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HEBREWS CHAPTER THREE & FOUR

       READ verses 1-7.

 This passage bears out the above statements with great force.
We see Jesus Christ as GOD in verses 2-4.
Christ is the builder of the “house” which is the Law under Moses, the Old Covenant. Verse four tells us that Jesus Christ built all things, as He is GOD.
 

• What do those who deny His divinity make of those verses?
• What is this “house” of Moses?

Numbers 12:7.
Moses was a part only of the people of God, who were the house of Jehovah, Israel. It was the appointed task of God’s anointed leader to build a house, a people, for His name, in Israel. Jesus Christ has done this also, we are that house, that people, and Christ’s throne and kingdom will not wear out and become obsolete and overthrown. It will be forever.  11 Samuel 7:13.

But the Leader/King of the New Covenant people is the BUILDER of the HOUSE of Moses – God Himself incarnate in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. An analogy might be, what is greater the house a carpenter builds, or the house itself? Obviously the creator of the house is greater.

We have an Apostle and High Priest of our profession, or confession, appointed by the Heavenly Father. Under Moses Israel failed to believe. But, Christ is the fulfillment of all that Moses anticipated.
Ø Moses pointed to Christ,
Ø Christ Jesus points to no one but Himself.
 

Behold the SON of GOD – looking only unto Him.   Hebrews 12:2.

APPENDIX :
                                 Extract Hannah Whitall Smith. “The Christian Secret of a Happy Life”

HEBREWS CHAPTER 3 continued & CHAPTER 4

 

THE NEW COVENANT `REST’.

One of the most rewarding studies anyone can do is the REST  that God gives us in the New Testament period of Grace.

   It is set out for us in Hebrews chapter 4.

Chapter 3 :7-19 is a stern warning that what happened under Moses could happen to those Jews in the age of Grace who refused Christ Jesus as Saviour.

NOTE verse 14, where it is made plain -

• that if these Jews did not enter into FULL participation in the messianic blessings, but threw away their confidence in Christ as Messiah, they would not come to salvation.
• Their confidence had to have an end, that end is a beginning too, an acceptance of Christ Jesus as their OWN Saviour and Lord.
• No use delving into these matters, but then falling short of bowing the knee to Jesus as Lord and God! FAITH is the “confidence” and “assurance” of things hoped for. (Hebrews 11:1).

These warnings come as the writer of Hebrews leads the readers into the NEW REST.
 

• Christ is “BETTER” than Moses, in 3:1-19. The Hebrews must trust in HIM now, not Moses.
• Christ is “BETTER” than Joshua in 4:1-16.
• Christ is “BETTER” than Aaron in 5:1-10.

Why is Christ “BETTER”?
 

• Moses was only the servant in God’s house;
• Jesus Christ is the beloved Son, the builder, and the Master of the house.
• Joshua gave a rest that did not last – as the people came into Canaan, out of the wilderness.
• Christ’s rest that He gives is eternal.
• Aaron possessed only in part, but Christ possesses perfectly.
• He also possesses perfectly what Aaron lacked utterly and completely.

EXHORTATION.

The word “exhort” in 3:13 is the Greek parakaleo,
which is a warning that must lead to a person taking some course of action.
A warning that a car is coming behind you as you are crossing the road means you must get out of the way, jump! “Hey! Watch out! Look behind you!”

There are five key “exhortations” or warnings in Hebrews.
We have looked at these before, but we should look again.

These are for US as well as the Hebrews:

1. Don’t disregard God’s own Word    (2:1-4).
2. Don’t doubt God’s Word.                  (3:7-19 and 4:11).
3. Don’t depart from God’s Word         (6:4-6.
4. Don’t despise God’s Word                (10:26-29.
5. Don’t disagree with God’s Word     (12:25.

We may say we do not do any of those things above!
But, we can inadvertently do many of the above by just accepting some of the modern day ideas and teachings. Some teachings, perhaps about

• co-dependency,
• psychology, or
• prosperity, or
• extra-biblical “prophesy”, or
• the international apostles’ counterfeit plans for world domination, or
• a host of other abominations
• can actually lead the unwary into
• doubting,
• disregarding,
• despising,
• departing and
• disagreeing with God’s Word itself!

        For an example:the spurious apostles who are not apostles (Revelation 2:2) might give “prophecies” and add to the Word of God. You take note of these, and act on them.

BUT, God has commanded us to never do this, and has put a curse on those who do!
Revelation 22:18,19.

“JOSHUA” NOT “JESUS”!

In verse 4:8 the word should be translated “Joshua” not “Jesus.”
The inheritance that Joshua led the people into cannot be the promised rest, it was but a shadow.
God speaks of another fresh, opportunity to enter into His rest in the book of Hebrews; it is the real Canaan rest.

Easton’s Dictionary tells us:
 “Joshua has been regarded as a type of Christ (Heb. 4:8) in the following particulars: (1)
In the name common to both; (2) Joshua brings the people into the possession of the Promised Land, as Jesus brings them to the heavenly Canaan; and (3) as Joshua succeeded Moses, so the Gospel succeeds the Law.”
Joshua’s name means “Jehovah is his help” or “Jehovah Saviour” hence the translation in Hebrews 4:8.
 

THE CANAAN REST, WHAT IS IT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
In Hebrews 4:4 we find the one and only reference to the “seventh day” rest, the Sabbath, in all the Epistles, which set out the doctrines of the N.T. Church.
Why it is here is given in the context of the passage itself.?
The Hebrews are being warned, in 4:1-13, that as their fathers failed to enter into rest, with Joshua (v.8), they must not then fail to “enter into” the rest provided by Christ Jesus, which is a FINISHED WORK of GRACE. Joshua was only a type of Christ. (See Acts 7:45).

The Canaan Rest can be outlined like this:
 

1. Christ does not give us a rest for one day of the week.
2. It is not a rest, which is given after six hard days of toil. To gain merit.
3. It is rather the abiding rest of faith in Another, Christ Jesus.
      Our Substitute has wrought all the works of God for us. Hebrews 4:8-11.
4. It is not a rest of inactivity, or death.
       It is rather the “REST” of Christ’s imparted, resurrected life, ceaselessly being active in us and through us. And we must be in co-operation fully.
5. Because of this rest, something NEW has happened, we must not: disregard,

•   doubt,
•   depart,
•   despise or
•   disagree with GOD’S WORD on this:

“The extent and character of the activity of the new life in Christ is a violation of every commandment which enjoins a Sabbath day of rest.”

Jesus Christ is now our LIFE; He wants us to cease from our labours and rest in Him. The old commandments demanded a Sabbath day, because this was the seventh day rest from meritorious labour. We have no labour that can be meritorious before God, in reality! We are under Grace alone now.

* The Law and the Sabbath are “poverty stricken” in comparison to the riches of Grace in Christ Jesus.
                     See Romans 8:3.
* The Law and struggling by the bondage of the “flesh” is “poverty stricken” or “beggarly”
                                                      see Galatians 4:9-10.

THE PROMISED LAND OF REST.
 

“There reImageseth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:7- 9 and Psalm 95:7-11).

• Are you still in the wilderness of sin that you cannot control?
• Worry that is ruining your testimony?
• Unable to be free from habits and bondage?
• Struggling to enter the land of rest, but unable to find the way?

We cannot have God’s rest unless we come by God’s way.

• His rest gives us:
• A contented heart,
• Peace that passes understanding,
• The calm repose of accepting God’s will,
• Trust and faith instead of fear and worry, and
• The ability to keep your balance in the ups and downs of life.

1. Being contented means that one is NOT always longing for something else. Covetousness is about NOT being contented with our own lives! These days covetousness is taught and encouraged in many churches and ministries. "Covetousness" is envying other people's houses, cars, jobs or privileges. Not being grateful and happy with what God has given us.
                                            Always longing and seeking after more for ME and MINE!

See that COVETOUSNESS is:

• Idolatry Col. 3:5;
• It is the ROOT of evil 1 Tim. 6:10
• It is about never being satisfied Hab. 2:9;
• It is vanity, or emptiness and meaninglessness-  Psalm 39:6.
• It is forbidden in the Ten Commandments, and  refuted in the N.T. READ Exodus 20:17.

3. God’s will is the only will that we should want or have! Why? Because it is the only ultimate    good!
    It can be known, proved and done – Rom.2:18; Roman 12:2; Matt. 6:10. 6:10. No, not perfectly, but
   we can and should WANT His will perfectly – determining this WILL shall be ours! Philippians 2:13.

4. God will keep our equilibrium – our balance! 1 Pet 4:2; 11 Peter 1:3,4.
ALL this has to do with resting from our own labours, of stress, worry, struggle, self works and trying  harder. It is about the rest of trust, faith-works and being transformed by the new life of Christ Jesus within us. Hebrews 4:9-10.

THE QUICK AND POWERFUL WORD OF GOD.

        READ Hebrews 4:9-12.

The Word of God has an EDGE!

The Eyes   of God reach into everyone’s soul; there is no creature that is not “manifest in His sight.”
Hebrews 4:13. All things are naked, open to the eyes of God. This is like a victim of sacrifice!
The priest would be standing there with a sharp-edged knife, the sacrifice is laying exposed to his sight, helpless to pull away, ready for the knife of God’s Word to pierce us to the bone, so to speak.
To reveal the beating heart within! Thank God the One who knows so much about our inner beings, loves us so much more than anyone else could ever do!

The Word of God is LIVING!

They are Words of  Spirit and they are of Life (John 6:63).
When His Words come into our hearts they do not kill, they give quickening. Our hearts might be poor soil, no richness about them, need a good fertilizing,  but the seeds of the Word will breed the LIFE that is perfect and holy. If we yield to God’s Word then a harvest will come in due time – just for the Heavenly husbandman to enjoy (John 15:1-4).

The Word of God is ACTIVE!

It is ENERGETIC – filled with God’s energy. It makes the deaf to hear, the blind spiritually to see, those who are dead in trespasses and sins move in their graves and come forth to LIFE! The Word asserts itself, and it moves on us until we give over and let it master us. It compels us to do things we have never wanted to do – to apologize, to forgive old enemies and make up feuds, to give back things we stole. It prunes us! F.B Meyer said this once:
“…a leading tradesman in a thriving commercial centre said that the visit of two evangelists, who did little else than reiterate the Word of God, was as good as a revival of trade; because it led so many people to pay up debts which were reckoned as lost.”

The Word of God is SHARP.

When the day of Pentecost was come Peter used the Sword of God, and three thousand were wounded almost to the death! They cried out, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).        READ.
The Sword of the Word is:
    SHARP to CRITICISE & TO JUDGE OUR MOTIVES AND ACTS!

Some Christians think the Bible is only there to make them feel good! Not so, it is there so that the Life of Christ might transform us, and that can involve very often being made aware of our need of change and
Metamorphosis. What we think and intend in our hearts, eventually (if not corrected by God) THAT will be what we do and become! We must have our deep secret thoughts, our relationships, and our purposes, criticized and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit of God when we read His Word.

I like what F.B. Meyer has said about this:

“…the corpses of the dead past are exhumed; the old lumber rooms with their
padlocked boxes are explored; the accounts of bygone years are audited and taxed.
God is critic of all the secrets of the heart.”

        READ HEBREWS 4:14-16.
 
 

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