIST in our own strength. When we give up the rule of the flesh in our lives, then HE can take over and provide the strength and guidance that we need to grow and mature as Christians. Being mature is the subject of next week’s lesson.

Trying to live the Christian life in my own strength kept me from committing my life to CHRIST. When I would look at living the Christian life, in my own strength, on a daily basis, it was more than I could fathom.

Does this mean I live every moment pleasing to GOD? NO!!!! But it does mean that when I sin and falter, the HOLY SPIRIT convicts me of it and I confess it. The only joyful way to live a Christian life is through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT in us. Paul said it best in Colossians 1:27:

27 God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this • mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

There will always be a war between the flesh and the Spirit of every believer. The flesh wants to rule but GOD wants the Spirit to rule our lives. This is why GOD wants
believers to stay focused and faithful as we journey this life with HIM. Our consistent life as a Christian is a witness to those with whom we come in contact each day as we go into the world. Remaining faithful on a daily basis is all about building and maintaining our relationship with our LORD.

The author of Hebrews continued building a foundation for the Jewish Christians to strengthen their faith.

Let’s read Hebrews 2:14-18:

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. 17 Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service[9] Lit things to God, to make propitiation[10] The word propitiation has to do with the removal of divine wrath. Jesus’ death is the means that turns God’s wrath from the sinner; see 2 Co 5:21. for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.

In essence the author of Hebrews is saying, “Here is GOD’S plan – since all people have flesh and blood and at some point will die, they fear death. Death holds the human race in its grip. As a result, sometimes they will do various things, such as follow pagan practices to secure life after death. Death is a mystery. Death is unique to humans and not to angels. Therefore, CHRIST came to minister to humans and not to angels. GOD in HIS wisdom decided that HE would come to earth as a human. HE was 100% GOD but also 100% human. As a human, HE was subject to death. HE gave HIS life in death to defeat the Devil who had control of death. Satan thought he had a victory when CHRIST died but it was only temporary. The real victor is CHRIST Who defeated death by HIS sinless life, shed blood, death and resurrection. Since the passion of CHRIST, no believer has had to fear death because it has been conquered and defeated.

CHRIST is the high priest for all believers. Since HE lived as a human, HE knows the struggles of living in a human body, therefore, HE is eminently qualified to represent all believers to the FATHER. CHRIST is our advocate. Satan is our accuser. Satan accuses all believers before GOD, as we live our daily lives. But CHRIST intercedes in our behalf when Satan accuses us as believers. CHRIST knows first-hand what it like living as a human and being tempted in all ways as humans. CHRIST knows life is no cake walk.”

Since CHRIST lived upon earth as a human, HE was tempted in all ways as a human, yet HE remained sinless. Being tempted allowed HIM to experience temptation. HE did not have to yield to the temptation to know what it is like to be tempted.

Therefore, HE knows what humans go through. HE knows how their faith is tested during times of testing and trials. I believe CHRIST felt that GOD had abandoned HIM when HE hung on the cross. HE had to make a decision, “Do I trust GOD, MY FATHER or do I take matters into MY own hands?” HE trusted the FATHER with HIS earthly life, which was the final victory. HE conquered death by dying and as proof that HE conquered death was HIS resurrection. CHRIST set the example and in doing so, when believers face trials they will have the strength to endure in their faith to the end.

If you feel like you have not remained faithful during a trial or test confess it and ask the LORD to forgive you. You may leave HIM but GOD never leaves you. GOD’S children can always come home. GOD waits for the return of any of HIS children that have strayed, just as the father anxiously anticipated the return of his son in the story JESUS told about the prodigal son. Returning takes a decision. GOD is waiting and ready to forgive and restore you fully.

If you have strayed, confess it and return to the LORD. HE is waiting to welcome you home.

Let’s read Hebrews 3: 1, 5-6:

1 Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession;

Hebrews 3:5-6:

5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s[4] Lit His household, as a testimony to what would be said [in the future]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. . 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household, whose household we are if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.[5] Other mss add firm to the end

In verse 1 the author uses “therefore.” This means all that has been written to this point has laid the ground work for another fundamental building block. The author refers to believers as “holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling.”Once people accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR, they are born into GOD’S family and CHRIST becomes their brother. It is a calling to represent HIM while they remain upon earth. It is also a calling to heaven. A believer’s citizenship is no longer earth but heaven. All believers are called and some believers have a special calling into a specific ministry.

We need to keep in mind that the author of Hebrews is writing to Jewish Christians and showing them that CHRIST is the High Priest WHO intercedes for them, as no human priest could ever do.

The author contrasts the roles of Moses and CHRIST. Moses was in GOD’S household but CHRIST had authority over GOD’S household as GOD’S SON. Moses was important to GOD’S plan but CHRIST fulfilled GOD’S plan. GOD instituted the mechanism for old covenant believers through Moses. The blood of animals was shed as a security deposit for their final redemption by CHRIST’S shed blood. Moses was a servant in GOD’S household. The priesthood was established through Moses.

What GOD established through Moses was a fore-shadow of the things to come and to be fulfilled by CHRIST. Faith in CHRIST makes every believer a part of GOD’S household. Even after you have been born into GOD’S household, you can compromise your relationship with GOD and it will rob you of your rewards. A believer will never lose his or her salvation. However, there are some Christians who believe that you can lose your salvation. I believe once saved always saved. I believe that our spiritual birth is like our spiritual birth. In human birth, once the sperm and egg unite, that is it. A human is created. That human’s father and mother will always be that person’s parent. It is the same with spiritual birth. Once GOD’S Spirit unites with our spirit, we are born of GOD and nothing will ever change that fact. Our obedience to GOD will determine the rewards we will receive in heaven.

Let’s read Hebrews 3:7-11:

Warning against Unbelief

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested Me, tried [Me]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , and saw My works 10 for 40 years. Therefore I was provoked with this generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways.” 11 So I swore in My anger, “They will not enter My rest.”[6] Ps 95:7–11

The author uses another “therefore.” The HOLY SPIRIT was the source of the words written in Psalms 95:7b-11: Today, if you hear His voice:[7] Dt 13:4; Jos 24:24 8 “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness[8] Ex 17:7; Nm 27:14; Dt 6:16 9 where your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For 40 years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know My ways.’[9] Isa 42:16; Jr 5:4 11 So I swore in My anger, ‘They will not enter My rest.’ ”[10] Heb 3:7–11,15; 4:4–7

The Holy SPIRIT is the source of the same message today. Do not harden your hearts but believe in the leadership of GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT. If you want to enter into the Promised Land of an intimate, loving relationship with GOD, then follow HIM and be obedient to HIS calling. When the Israelites were en-route to the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve (12) spies into the Promised Land. Only two (2) had a positive report. Ten (10) said although it was a land flowing with milk and honey, it had giants. So, in unbelief, they did not enter the Promised Land but wandered in the wilderness for forty (40) years. Joshua and Caleb who had given a positive report had to wander with them for forty (40) years but eventually entered the Promised Land.

It is the same today. We still face giants as we journey in faith. GOD told the Israelites that HE was their victor over all giants. The same message is true today for all believers. It is vital that HE is the ONE WHO is doing the leading. It is easy for believers, through their own desires, to go where GOD has not led them. When that happens, the results are most often not good.

Let’s read Hebrews 3:12-14:

12 Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become companions of the • Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality[7] Or confidence that we had at the start.

After building the foundation using an example of unbelief of their forefathers, the author warns the Christians to keep a careful watch on their spiritual attitude and to look out for each other. There is always the danger of drifting away, neglecting or compromising what they already know to be truth in CHRIST, to follow some whelm or peer group. This seems to be a charge to the church or body of believers to encourage one another and challenge one another to not grow cold but to grow to be more like JESUS. Life circumstances can sometimes harden an immature Christian’s heart. If they will continue in the faith, then understanding will come as they seek GOD’S help. Sometimes GOD calls fellow believers to come along side those who are struggling.

The HOLY SPIRIT comes along side of believers to aid them in times of trouble. The same idea is implied here. We, as brothers and sisters in CHRIST, are to come alongside of fellow believers to encourage and help them when we see that they are beginning to drift away. Sometimes the burdens of life just get the best of all of us and we get weary. We all need encouraging at times. So when you see or know of a brother or sister that seems to be drifting away, go to them and see if you can help them or encourage them to stay in the race of Christian life.

It is vital that we encourage each other daily. We can be encouraged as we read the Bible, pray and fellowship with other believers. We, as part of the living body of believers, are to encourage one another while we still have the opportunity to do so. In doing so, it will build our strength in CHRIST and when tested, we will remain true to our calling even unto death.

JESUS the Messiah was true unto death and since we are brothers with HIM through the miracle of the rebirth, HIS nature abides in us. Just as HE endured to the end, so will us, when tested because HIS nature abides in us. The same faith that was so revealing when we first encountered CHRIST will remain just as vibrant in our lives, if we do not fall away to chase other religions or philosophies. CHRIST in you is the hope of Glory.

The same is true today. We can be enticed to follow other doctrines or religions in the quest to be spiritually fulfilled. It is vital that we know and study the Bible to make sure we do not compromise the fundamentals of the gospel of CHRIST. Study GOD’S Word to know and understand what HE says is the truth. Make certain you are on a firm foundation of truth.

When believers are on a firm foundation of truth, they are better prepared to remain faithful and endure in this life. Our home is not earth but heaven. Reach out and encourage a brother or sister that is struggling.