Are we secure in Christ? - Hebrews 3:2-6
"He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast."
Hebrews 3:2-6
As the author of Hebrews continues to establish the validity of the person and work of Jesus to a Jewish audience, it is not surprising that he brings up Moses. The author makes his point and then expounds on it in the rest of chapter 3. Greater honor belongs to Jesus than Moses, so pay attention to what He is doing! Moses was just a part of what God was building, but Jesus, being very God Himself, is the builder! In His role as the Son, He is also over this house! The author then defines this house as being those who posses the hope of sharing in the heavenly calling!
If you notice verse 6 it says, "But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." This brings up and interesting question... If we have been given salvation through Jesus Christ, then is it our responsibility to keep it? Or is it possible for us to lose it? There has been much debate on this issue over the course of history and has been the source of much division. It is hard not to have a strong opinion either way when it comes to this issue. It is important when studying the Scriptures to remember that a passage has an immediate context that fits into a much bigger context. This starts with the premise that God's Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is indeed inspired, inerrant, and authoritative in our lives. It, therefore, cannot contradict itself and must be taken as a whole. So when you are encountering a passage that could possibly mean several things and the immediate context is a little vague, then you must look at it in light of the whole of Scripture. For this reason, I believe that the answer to those questions is no. Here is why?
When it comes to the security of the believer, it seems too clear to me from the Scriptures that you cannot lose your salvation.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."
Eph. 1:13-14
Notice the progression...
1. We were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth (Gospel)
2. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal (The Holy Spirit)
3. The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Notice the word guaranteeing)
4. Until the redemption of those who are God's possession (Time frame)
We are saved by the work of Christ and kept by the work of the Spirit. Salvation has always been the work of God... we do not do anything to gain it nor to keep it.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
Philippians 3:8-9
When we stand before God on the day of judgement, we will be found to be righteous on the merits of Christ alone or found condemned by our own attempts to be good enough for God. Salvation is by the grace of God taking unrighteous people and making them righteous on the merits of Christ... our response is faith! Do we genuinely believe Christ? The issue is never, did I have enough faith to keep my salvation, but rather did you have genuine faith to begin with. Life is a testing ground for genuine faith...
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:3-9
We are shielded by God's power!!! Until when? Until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. Seems clear to me. Notice that the purpose of trials was to prove if their faith was genuine or not.
I have many friends who believe you can lose your salvation and they all ask a very logical question. "What about the guy who was on fire for the Lord and then latter rejected Jesus?" That is a logical question. My answer is that he simply did not posses genuine faith and that was made clear through the testing of time. Genuine faith will not result in a rejection of the things of Christ, it will however lead you toward Him.
Back to the main passage. What did the author of Hebrews mean when he said "if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." He could be inferring that you can lose your salvation, but he could be inferring that we are a part of Christ if our faith is proven. How is it proven? Well, we will hold on to the courage and the hope of which we boast. Since the whole of Scripture teaches that the believer is eternally secure, then I vote for the latter interpretation.
That being said, I will encourage you to stand firm with courage in your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and embrace the hope that one day you will inherit all that is God's as His child!
Comments
My last posts’ conclusion detailed a famous song titled “sympathy for the devil” by Keith Richards band the Rolling Stones. I’m not really a fan of the Stones that is my Uncle’s department. To be 100% honest I’m moved from the blues and songs by Nickelback. Fortunately, I was able to sing with Chad Kroger for one simple line in the Gypsy Bar at Atlantic City New Jersey. The line I screamed was “I want to thank you for letting’ me be myself” which is some funky tune that expressed how I wanted to be. Anyway, I am not boasting; however, after singing along with him I left the building without introducing myself as Chad Kroger (Nickelbacks’ singer) booed loud for all to here. You might ask yourself why would he send a sad tone over the whole crowd if he didn’t understand the words we sang; therefore, leaving me encouraged, inspired, and found a little more of “heavens light”…
Observations
Christ is superior to Moses. Vs. 1-6 chapter 3
Christ is the Supreme Object of Faith vs. 7-19 chapter 3
Unbelief leads to catastrophe vs.7-19 chapter 3
Unbelief has consequences vs. 1-10 chapter 4
The author asks the reader to consider Jesus the High Priest vs. 1 chapter 3
The author titles Jesus an Apostle. vs. 1 chapter 3
The words of the Holy Spirit are in verses 7-11 chapter 3
Verse 10 chapter 3 details the Spirits Anger for a people gone astray
Moses led the people of unbelief vs.16-19
Rest is a common word associated with belief and its antonym through 3:7 - 4:1
Words are united by faith in contrast to vs. 2 chapter 4
Jesus sympathizes with mankind “today” vs. 15 chapter 4
The cure for unbelief 4:11-16
The word is living… vs. 12
Confidence to approach God’s throne because the law made nothing perfect. 4:16/7:19
Interpretive Quarry’s
Who the hell are we to merit God’s promise?
Resting in a promise is enlightening to a future glory; therefore, where is the glory now and how has the spirit been present even to descendants of Ishmael since Christ died for them as well?
When a King of righteousness and peace yields security for the whole world through mercy, & compassion how can we presume words matter to a social structure “today” when the decree of God undermines constitutional freedom?
Who the hell are we to merit God’s promise?
Resting in a promise is enlightening to a future glory; therefore, where is the glory now and how has the spirit been present even to descendants of Ishmael since Christ died for them as well?
When a King of righteousness and peace yields security for the whole world through mercy, & compassion how can we presume words matter to a social structure “today” when the decree of God undermines constitutional freedom?
Where to begin other than words? Worship has meaning with no clear way of definitive practice. My idea of worship might be through the straining of certain cartilaginous frameworks to which muscles are attached and a mucosal surface, which varies in character in different regions, for limiting a sound of emotion to pour between my glottis producing song for expression. Maybe my way is just typing letters and being open about my heart since that’s what God knows more than anybody. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, designed, manufactured for his decree intended for eternal existence and perfectly sanctified in His future glory. If we assume quantum physics and place ourselves on the plains of a 4th dimension perhaps we’ll understand our full glory; however, I’m bound by time unlike Yahweh Shalom. My first question details some of the concern for Sin in terms of a pure line, virgin birth, and consideration of a predetermined failure thus total depravity. The fall of Man, the rejection from the garden, or the rebellion of Israel not allowing an entrance to Canaan. Either example is obvious - we are in accordance with the will of God when we are faithful yet nobody understands how the law made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:9)? In the milkiest terms I can present on electronic papyrus let me take you back to Eden and glean a little bit of a basis for Moses’ comparison to Christ. The only law that existed in the Garden of Eden was to not consume from the tree of knowledge; however, the 10 commandments became more difficult in a sense due to a compounding nature of rules to follow. You know the old saying shit rolls downhill? Well, that’s what happened in Eden and its proven from observing the law. The decree of God makes him the Author of Sin and sin truly made mankind get dressed. Many focus on the shame aspect of total depravity but I seem to be more inclined to use it as a basis for your chosen faith. For example, Islam is through the line of Ishmael Islam and Christianity is through Isaac. Islam believe that people are ’good’ which is inconsistent with total depravity.