Bible Studies

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 25

by Clifford Tate 
08/22/20
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A Warning against Unfaithfulness & Unbelief Part 2

Hebrews 3:14-15 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. KJV

To believe in Christ and to be 'in Christ' are to different things all together. Even the enimies of Jesus Christ believe in who He is, however, there is nothing to go with that belief that causes any desire within them to want to please Him. The Word of God tells us with these words how mere intellectual belief about Jesus Christ makes you, well it is written, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19) (KJV). The devils/demons believe and tremble in fear of God/Jesus, however, they are deceived, doomed, and damned for now and for all eternity. The writer of Hebrews is here trying to warn those Hebrew converts then and all converts to Christ now and of every era and generation (as we saw that Paul did with the Corinthian Church in the last study/commentary Volume 24 2 Corinthians 13:5) to examine themselves to know that they are 'in Christ' as the writer exclaims with these words, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" (Hebrews 3:14) (KJV). The English word 'partakers' is translated by the Greek word metochos which means participant, that is, (as noun) a sharer; by implication an associate: - fellow, partaker, partner. In other words, those of us who are 'in Christ' can at any time surrender ourselves to Him through His Spirit and His Word and then be a partner with Him and what He desires to accomplish in the earth realm. Also being 'in Christ' and being a partaker with Him, then we have the benefits of what He has been made for us, that is, as it is written, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1:30) (KJV).

The writer of Hebrews here lays a condition to this partnership/participation with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and that is that they and we 'hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end', which simply correlates, compliments, and corresponds to what he warned them/us against in verses 12 & 13. At the very beginning of our reception of Jesus Christ we were appalled at (struck with fear, dread, and danger), agitated by (deeply disturbed and emotionally troubled), and against (opposed to) our sin, but they/we can yield to and give in to our sin and allow ourselves to be deceived by its temporary pleasures (Hebrews 11:25) and then become stubborn and emotionally hardened and ignore the conviction of God the Holy Spirit and remove ourselves from the conviction of the Word of God by refusing to read and study it daily. "Jonathan Edwards once said that the sure proof of election is that one holds out to the end." Here also is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "Here observe, (1.) The saints' privilege: they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all that is Christ's, in all that He is, in all that He has done, or can do. (2.) The condition on which they hold that privilege, namely, their perseverance in the bold and open profession and practice of Christ and Christianity unto the end. Not but they shall persevere, being kept by the mighty power of God through faith to salvation, but to be pressed thus to it is one means by which Christ helps His people to persevere. This tends to make them watchful and diligent, and so keeps them from apostasy. Here observe, [1.] The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God they should maintain and evidence to the end. Those who begin seriously, and with lively affections and holy resolutions and humble reliance, should go on in the same spirit. But, [2.] There are a great many who in the beginning of their profession show a great deal of courage and confidence, but do not hold them fast to the end. [3.] Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith."

The writer of Hebrews now reiterates or restates or repeats the warning he just wrote to them in verse 12, here he makes a reference to the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 95:7-8 with these words, "While it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:15) (KJV). The warning to them then and to us now is clear, for those Hebrews in the wilderness march who were renegades and rebelled, and revolted all were destroyed except only two men Caleb and Joshua, as it is written, "And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed." (Numbers 32:10-13) (KJV). Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "What was recited before from that scripture belonged not only to former ages, but to you now, and to all who shall come after you; that you take heed you fall not into the same sins, lest you fall under the same condemnation.' The Apostle tells them that though some who had heard the voice of God did provoke Him, yet all did not so. Observe, (1.) Though the majority of hearers provoked God by unbelief, yet some there were who believed the report. (2.) Though the hearing of the word be the ordinary means of salvation, yet, if it be not hearkened to, it will expose men more to the anger of God. (3.) God will have a remnant that shall be obedient to His voice, and He will take care of such and make mention of them with honour. (4.) If these should fall in a common calamity, yet they shall partake of eternal salvation, while disobedient hearers perish for ever."  

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…