Contributor: Hilary Ikpe

INTRODUCTION
The normal Christian life is supposed to be one of spiritual growth and progression. Starting out as "babes in Christ," we feed on the "milk of the word." Then as our spiritual senses are exercised to discern good and evil, we are able to progress to "solid food" (or meat). In this way we are able to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pet. 3:18). But not all of us grow as we should. And some of the indications of spiritual immaturity are: dullness of hearing, the inability to teach others, a diet of "milk" only, and the inability to discern between good and evil (5:11-14).
But if we do not grow spiritually as we should, so what? Is spiritual growth really that essential? 
Is there a "danger" in not progressing spiritually? Well, in Heb. 6:1- 8 we find that indeed there is "The Peril of Not Progressing," and that it is possible  for Christians to find themselves in a very precarious situation.

"1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.” (NKJV)

I. VERSES 1-3 DISCUSSION
Questions
• What is the connection between this passage and the last passage?
• Does he review the elementary teachings? Does the writer lay again this foundation?
• What are some of the foundational principles of the gospel that are mentioned in verses 2-4?
• What do you think the author meant by “dead works?” What does the washings and laying on of hands refer to?
Cross-references
Matthew 23:25-28 – The Pharisees appeared clean on the outsides, but were full of sin on the inside.
On maturity:
1 Corinthians 14:20 and Ephesians 4:13-15

Teaching Points
In the last passage in chapter five, the writer is encouraging his readers to wake up from their spiritual lethargy. They need to start paying attention, start obeying, and start passing
on the things they have learned. Here is yet another encouragement for them to move forward, to press on for maturity. No matter what spiritual level we are at, either a newborn Christian, or a believer for decades, we must always be pushing on for a closer relationship with Christ. Do not be satisfied with your current spiritual level or allow yourselves to become complacent. Perhaps last year you read through the whole Bible, last week memorized a chapter, or today have already shared the gospel with 5 people. Still, do not rest in last accomplishment.
Be quick to forget the successes of the past so that you don’t get stuck reliving them over and over.
Elementary teaching/foundation – The readers have been exposed to the core principles of the gospel many times, especially some principles from the Old Testament. The writer doesn’t want them to get stuck on those same points and never move forward. When will a teacher review a lesson? When will a parent repeat an instruction? When the student/child doesn’t do what they were supposed to. When growing up, there were several instructions my father repeated many times. One was to turn out the electricity when we left a room. I probably heard that several hundred times growing up. Why? Every time I heard it because one of us had “forgotten” and not done it. He had to keep reviewing the “elementary” teaching because we weren’t listening/obeying. In verses 1b-2, the writer briefly summarizes some of those basic teachings they should have mastered by now. These include:

Repentance from dead works – This could include empty religious rituals which had become commonplace in New Testament times. The Pharisees had compiled instruction books with thousands of rules governing every area of life. There were rules on keeping the Sabbath, rules on giving, rules on vowing, and basically everything else. As we see in Matthew 23:25-28, they looked very respectable on the outside. They took great care to be honored by people. What are some things they did in the gospels to obtain honor? They stopped combing and washing their hair when fasting so that others would see them. They tried to sit at the place of honor at banquets. They showed others how much they gave. They prayed loudly on street corners to get attention. And so on. These could be some of the dead works which are referenced here. In general, dead works, would include anything good we do with ulterior motives or anything good we do to try to earn salvation by ourselves.

Faith toward God – In fact, as we have learned in James, faith toward God is proven to be genuine faith if it is accompanied by works. These are not the dead works just discussed but a natural outpouring of our love and appreciation for what God has done for us (Eph. 2:10).
Washings and laying on of hands – This could refer to the Old Testament Levitical rules for washing (Leviticus 16:4, 24,26,28). Laying on of hands may refer to a person who made a sacrifice. He would lay his hands on the animal being sacrificed to symbolically pass his sin to the animal (Leviticus 1:4, 3:8, 13, 16:21). In the New Testament washing could be the spiritual regeneration in the heart of the believer (Titus 3:5). Laying on of hands could be for prayer or to receive the Holy Spirit. Because these were topics that had recently been
covered with this group, it is hard for us to tell whether it is a reference to the Old or New Testament.

Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment (these two are linked)– In Acts 23:8 we see that the Pharisees believed this. This teaching comes from the Old Testament in Daniel 12:1-2
There are two possible ways to interpret this passage in Hebrews 6. One is that they were already believers having heard and believed these elementary principles. But they were not growing. The other is that they believed all of these things like most Jews did, but were not saved yet because they didn’t embrace Christ. A good Pharisee would actually believe all that we saw in verse 1b-2. But he wouldn’t be saved because he rejected Christ. It is possible that this group of Hebrews or at least some of them were in a similar boat. They believe in the Old Testament, but they have yet to fully embrace Christ (which is why the author would spend a lot of time on the superiority of Christ and warnings about apostasy). Most likely there were both real believers in the group/church as well as some who were on the fence who didn’t fully commit themselves to Jesus yet.

3. A statement of hope and dependence on God.
And this we will do if God permits.
a. If God permits: This should not be taken as implying that God may not want them to go on to maturity, past those basics common to Christianity and Judaism.
b. If God permits: Instead, this expresses the believers’ complete dependence on God. If we do press on to maturity, we realize that it only happens at God’s pleasure.
B. The danger of falling away
C. Preface:
Satan knows Scripture, and this passage has rightly been called “one of the Devil’s favorite passages” for the way it can (out of context) condemn the struggling believer. Many Christians feel like giving up after hearing Satan “preach a sermon” on this text.

II. VERSES (4-6) The impossibility of repentance for those who fall away after receiving blessing from God.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

a. For it is impossible:
The word impossible is put in a position of emphasis. The writer to the Hebrews does not say this is merely difficult, but that it is without possibility.
i. Note the other uses of impossible in Hebrews:
• It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).
• It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
• It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).

ii. “This word impossible stands immovable.” (Alford)

b.Who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come:
The writer to the Hebrews speaks of people with impressive spiritual experiences. The big debate is whether this is the experience of salvation or the experience of something short of salvation. Looking at each descriptive word helps see what kind of experience this describes.
i. Enlightened: This ancient Greek word has the same meaning as the English word. It described the experience of light shining on someone, of a “new light” shining on the mind and spirit.
ii. Tasted: The idea of “tasting” may mean to “test” something. But other uses of this word indicate a full, real experience as in how Jesus tasted death in Hebrews 2:9. The heavenly gift is probably salvation (as in Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8).
iii. Partakers of the Holy Spirit: This is a unique term in the New Testament. Since it means “sharing” the Holy Spirit, it has to do with receiving and having fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
iv. Tasted the good word of God: This means they experienced the goodness of God’s word, and saw its goodness at work in them.
v. The powers of the age of come: This is a way to describe God’s supernatural power. The writer to the Hebrews describes those who experienced God’s supernatural power.

c. If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance: One of the most heated debates over any New Testament passage is focused on this text. The question is simple: Are these people with these impressive spiritual experiences in fact Christians? Are they God’s elect, chosen before the foundation of the world?
i. Commentators divide on this issue, usually deciding the issue with great certainty but with no agreement.
ii. One the one side we see clearly that someone can have great spiritual experiences and still not be saved (Matthew 7:21-23). One can even do many religious things and still not be saved. The Pharisees of New Testament times are a good example of this principle. These men did many religious things but were not saved or submitted to God.

These ancient Pharisees:
• Energetically evangelized (Matthew 23:15).
• Impressively prayed (Matthew 23:14).
• Made rigorous religious commitments (Matthew 23:16).
• Strictly and carefully tithed (Matthew 23:23).
• Honored religious traditions (Matthew 23:29-31).
• Practiced fasting regularly (Luke 18:12).
• Yet Jesus called them sons of Hell (Matthew 23:15).

iii. Yet, from a human perspective, it is doubtful that anyone who seemed to have the credentials mentioned in Hebrews 6:4-5 would not be regarded a true Christian. God knows their ultimate destiny and hopefully the individual does also – yet from all outward appearance, such Christian experience might qualify a man to be an elder in many churches. Yet beyond the knowledge hidden in the mind of God and the individual in question, from all human observation, we must say these are Christians spoken of in Hebrews 6:4-5. A good example of this is Demas.
· Paul warmly greeted other Christians on his behalf (Colossians 4:14).
· Demas is called a fellow worker with Paul (Philemon 24).
· Yet Paul condemned Demas, at least hinting at apostasy (2 Timothy 4:10).

iv. Taking all this together, we see that it is possible to display some fruit or spiritual growth – then to die spiritually, showing that the “soil of the heart” was never right (Mark 4:16-19).

v. Therefore, eternal standing of those written of in Hebrews 6:4-6 is a question with two answers. We may safely say that from a human perspective, they had all appearance of salvation. Nevertheless, from the perspective of God’s perfect wisdom it is impossible to say on this side of eternity.

d. For it is impossible…if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance: Despite their impressive spiritual experience – or at least the appearance of it – these are in grave danger. If they fall away, it is impossible for them to repent.
i. If these are genuine Christians who “lost their salvation,” the terrible fact is that they can never regain it. In the early church some groups (such as the Montanists and the Novatianists) used this passage to teach there was no possibility of restoration if someone sinned significantly after their baptism.

ii. Others explain it by saying that this is all merely a hypothetical warning (in light of the statement in Hebrews 6:9). In this thinking, the writer to the Hebrews never intended to say that his readers were really in danger of damnation. He only used
a hypothetical danger to motivate them. However, one must say that there is questionable value in warning someone against something that can’t happen.

iii. Still others think that this penalty deals only with reward, not with salvation itself. They stress the idea that it says repentance is impossible, not salvation. Therefore, these are Christians of low commitment and experience who risk a loss of all heavenly reward, saved only “by the skin of their teeth.”

iv. This difficult passage is best understood in the context of Hebrews 6:1-2. The writer to
the Hebrewsmeans that if they retreat back to Judaism, all the religious “repentance” in the world will do them no good. Retreating from distinctive Christianity into the “safe” ideas and customs of their former religious experience is to forsake Jesus, and to essentially crucify Him again. This is especially true for these ancient Christians from a Jewish background, since the religious customs they took up again likely included animal sacrifice for atonement, denying the total work of Jesus for them on the cross.

e. If they fall away: There is a necessary distinction between falling and falling away. Falling away is more than falling into sin; it is actually departing from Jesus Himself. For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity (Proverbs 24:16). The difference is between a Peter and a Judas. If you depart from Jesus (fall away) there is no hope.

i. The message to these Christians who felt like giving up was clear: if you don’t continue on with Jesus, don’t suppose you will find salvation by just going on with the ideas and experience that Christianity and Judaism share. If you aren’t saved in Jesus, you aren’t saved at all. There is no salvation in a safe “common ground” that is not distinctively Christian.

ii. If someone falls away, we must understand why he or she can’t repent – it is because they don’t want to. It is not as if God prohibits their repentance. Since repentance itself is a work of God (Romans 2:4), the desire to repent is evidence that he or she has not truly fallen away.

iii. The idea is not that “if you fall away, you can’t ever come back to Jesus.” Instead, the idea is “if you turn your back on Jesus, don’t expect to find salvation anywhere else, especially in the practice of religion apart from the fullness of Jesus.”

iv. “This passage has nothing to do with those who fear lest it condemns them. The presence of that anxiety, like the cry which betrayed the real mother in the days of Solomon, establishes beyond a doubt that you are not one that has fallen away beyond the possibility of renewal to repentance.” (Meyer)

Contributor: Clem Roberts

INTRODUCTION

We have seen in our past study of the book of Hebrews that Christ better than the angels. We have also seen and established that Christ is a better prophet Moses, Leader Joshua and the entire prophets put together. That as a good priest He knows exactly what you and I are going through. Today we will be looking at the third day warning in the book of Hebrews.

Verse 11
“of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”

We can see the same references as quote by Jesus in the following scriptures:
John 16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now”.

Matthew 13:15

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”
As believers it is our duty to develop our:
• Sensitive and discerning abilities
• Understanding heavenly things.
• Grow daily in order to handle the deep things of Bible

Verse 12
“For though by this time, you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

• We must not fail to progress.
• We need to develop spiritually in order to
• Teach rather than be taught. – (1 Cor. 3:1,2, 1 Pet 2:1,2).

Verse 13
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.”

• Stronger food aid growth.
• We must go beyond the basics

Verse 14
“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

As believers we are all supposed to make good of what we read, learn and know
• We need to be complete.
• We need to be mature.

CONCLUSION
3 John 2
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Contributor: Dolapo Olaoye

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 5:1-10 talks about the basic identity of Jesus as the heavenly High Priest. Christ was first identified as High Priest in 2:17, and 4:14-16, (studied in the past bible study) where we saw the basic idea and implications of Jesus being High Priest. However, it is only here in chapter 5 that Hebrews begins to go into details with making the case for Jesus being High Priest.

Our study today has two sections to it:
 Verses 1-4: Give the meaning of and criteria for being a priest; and
 Verses 5-10 show how Christ meets these criteria.

1. The Nature of the Priestly Office – Verses 1-3

“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can [a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.”

The first verse gives the essential function of a High Priest (offering sacrifices for sin). This function seems to be the only one of real concern in Hebrews.
The next 2 verses then go on to highlight that a High Priest must have compassion with sinners. It gives the positive side that a high priest can sympathize with sinners because he himself has experienced weakness. We see this in Jesus’ character in Hebrew 2:17-18 also mentioned again in Hebrew 4:15-16.
It goes on to gives the flip side, that because a high priest is himself a sinner he must atone “for his own sins as well as for those of the people”.

2.  The Proper Call There Must Be to This Office – Verses 4-6

“4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”

In vs 4 we see how the high priest must be called of God. He must have both an internal and external - call to office. The office of the priesthood is a very great honor.
The individual is basically employed to stand between God and man (Representing God and his will to men and Representing man and his case to God), dealing between them about matters of the high importance on both sides.
He goes on to explain Christ’s divine appointment to the high priesthood and vs 6 mentions “Melchizedek” but who is Melchizedek? – Melchizedek appears in the story of Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20. He is said to be both a king and a “priest of God Most High.” He now appears here.

3. The Mandatory Qualifications for The Work – Verses 7-10

“7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

Verses 7-9 move on to talk about Jesus and how He met the requirement of the High Priest to be able to empathize with those He represents. Jesus’ suffering described in verse 7 puts Him in solidarity with those He represents by sharing their own experiences of weakness and suffering.
The prayers, cries, and tears clearly highlight this. He took to him flesh, became a mortal man, and counted his life by days, thereby setting us an example how we should live ours. The prayers that Christ offered up were joined with strong cries and tears, therefore setting us an example not only to pray, but to be fervent and importunate in prayer. How many dry prayers, how few wet ones, do we offer up to God?
Note that by these his sufferings he learned obedience. Christ! - He was a Son; the only begotten of the Father!! I would have thought this might have exempted him from ANY suffering, but it did not?! So why should we then who are the children of God by adoption expect an absolute freedom from suffering? Through obedience, He left us an example, that we should learn by all our afflictions a humble obedience to the will of God. We need affliction, to teach us submission. By these His sufferings He was made perfect and became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Christ by His sufferings was consecrated to His “office” – Eternal source of salvation (The shed blood of Jesus Christ opened the door of salvation). He was appointed by God.

Summary – Hebrew 5:10
Hebrews 5:1–10 explains how Jesus fits the requirements of a High Priest. Earlier verses showed that humanity allows Christ to sympathize with our temptations and weaknesses. Here, the writer of Hebrews points out that this also makes Jesus qualified to be our ultimate High Priest. Because of His humanity, His prayers, His sacrifice for sin, and His appointment by God, Jesus' status is far superior to any other figure.

Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION

The previous lesson reminded us about the efficacy of God’s Word with a description of the validity of its power. In Hebrew 4:12-13, we learned that God’s word is not dormant or idle but it is LIVING and ACTIVE. This means the Word of God is not a semantical lexicon or linguistic expression but the Word of Life. The Word of God has been in action from the beginning of the creation of the heavens and earth, and this Word has the power to create, destroy and make alive. Christ our High Priest is the Word of God and it is through Him that all things exist (John 1:1-5). The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword is very on point because it has not lost the might or potency to fix anything whatsoever that exists on earth. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life). The sharper a sword is, the easier is it to pierce through a substance, but the word of God is sharper than the sharpest of metals. This tells us as long as we have Christ in us there is nothing that can hinder God’s ultimate plans for our lives because the word of God can locate all things and bring them under control.
Today, we are progressing in Hebrews 4:14-16 which will help us understand more about Jesus Christ as Word of God from previous verses with His identity as our Chief High Priest.

•Hebrews 4:14

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passedthrough the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

The is an understanding of the revelation of Christ the great High Priest. From the start of this fourth chapter, we discovered the need to enter into God’s rest; which is the holiest of holies in His tabernacle. The High Priest usually has to lead God's people into His presence, but some failed to make it to his rest due to human imperfections or disobedience. We must never lose focus of Christ the great High Priest or else we will not finish the journey of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). It is one thing to SEE that the High Priest became human like us and He is now making intercession for us at the right hand of the Father, BUT another thing is to also thrive to be in His presence. Many will see Him but will not behold Him. Christ passed through the heavens because He died and rose again and ascended through the clouds back to heaven, and now He is making intercession for us as the Great High Priest at the right hand of God (Romans 8: 34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ who died, yea rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us). (Hebrews 7:24-25 “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”).
We must understand that for Christ to attain His position as the great Chief High Priest He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins which no other human priest could in the weakness of their humanity (Hebrews 7:26-27). As we hold on to our confession in Him, we must be aware that Christ was once human like us and that He understands the struggles of humankind (Hebrews 4:15). This is why He wants us to look unto Him solely as the all in all for our salvation (Hebrews 12:1-2).

•Hebrews 4:15

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with ourweaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Sympathy is a major characteristic of a priest, and you will now imagine that the Chief High Priest will be super compassionate than any human priest. The priest usually bears the reproach of the people and then makes an offering on their behalf before taking their request to God’s presence (Joel 2:17), and Hebrews 5:1-4) after making a similar sacrifice for his own sins. Leviticus 16:23-24 explained how the priest made a sacrifice himself and the people for atonement and the Old Testament has other similar examples signifying the duties of the priest. (“23, Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24, And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people”).
However, we now have Christ the Chief High Priest who is faultless. He is able to save us to the uttermost no matter the level of condemnation (Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”).
As believers, we must remember that John 3: 16 is not for a selected few but all humans and we must trust God for the salvation of all those around us including our enemies. It is the High Priest that saves and your anointing cannot save anyone except the sure mercies of God.
The prayer of mercy or compassion is very powerful, and Christ never stopped interceding for humankind till today.

•Hebrews 4:16

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we mayobtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Let us come means you and I must break that barrier and move over to Him. If you don’t come to Him and ask for help to live according to His will, then you can consider yourself on a self mission without any eternal hope.
Once you come to Him, you have to admit that you need the Chief High Priest to make intercession for you. Some people pretend as if all is well, even when they are in the well of calamity. Do you need help in your Christian life? career, family, studies, church projects, etc.? Talk to God about it because by strength shall no man prevail (1 Samuel 2:9B), and if we cover our sin we shall no prosper (Proverbs 28:13).
Coming to Him in boldness is not because you are foolish, but a sign of surrender, and you will meet Him at the throne of GRACE. Hallelujah! This is awesome, the throne of grace is better than the place of destruction or judgment, and in this throne of GRACE, the compassion of the Lord kicks in to prevail in MERCY over our weaknesses and also to help us to overcome life battles from time to time.

CONCLUSION

Draw unto God now that He is near and let God take full charge as the High Priest over the affairs of your life (James 4: 8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded”).
The role of the priest is not to condemn people but to direct people to God which is what saw in the Old Testament with the human priest and now the High Priest in the New Testament does not only direct people to God, but He is able to save them to the uttermost.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study titled “Promised Rest for God’s People”, we looked at some hindrances to entering into God's rest and why we must enter God’s rest. We also learnt that the rest is based on God’s word. (Isaiah 26:3-4 & Psalm 37:23) and that this promised rest is a “live promise”. Today we will be considering just two verses of chapter 4; verses 12 and 13.

TEXT: “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. “And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.” Heb. 4:12–13 (AMP) Emphasis mine

In these two verses, we will consider five things the writer asserted about the Word of God.

1. God’s Word Is Living
Describing the Word of God as “living” implies that the Word of God is alive and current; and exists as a dynamic force with which the world must reckon. God’s revelation still speaks to our current needs and situation. That is why the writer often quotes Scripture by saying, “He says” (Heb. 1:5; 2:11-12), or “The Holy Spirit says” (3:7). Even though the Bible was written many centuries ago, the Spirit of God still speaks directly to us through it. It is never out of date or irrelevant. It speaks to the very issues that we face in our modern world. In addition, God is the living God (3:12), and His Word cannot be separated from Him, that makes His Word a living Word; that can never be exterminated. As Isaiah 40:8 proclaims, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Finally, as the Author of life, His living Word imparts life in three ways.

a) God’s Word Imparts New Life to Dead Sinners.
Eph. 2:1, tells us that we were all dead in trespasses and sins, and alienated from God. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Just as a corpse cannot revive itself to life, neither can an unbeliever revive his own spirit into new life. But God is pleased to use His Word to impart new life to dead sinners. James 1:18 states, “In the exercise of His will [not our will] He brought us forth by the word of truth …” 1 Peter 1:23 says, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

b) God’s Word Imparts Life onto the Dead.
The Word of God also imparts life to dead people. As we see in the case of Lazarus (John 11:43-44). Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41), the Widow's Son (Luke 7:14), and Dorcas (Acts 9:40)

c) God’s Word Imparts Renewed Life to His Saints.
Jesus said in John 6:63b “The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life.” God uses His Word to renew and revive us. David wrote, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul” (Ps. 19:7). The entire 176 verses of Psalm 119 talks of the benefits of God’s Word. Repeatedly the psalmist cries out, “My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (119:25). “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (119:50).

2. God’s Word Is Active
The English word “energy” takes its root from the Greek word translated as “active.” That God’s Word is active implies that it is operative, energizing, and effective. It accomplishes what God intends for it to do. Isaiah 55:10-11 states, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Emphasis mine

The same Word that at creation set the elements of the universe to their appointed tasks and still governs the universe toward God’s desired intentions (Heb. 1:2–3), has the ability to effect change in people. It is not static and passive but dynamic, interactive, and transforming as it interfaces with the people of God.

3. God’s Word Is Full of Power.
Jeremiah 23:29 says:  “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?"
God’s Word is full of power! It was by His Words he created the universe; speaking its entirety into existence. (Genesis 1:3). Romans 4:17 says God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. God’s Word possess the following:
Power of Salvation to Save (Rom. 1:16), Power to Refute (2 Timothy 3:16), Power to Reproduce (Luke 8:11), Power to Re-Direct (1 Peter 2:25), Power to Reward (Hebrews 11:6) Power to Set Free (John 8:31-32), Power to Convict of Sin. (Acts 2:37), Power to Accomplish Purpose and Achieve Results (Isaiah 55:11), Power to Be Kept Pure (Psalm 119:9) and many more.

4. God’s Word Is Sharp and Penetrating.
The writer describes God’s Word as being sharper than any two-edged sword. A two-edged sword is one whose blade is sharpened on both sides. That means it is able to penetrate and cut in any direction; and therefore applicable in all situations; for blessing or curses (Psa. 1 & Deut.28), for edification, inspiration, instruction, or chastisement (2 Timothy 3:16), God’s Word is sharp and it cuts deeply, to the very core of our being. It can separate truth from error, eliminating the blurriness introduced by the devil; when he twists the truth and tries to blur the line between the truth and his lies (Matthew 4:1-11).
And finally, it reveals to us who we truly are by penetrating to the deepest parts of us; separating joints and marrow, soul and spirit. Unless a person’s conscience is hardened beyond remedy, there is no way they will read God’s Word or hear it preached faithfully without getting cut in the conscience. Acts 2:37 says: “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

5. God’s Word Judges the Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart.
Although in verse 13, the writer refers God Himself, and not the Word; as the One who sees everything; we cannot hide from Him (Adam and Eve tried to hide from God after they sinned, but they could not do it, and neither can we). And finally, that we have to give account to Him. Jeremiah 17: 9-10 asks rhetorically and provides the answer: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Having said that, the Word of God also judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Jesus in John 12:48 says: “Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day.” (GW) Emphasis mine

CONCLUSION
Psalms 8-19:7 NLT says: “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.”

The Word of God is not only potent when spoken by Him, but also in our mouths. In Isaiah 59:21, God says He has put His Words in our mouths. Jesus asks us to “speak to the mountain” (Mark 11:23), Peter healed a lame man by speaking the Word (Acts 3: 6), Job 22:28 says when we decree a thing, it will be established.

Having realized the awesomeness of God’s Word, it is very important that we do not become hearers alone (James 1:22). Let’s put God’s Word to practice in our lives. Here is what Jesus said in Matt. 7:24-27 (MSG)

“24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

How do we work the word of God into our lives?
James 1:22-25 says: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Joshua 1:8 also says: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.” (AMP)

So we work God’s Word into our lives by (i) speaking, confessing and professing it (looking into the Word); (ii) reading and meditating on it day and night (continuing in it), and (iii) doing everything that is written in it (being a doer of the work).
It is not one out of three, but all of the three.

Parts of this study was culled from:
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-god%E2%80%99s-powerful-word-hebrews-412-13

Contributor: Esther Ikpe

INTRODUCTION

In last week’s study titled “Consequences of Unbelief”, we learnt that unbelief was the reason why the Church in the Wilderness was excluded from the Promised Land. Today we will be considering the first 11 verses of Hebrews chapter 4 in this study titled Promised Rest for God’s People. A rest many of them missed out on.

VERSES 1-2: REST & FAITH
“For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith." (MSG)

What Is Rest?
It is a profound peace that does not affect whether you are rich or poor, intelligent or unintelligent, black or white. It is a rest that heals and makes you whole. Rest and peace are synonymous. I will use both words here. It is a rest that calms your fears and gives you a sense of stability to face the future with confidence, regardless of what is happening around you.
It is not a rest from work—it’s a rest in work. It’s partnering with God to do what He is calling you to do by His grace, and leaving the part you can’t do in His hands, trusting Him to do it. Hebrews 4:3 says it this way: For we who have believed enter that rest…So we start by believing.

What Is Faith?
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation, in our lives or someone else’s, that the Lord is working in it.
The Hebrew word for faith is emunah which means “support.” Faith is “the Lord’s support” to us because we know God is working in every situation for his glory. Regardless of what we think, or see happening around us we hold on steadfastly to this knowledge and see things through the eyes of faith and not our own eyes.

VERSES 3-6: HINDRANCES TO ENTERING INTO GOD'S REST & WHAT IT MEANS TO CEASE FROM YOUR WORKS
"If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.” God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient." (MSG)

• Lack of faith in God's word, rejection and unbelief in His word.
• Lack of knowledge of God's word.
• Trying vs Trusting
• Hardening of heart (this could come from past disappointments failure of people in authority over you etc.)
• When we start depending on our own wisdom, intelligence and manipulation of events in whatever we do, we ought to rely wholly on the Lord.
• When we also become arrogant to think we are something due to our past success or promotions or God’s grace we are enjoying and play down God’s glory.
• When we fret and worry and are anxious, unable to relax or have peace, even we claim God is in control yet we find that we cannot release the reins to God for His will to be done in our lives. Even though we know we serve a living God who promised “never to leave us or forsake us:” “who also said: “no good thing will He deny those who walk uprightly.” 'Those who trust Him are not put to shame.’ We struggle

VERSES 7-11: WHY WE MUST ENTER INTO GOD’S REST
"God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don’t turn a deaf ear . . . And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience." (MSG)

• It gives rest that is profound and that involves all our faculty. It is a rest based on HIS WORD Isaiah 26:3&4. Psalm 37:23
• It is the opposite of "akatastatos"- meaning unstable and restless in Greek. This is when a person is always scheming, plotting; very unstable and restless to do their own thing in their own wisdom, for their own glory. God is not glorified in their lives. They boast about who they are and what they have achieved, forgetting without God, they will be nothing.
• The opposite of chaos
• God is Alpha and Omega. He knows the beginning of any matter and the end
• His thoughts towards us are thoughts of good and not of evil to bring us to an expected end
• He has finished the work even before the foundations of the earth.
• It is still a LIVE PROMISE

An Illustration of Rest
Taken from a short piece in a book by Madam Guyon, author of “Her Sole Crime Was That of Loving God,”
She was a French godly and rich woman unjustly imprisoned by the Catholic Church in the 17th century. They deprived her of everything -material possession and she suffered so
much. Despite all these, she was still at peace and joyful- her mind and body at rest. This is what she said in her prison cell:

“I shall not speak of that long persecution, which had made so much noise, for series of ten years imprisonments, in all sorts of prisons, and of a banishment almost as long, and not yet ended through crosses, calumnies, imaginable sorts of sufferings. While I was prisoner at Vincennes and Monsieur De La Reine examined me. I passed my time in great peace, content to pass the rest of my life there, if such were the will of God. I sang songs of joy, which the maid who served me learned by heart, as fast as I made them. We together sang thy praises, O my God. The stones of my prison looked in my eyes like rubies. I esteemed them more than all the gaudy brilliancies of a vain world. My heart was full of that joy which Thou givest to them who love Thee in the midst of there greatest crosses.” This kind of peace or rest does not emanate on bases of material opulence, or fame, or political ingenuity, or intellectual acumen, or other things that exalt humans. This kind of peace and rest can only come from a supernatural and divine God, who only can give this kind of rest through obedience to His word and love for Him through faith.”

CONCLUSION
When We Possess God's Rest:
• It eases the pain we bear daily
• It refreshes and relaxes our minds and bodies
• We are able to lay down in peace, instead of torn by inner struggles
We are able to operate our lives in peace and achieve our vision and goals Our minds are calm and restful, not rattled by anything because we have God's rest.

Parts of this study was culled from: https://joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers/ea-teachings/living-in-gods-rest
https://www.cctvcambridge.org/node/127874#:~:text=word%20is%20real.-,What%20is%20God's%20rest%3F,as%20the%20Bible%20Dictionary%20stipulates.

Contributor: Martins Olubiyi

INTRODUCTION: Last week, we were warned against unbelief as we studied the Church in the Wilderness. They experienced the miraculous manifestation of God’s power, yet when the going was getting tough, they lost their focus. Today, we shall examine the consequences of their unbelief and disobedience to God’s instructions.

Verse 14
“For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end,”

For, - enforcing the warning in Heb. 3:12.

Have become partakers of Christ/ We are made partakers of Christ, - means we are spiritually united to the Saviour. In other words, we become one with Him. John 15: 1-7; John 17:21, 23; Eph. 5: 30; 1Cor 12: 27. We partake of His Spirit and his apportionment. It is a union of feeling and affection, a union of principle, dependence and love.

If only we hold firm- hold fast, tenaciously
our newborn confidence – the believing confidence (our subsistence, our life) with which we began our Christian life Heb. 1: 3. We should maintain the same confidence which we had in the beginning, or which we showed at the commencement of our race that revealed true and strong attachment to our Redeemer.
Until the end- means to the final consummation. It is more than mere termination. It is the point into which the whole life of faith finally gathers itself up. Read Romans 6: 12; 2 Cor.11: 15; Phil 3: 19; Heb. 6: 8; 1 Pet 1: 9.

Verse 15
“while it is said, “Today [while there is still opportunity] if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart, as when they provoked Me [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah]”

Do not harden your hearts / Harden not your hearts; by refusing to hearken to Christ.

In the provocation; when the Israelites provoked God. Numbers 14:2-11. It is evidently clear in this passage that the children of Israel could not persevere in believing in God’s gracious acts.
Reference to Numbers 14 is significant because it indicates that unbelief is not a lack of faith or trust. It is the refusal to believe God. It eventually culminated to a turning away from God in a deliberate act of rejection.
The point is that the provocation took place in the face of God’s great and wonderful deliverance. Their past experience of God should have reinforced their faith for the present. But because hardship came, instead of encouraging each other to trust their great God in the midst of their difficulties they looked at their present hardships and hardened their hearts, and encouraged each other to murmur. In spite of the wonders, they had previously seen in Egypt and at the Red Sea, they murmured against God. They revealed an evil heart of disbelief and disobedience, not a heart of trust and faith in God, resulting in faithfulness in
response. They demonstrated that instead of being caught up in love for God in view of what He had done for them, so that all else was seen in that light, they were just taken up with themselves and their own short-term advantage. Let anything go wrong and His past goodness was forgotten immediately. Is this not the same attitude we have in this last day? It becomes imperative for us to examine ourselves in the light of God’s word. The standard of God remains unchanged.

Verse 16
“For who were they who heard and yet provoked Him [with rebellious acts]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?”

When they had heard - Had heard God speaking to them, and giving them his commands.

Did provoke - Provoked Him to anger; It indicates that their conduct was such that incurred the anger or indignation.

Was it not all - The word ‘all’ here is not to be taken in the strict sense, it is often used to denote the great body; a large proportion; or vast multitudes, as it was used in Matthew 3:5, ‘Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.’ Similarly, in John 3:26, ‘The same baptize, and all people came to him.’ Although many in the wilderness that heard the voice of God, provoked Him, yet not all (Number14:30 & 31). God always Has, and ever will reserve a remnant of faithful and undefiled souls unto Himself to bear witness by their faith and obedience, to maintain and keep up His own kingdom in the world.

Verse 17
“And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert?”

But with whom was he grieved forty years? – The church in the Wilderness. They consist of leaders, fathers and others from above 20 years in age. Heb. 3: 8-10.

Was it not with them that had sinned – Those that had sinned in various ways - by rebellion, murmuring, unbelief. As God was angry with them for their sins, we have the same reason to conclude that he will be angry with us if we sin; and we should, therefore, be on our guard against that unbelief which would lead us to depart from Him; Heb. 3:12.

Whose carcasses fell … Numbers 14:29. That is, they all died, and their carcases were left in the desert. The whole generation were cut down along the way to Canaan. All of those who had seen the wonders that God had done in the land of Ham; who had been rescued in so remarkable a manner from oppression, were cut down, and died in the deserts through which they were passing; Numbers 26:64-65. Such an example of the effects of unbelief and disobedience against God. There example was well suited to admonish Christians in the time of the apostle, and for us now, so that we don’t end up in the wilderness.

Verse 18
“And to whom did He swear [an oath] that they would not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [those who would not listen to His word]?”

The book of Hebrew presents obedience and belief as key concept in our relationship with God. It affirms that even Christ was made perfect by it. (Hebrews 5:8,9). In vs 18, disobedience is the basis of God denying Israel the right to enter their promised land. The word ‘disobedience’ and ‘unbelief’ were used interchangeably by different versions. However, congregational murmuring at Kardeshbarnea (Numbers 14:11); unbelieve to sanctify the Lord at water of Meribah (Numbers 20: 12) prevented them to enter Canaan. It was not the sware of oath by God that prevented them, not want of strength to enable them, not deficiency of divine counsel to instruct them. All these they had in abundance. But they chose to sin, and would not believe. Unbelieve produced disobedience, and disobedience produced hardness of heart and blindness of mind. All these brought the judgements of God and eventually His wrath. Deut. 1: 26-32,.9: 23; Psalm 106: 24, 25; Ezekiel 20: 15-18

Verse 19
“So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest-the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust God.”

God in His sovereignty never acts by any kind of whim or caprice; whenever He pours out His judgments, there are the most positive reasons to vindicate His conduct. 1 Sam 2: 3. Those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness were they who had sinned. And those who did not enter into his rest were those who believed not. Ezekiel 20: 15 -18. God is represented here as swearing that they should not enter in, in order to show the determinate nature of His purpose, the reason on which it was founded, and the height of the provocation that occasioned it. Rom 8: 5.

Consequences of unbelief- The church in the wilderness in perspective.

The Party grieved: God; The Parties grieving: The people of Israel; The time: forty-year period; The occasion of this grief: Sin in general, Unbelief in particular, Hardness of heart, & finally apostasy; The punishment of their sin: Their carcases fell in the wilderness.

Lesson 1: That sin is proper object of God’s displeasure, the only thing He is displeased with for Himself, and with the sinner for sin’s sake.

Lesson 2: That Public sins, or the sin of societies, are great, very great provocations unto God: It was not their personal and private sins that God was thus provoked, but for their confederacy in sinning.

Lesson 3: From their exemplary punishment, their carcases fell in the wilderness; that God sometimes makes men who have been wickedly exemplary in sin, to be righteously exemplary in punishment.

Lesson 4: That unbelief is the immediate root and cause of all provoking sins. Did men believe the happiness of Heaven, they would not neglect it; did they believe the torments of Hell, they would avoid them.

Lesson 5; That the oath of God is engaged against all unbelief, and no unbeliever shall enter into the rest of God. Heb. 3:19.

CONCLUSION:We should have seen from the testimony of the Church in the Wilderness that unbelief was the reason why they were excluded from the Promised Land. Let us who profess Christ be careful against indulgence of unbelief in our hearts. The beginning of murmuring commences when we lose confidence in God, and doubt His promises. Let us live a life of faith. Let us persevere to the end. Let us live in anticipation of our eternal rest with the Lord.

Contributor: Okwudili Prince-Isaac

INTRODUCTION
The backdrop centres around the rest promised by God to His people, and the dangers/consequences of disobedience and apostasy (the falling off from the faith), as cited from what God had declared through King David in Ps.95:7-11. We are encouraged to lovingly and caringly exhort each other daily and to take special care against “an evil heart of unbelief” so that sinning in whatever form will not harden our hearts. Because it is so easy to become like those people of old and repeat their mistakes, we must hold firmly onto the faith that we started out with.

SUB-THEMES (Verses 7-9)
“7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.” (NIV)
In the verse preceding our Text (verse 6), the writer strongly admonished the Hebrews (Us) to “hold fast the confidence …firm unto the end”. The apostle proceeds in pressing upon them serious counsels and cautions; and he recites a passage out of Ps. 95:7 as an anchor for his exhortation.

1) COUNSEL
2) CAUTION
3) REFERENCED EXAMPLES
4) GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT
5) BE ON YOUR GUARD/WATCH OUT

1. COUNSEL: What he counsels them to do— be prompt and give present attention to the call of Christ. "Hear his voice, assent to, approve of, and consider, what God in Christ speaks unto you; apply it to yourselves with appropriate affections and single-mindedness. We ought to set about it in the present (i.e. this very day), for to-morrow it may be too late.’’

2. CAUTION: We are cautioned against—hardening our hearts, turning the deaf ear to the calls and counsels of Christ: "When he tells you of the evil of sin, the excellency of holiness, the necessity of receiving him by faith as your Saviour, do not shut your ear and heart against such a voice as this.’’ Take note that in this case, the hardening of our hearts give impetus to all our other sins.

3. REFERENCED EXAMPLES: Reference is made to that remarkable encounter at Massah Meribah, (Ex. 17:2-7) —that of the Israelites fathers in the wilderness. This incidence is commonly referred to as the Provocation and Day of Temptation. Take note:
a) Days of temptation are often days of provocation.
b) To provoke God, when he is trying us, and letting us see that we entirely depend andlive immediately upon him, is a provocation with a witness. Deut. 8:2-3
c) The sins of others (sins and punishments), especially our relations, should be awarning to us, to deter us from following their evil examples.

Pertinent observations on the experience of the Israelite believers;
1. Their state of transition should have restrained them from sinning seeing that theywere brought of bondage but (still) in the wilderness i.e. not yet in Canaan.
2. Their sin? They tempted and provoked God because they distrusted Him, wenton to murmured against Moses. Simply, they rejected the voice of God.
3. Their miraculous deliverance out of Egypt, and their day-to-day support and supplyin the wilderness stood to testify of God goodness: but notwithstanding, theysinned in the wilderness, and continued so for forty years.
4. The source and spring of such aggravated sins, were,
a. Error: heart-errors manifested on their lips and actions.
b. Ignorance: Even though He walked before them, God’s ways, his providenceand precepts remained unknown to them.

4. GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT (Verses 10-11)
“10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (NIV)

All sin, especially sin committed by God’s professing privileged people, does not only anger and affront God, but it grieves him.
a. Although the Lord greatly resented their sins, yet He exercised great patiencetowards them (v.10).
b. God is reluctant to destroy his people in or for their sin, he waits long to begracious to them.
c. God keeps an exact account sins and the ensuing grieves; ultimately, if thesesins continue to grieve the Spirit of God, these sins shall be made grievous to the sinner’s own spirits.
God passed an irreversible doom passed upon them at last. He swore in His wrath that they should not enter into His rest, (either of an earthly or of a heavenly Canaan).

Why?
a. Prolonged sinful behaviour will kindle the divine wrath, which will flame outagainst sinners.
b.God will swear in His wrath, (not rashly, but righteously). This wrath will be a righteous resolution to destroy the impenitent. No rest can be found under the wrath of God.

5. BE ON YOUR GUARD/WATCH OUT (Verses 12-13)
“12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (NIV)

We are given serious caution on verse. 12, verse. 13, etc.
a. Be circumspect! Take heed. "Be upon your guard against enemies both withinand without; You see what kept many of your forefathers out of Canaan, andmade their carcasses fall in the wilderness; take heed lest you fall into the samesin and snare and dreadful sentence”. We are reminded that in as much as Christis head of the church, (a much greater person than Moses) our contempt of him
must be a greater sin than the Israelite’ contempt of Moses.
b. The predicament of the Israelites should be a warning to us who came afterthem; and should serve as an example (1 Co. 10:11 ).
c. Again, take heed! "Brethren, not only in the flesh, but in the Lord; brethren whom I love, and for whose welfare I labour and long.’’ Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. We note here that (i) unbelief is evil and a great sin, it mars the heart of man. (ii) an evil heart of unbelief is at the bottom of all our sinful departures from God; it is a leading step to apostasy (iii) if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. (iv) Christians that ‘think they stand firm’ should take heed lest they fall.
d. A helpful remedy (in addition to the cautions): against this evil heart of unbelief— is to exhort one another daily, while it is called today, v. 13.

CONCLUSION
We must maximize ‘today’ and exhort one another daily, against the dangers of being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The time is short and uncertain, since to-morrow is not guaranteed. There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it appears fair, but is filthy; it appears pleasant, but is evil; it promises much, but performs nothing. It can so harden the soul that one sin allowed prepares way for another; every act of sin confirms the habit leading to searing of the conscience. Let us beware.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
Throwback to chapter one and the first few verses of chapter two. The writer of the book of Hebrews was making comparisons between Jesus (Son of God) and the angels. The purpose was to establish Jesus’ superiority over the angels. Having considered Jesus’ excellence and supremacy over; as well as His relation to angels and to mankind, the author moves in today’s study to draw some parallels between Jesus and Moses.

Why was this necessary?

The Jewish tradition considers Moses to be the greatest prophet who ever lived. He wrote the first five books of the Bible and was the one who led the Israelites out of Egypt and handed them the Ten Commandments from God; and acted as a mediator between them and God. Moses was Israel’s National Hero. He was without a doubt very important to the Jews. And so, the writer wanted to bring them to an important realization by offering a perspective of Moses in his proper relation to Jesus.

Verse 1 - Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession.
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider the Apostle and High Priest whom we confessed [as ours when we accepted Him as Saviour], namely, Jesus;"

Consider [thoughtfully and attentively]. To consider something requires time and effort. It doesn’t happen automatically. So the writer calls his audience to thoughtfully and attentively consider Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. What is the meaning and importance of these two offices?
The Apostle of our faith brings God down to us (John 14:9b “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” and Col.1:15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”
The High Priest brings us up to God. Heb. 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin”
Jesus is the One who supremely represents us before the Father, and who represents the Father to us.

Verse 2 - Both Jesus and Moses Were Faithful
"He (Jesus) was faithful to Him who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” Emphasis mine
Moses was a deliverer. He led Israel out of Egypt but could not get Egypt out of them. (Numbers 14:4). But when Jesus sets anyone free that person is free indeed (John 8:36)
Both Moses and Jesus were “faithful” to God, but only Jesus was altogether obedient and never sinned or disobeyed. (See Num.20:8-12 & Heb. 4:15)
Moses was a faithful servant, but he was not a Son in the way Jesus is.

Verses 3-4 - Jesus Worthy of Greater Glory
“Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater glory and honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”
Moses received much glory from God. This is seen in his shining face after spending time with God (Exodus 34:29-35), in his justification before Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:6-8), and before the sons of Korah (Numbers 16).
But Jesus received far more glory from the Father, at His baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), at His transfiguration (Mark 9:7), and at His resurrection (Acts 2:26-27 and Acts 2:31-33).
A builder is more valuable than a building any day.

Verses 5-6 - Moses the Servant, Jesus the Son
“Now Moses was faithful in [the administration of] all God’s house, [but only] as a ministering servant, [his ministry serving] as a testimony of the things which were to be spoken afterward [the revelation to come in Christ]; 6 but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].”

The MSG version says
“Moses did a good job in God’s house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house!”

We must keep in mind here that this letter was addressed to the Hebrew brethren, converted from the Jewish to the Christian faith. They had grown up with only the Old Testament as their Bible. To them, Moses had been an exceptionally important man; a National Hero. But now they must understand and accept that the “great” Moses was only a servant in the house of God, governing and edifying God’s Church of the old dispensation, and that Jesus Christ was actually the Author of the Jewish salvation from slavery as well as the Saviour of the world and the Builder of the real house – Christian Church.
And that is why the author of this letter now stresses: “Moses truly was faithful in all His [God’s] house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken afterward. But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are”

Whose house we are; if we hold fast: 1 Peter 2:4-5 says we are being built up a spiritual house. God has a work to build through His people, even as one might build a house.
We are a part of Jesus’ household if we hold fast. The writer to the Hebrews was encouraging those who felt like turning back, helping them to hold fast by explaining the benefits of continuing on with Jesus

CONCLUSION
The Jews so idolized Moses, they forgot who he was and what he pointed to. The Jews were obviously carried away; lost in the cloud of the regard they had for Moses and forgetting that his entire purpose was a shadow of Christ’s. Also, in relation to the Passover and the Law Moses was a shadow, Jesus was the real thing
The author, and today’s study carefully points out that Christ is Lord and superior to Moses to realign their focus on the main thing, Christ as Lord. No doubt Moses is to be reverenced, but he is merely a commissioned messenger; Christ is the Message.
Many times you and I fall into the same category; when we over emphasize and "idolize" spiritual leaders today. Our joy and attention should not be based on our membership of a denomination or association with a man of God, but should be all about Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews realigns the thinking of the Jews back in first century Christianity, today we should do the same.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study titled: “More about Jesus” we saw how Jesus, for the sake of humanity willingly made himself lower than angels howbeit for just a little while so that He would fulfil His assignment of taking us all along with Him when He rose from the dead. In today’s study we will be looking at the status we took on by what Christ did for us

Verse 11: Jesus is Not Ashamed of Us
“For both He who sanctifies (Jesus) and those who are being sanctified (you and I) are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,” NKJV Emphasis mine

This verse should create in us a very high level of excitement! But we mostly don’t consider some of the deep meanings such verses offer us! Why not pause for a moment and consider it? We are one with Christ because His Father is now our Father! An understanding of this puts everything else in the shade. He is not ashamed of us and we should therefore not be ashamed of ourselves and each other! There are those among us today; who would refuse to associate with us because they have attained a certain level of achievement or position. But the One who sanctifies all of us is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters! There are also others who are either oblivious, “religiously” humble or have become overly pious to accept, celebrate and bask in the joy of what Jesus did for us. But this should not be the case.

Verses 12-13: The Evidence
“For he says in the book of Psalms, “I will talk to my brothers about God my Father, and together we will sing his praises.” 13 At another time he said, “I will put my trust in God along with my brothers.” And at still another time, “See, here am I and the children God gave me.” TLB

Just in case someone may be thinking that verse 11 is just a hype, the writer provides evidence in these two verses, the writer refers to citations of the Old Testament where Jesus proudly talked about us! in the book of Psalms 22:22, “I will talk to my brothers about God my Father, and together we will sing his praises.”
If you read the entire Psalms 22, you will find it was Jesus’ own words
Again, He puts himself in the same family circle with you and I when in Isaiah 8:17 -18, He said, “I will put My trust in Him. . .  Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

Verses 14-15 Understanding What He Did
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” NKJV

The MSG version says:
“Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Saviour took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.” Emphasis mine

Now let’s consider what He did. To make the ultimate sacrifice, He first associated with us! Because we are made up of flesh and blood, He too shared in the same! It wasn’t only the shame and death of the cross or the beating and suffering that went ahead of that but just consider for a moment the King of kings reduced to a foetus for 9 months, born in a manger, and even though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things he suffered. (Heb.5:8)
John 1:14 tells us that The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The only way mankind could be delivered from the power of death was for the one who had the power of death to be destroyed. The blood of animals couldn’t, neither could the law or angels. So He became one of us so that by His death, He destroyed Satan!
The fall of man in the Garden of Eden threw mankind into the bondage of sin and death. However, verse 15 tells us of the ultimate benefit we obtain from the death of Christ. It says:
“and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

A very important phrase to consider is the “fear of death”
Fear on its own is deadly! The Bible says “fear has torment” (1John4:18b). The MSG version says “fear is crippling.” Then introduce death to that fear; the combination of these two is what the enemy has used to keep the world in perpetual bondage! The fear of death rules over humanity as a tyrant. But Christians should have no fear of death because it is a defeated enemy who now serves God's purpose in the believer's life.

Verse 16: We Matter to Jesus
“For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.” (NKJV). The MSG version says:
“It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham.”

Angels who are “righteous” were not considered in His redemptive plan;
Romans 5:7-8 says:
“7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Even those angels who left their first estate and sinned were not considered. See Jude 1:6
“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”

He didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. This goes to show us how much we matter to Christ.

Verses 17-18: Jesus Added Humanity to His Deity
“That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed." (MSG)

Why is it important that Jesus added humanity to His Deity?
Adding humanity to His deity, entering into every detail of human life; experiencing human suffering, implies that He is able to help us when we are tempted, and when we are
suffering because He knows exactly what we are going through! That is why the Bible says we should approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb.4:16)

Because “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.” (Heb.4:15)

CONCLUSION
Going through today’s study reminds us of the amazing privilege we have been given! And why we should be over the moon about our association with Christ. Regardless of the guilt and condemnation the enemy slings at us attempting to prevent us from embracing what Christ did for us fully. Don’t think for a moment that before Jesus Christ decided to associate with us, call us brothers and sisters and die for us, He was not aware that somewhere down the road you and I may struggle with our flesh. Do you for a moment think He is ashamed of us when we stumble and fall? He is not ashamed to still call you brother and sister. So let’s not be ashamed, or afraid to go to Him when we struggle with our weaknesses; don’t allow the guilt and condemnation of the enemy drag you away from His ever loving presence.

A song writer says:
“He hears every faithful prayer
He’s watching with tender care
He knows every pain we bear”