Be Organized! (Heb 3) - Capitol Commission
Be Organized!
26 March 2013
RON J. BIGALKE, PASTOR/MISSIONARY, CAPITOL COMMISSION, 912.659.4212
Bible Study Title
Ron J. Bigalke , PhD / PO Box 244, Rincon, GA 31326‐0244 / www.capitolcom.org / [email protected]
CAPITOL BIBLE STUDY 152 nd General Assembly
• TUESDAY @ 7:30 AM in 123 CAP • TUESDAY @ 12 NOON in 123 CAP Capitol Commission Bible Study is
Tuesday, 26 March 2013 Hebrews 3 – “Be Organized!” Hebrews 3 begins with a logical transition from what Scripture revealed regarding Jesus in the previous two chapters, and now to what those biblical truths should mean to you and me. The message is addressed to those who are “partakers of a heavenly calling, [to] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Heb 3:1). What exactly does this statement mean, you ask? Continue reading this Bible study for the answer, and seek to answer how Scripture exhorts us to organize our lives with eternal pursuits.
FAITHFUL TO THE TASK (Heb 3:1-6) Those who—by God’s grace—believe in Jesus Christ are “partakers of a heavenly calling.” Such believers presently share in the future glories of Jesus, the One who is willing to be called “brother” and who is now “crowned with glory and honor” at the Father’s right hand (cf. Rev 3:21). As joint heirs and those who are sanctified by God as His own possession (Heb 2:10-13), believers share in all that has been accorded to Jesus as a result of His redemptive work. The wonderful truths of this eternal inheritance have been emphasized throughout Hebrews 1—2. As important as it is to understand and believe these truths, there is more. Hope is one of the theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither [C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, rev. ed. (New York: Collier, 1952) 118].
The reason to reemphasize the eternal is to distinguish it with the former life in which there was “fear of death [among those] who were subject to slavery all their lives” (Heb 2:15). The believer in Jesus Christ now lives with a mindset upon the glories of “the world to come,” which means that life has an extremely different outcome. Why would anyone consider abandoning this new life with its new outcome? Would it make any sense to abandon the new life in Christ Jesus for the old life of fear and slavery? Luke 8:15 – “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance .
In Luke 8:4-15, the Lord Jesus described four different responses to the Word of God. God gave His Word, yet people respond differently. First, there are those who hear that Word, yet the devil immediately “takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.” Second, some “receive the word with joy” until some other joy appears, which then hinders the regeneration and transformation that come from God’s Word. Feelings alone are not enough to cause you to endure in difficult times. Third, some hear the Word of God yet quickly forget what it says and do not allow it to affect their lives (cf. Jas 1:22-25). Some become entangled in the quest for material success and the worries of daily life. Seeking pleasure overcomes eternal pursuits, thus there is no time for God’s Word and they “bring no fruit to maturity.” Note that Jesus did attend enough parties to be falsely labeled as “a gluttonous man and a drunkard” by the Pharisees (Luke 7:34), and to accomplish His ministry, the Lord did depend upon certain individuals for material resources (8:3). Jesus never issued a call for hermits who seek refuge from life in the world; however, He does call people who have an eternal perspective with regard to this world, and who hear and heed God’s Word far beyond all temporal activities, cares, and interests. Fourth, some “seed” (i.e. the Word of God) hits the target. The “good soil” welcomes the seed, encourages its germination, keeps the seed for future times, and perseveres through the complexities, temptations, and trials associated with the present life. Jesus’ parable indicates that if we hear God’s Word, and then believe it and “hold it fast,” then we can be “good soil” in which that Word multiplies and bears fruit with abundance. We need to be certain to be “good soil.” Of course, the notion that one can “drift away” from God’s Word (Luke 8:11-14; Heb 2:1-4; 6:1-8; 10:1-10) provokes questions with regard to such apostasy. In other words, could one “believe” in God, and yet not be a disciple? Is belief and discipleship mutually inclusive? Discipleship is a call to faith/trust in Jesus Christ as Lord God and Savior, and such a call is evident in devotion to the Word of God far beyond all other priorities. Maturity is not immediate, that is, it does not occur in days or weeks. Mature disciples are devoted to a lifetime of listening to God’s Word, retaining that Word, and continuing to listen to the Bible throughout life so that it progressively becomes
Capitol Commission Bible Studies Tuesday (26 March) @ 7:30am – 8:00am, 123 CAP Tuesday (26 March) @ 12 Noon – 12:45pm, 123 CAP lunch provided from JPM Chase sponsorship
Georgia Be Organized! more and more the primary component of one’s life. Those who are enthusiastic for a time and then “drift away” into the world’s occupations and pleasures demonstrate a lack of discipleship. Moments of enthusiasm and good feelings dominate until something “better” comes. Following that something better reveals their true nature. They were never devoted to God’s Word nor were they disciples. They were merely testing God (cf. Deut 6:16).
Hebrews 3:13 – But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3 exhorts us to have biblical priorities and to produce obedience rather than disobedience. Sin deceives by exaggerating the alleged benefits of disobedience and by obscuring the consequences (Heb 3:13; cf. Gen 3:1-7). The five questions in verses 16-18 were designed to cause us to examine our own priorities. The first and the third questions effectively answer the second and the fourth question. The fifth question contains it own answer. The questions demonstrate that the concern is not with a mere intellectual affirmation of truths regarding God (or lack thereof); rather, the trepidation is the distress caused by sinful behavior through unbelief. True belief in God will be demonstrated by moral transformation. Disobedience proves unbelief.
The one who believes—by grace through faith—in Jesus Christ is a disciple. Discipleship is not one good feeling or one statement in the past in which you felt positive toward Jesus and desired salvation. The warning of Christ’s words in Luke 8 and in the book of Hebrews is not to become too secure in one’s salvation too quickly. Salvation is a lifechanging experience that remains for a lifetime. Therefore, believers are those who seek maturity in discipleship for life, as opposed to good feelings for a brief time. God’s Word brings change! Do you have ears to hear? Only one type of soil, which is attuned to God as He reveals Himself in the Holy Bible, produces maturity in salvation. SALVATION IS A LIFECHANGING EXPERIENCE THAT REMAINS FOR A LIFETIME. . . . GOD’S WORD BRINGS CHANGE!
How do we know who is organizing our lives and the events of history? We demonstrate our answer to the question by either listening to God’s Word or by neglecting “so great a salvation.” The believer is to give primary attention to Jesus, and to organize all other life pursuits with that priority. Hebrews 3 continues the theme of Christ’s superiority by comparing Him to Moses (vv. 1-6). Both the Lord Jesus and Moses were faithful to God’s plan for them (vv. 1-2). A faithful ambassador of God fulfills the job responsibilities (Numb 12:7; Heb 2:17; cf. 2 Cor 5:20). God’s “house” for Moses was the people of Israel. Moses wholly accomplished all God’s appointed duties with the chosen people. Jesus affirmed His own obedience in the responsibility of representing God to all humanity (John 17:4).
Regardless of how demanding life can be, we must heed the commands and plans of God. If we do not have such priorities to organize our life, then we will inevitably stumble into ruin and unbelief, as did the generation in the wilderness. When something that appears “better” than the determination and purpose of God seizes our priorities and thoughts, we will quickly realize the insignificance of such pursuits when the sovereignty of God is demonstrated. Sometimes sudden surprises in life help us reorganize what is most important. An “act of God,” the loss of an office, sickness, and/or personal difficulty can be blessings to cause us to reassess our priorities and to “become partakers of Christ” (Heb 3:14). Hebrews 3 contains admonitions and warnings to those who organized their lives with the wrong priorities as opposed to the most important (the superiority of Christ). Similarly, we can also lose our focus by prioritizing some personal ambition, goal, or plan that can cause us to deviate from God’s best for us. May this study in chapter 3 of Hebrews encourage you to persevere in resolute assurance in Christ, and provide you help to be organized (as necessary) by making your primary ambition that of devotion to Jesus and doing His will.
Moses was “a servant in all [God’s] house,” whereas Jesus served as “Son over His house.” A son with authority is superior to a servant without authority. Therefore, to reject Jesus is more serious than to reject Moses (Heb 3:7-19). The generation of Israelites who wandered in the wilderness rejected God’s Word and suffered devastating consequences (Numb 14:20-38; 1 Cor 10:1-13). Therefore, note the “if” in Hebrews 3:6. We are members of God’s house only if we endure in our commitment (discipleship) to His holy and inspired Word.
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About Capitol Commission Capitol Commission state directors are pastors/missionaries who teach weekly verse-by-verse Bible studies for the entire Capitol community. State directors also meet personally with many government leaders to proclaim God’s grace in salvation, to encourage our leaders, pray with them, and provide biblical counsel. The mission of Capitol Commission is to reach Capitol communities for Christ—one person at a time, to disciple them, and to prepare them for a lifetime of ministry, wherever God chooses to place them. Capitol Commission is a charitable and religious nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Capitol Commission is supported by the generous gifts of businesses, churches, and individuals. Capitol Commission is not state-funded; rather, those with a heart for the Capitol community fund it. Please join us in this ministry!
FAITHFUL TO THE IMPORTANT (Heb 3:7-19) Subsequent to the first warning in verse 6, there is a second caution in verses 7-19. Psalm 95:7-11 is quoted to demonstrate the stubbornness of the generation who died in the wilderness as a consequence of their lack of belief (the quotation was so important as to be referenced again in v. 17). The book of Hebrews was written to Bible study luncheon sponsored by:
Bible study copies made by:
help us organize our lives so that we do not follow the example of that faithless generation. We should endure in our commitment—having become “partakers” of Christ’s blessing—and thus “hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” (Heb 7:14).
N EXT CAPITOL COMMISSION (I NTERIM ) BIBLE STUDY: T UESDAY , 2 APRIL @ 12 N OON in 123 CAP (every 1 st Tuesday of the month)
