Podcast 122, Hebrews, “Pt 3, Ch 3”

Christ is given many names in the Holy Scriptures. Each name is significant for they reveal who Christ is. He is a very difficult person to define considering his role in the Kingdom of God. Isaiah gave us many titles of Christ:

Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Rod out of the Stem of Jesse, A Light to the Gentiles, The Servant of the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, The Mighty One of Jacob, A Precious Corner Stone, A Sure Foundation, The Shepherd, The Lamb, A Man of Sorrows, The Lord our Redeemer.

John also gave us many titles of Christ.

Only Begotten Son, Only Begotten of the Father, Son of God, The Light of the World, The Holy One of God, The Lamb of God, The Saviour of the World, The Bread of Life, The Living Bread, The Resurrection and the Life, Jesus Christ, The King of Israel, King of Kings, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Alpha and Omega, The Almighty, Bright and Morning Star, The Light of the World.

In Hebrews 3 Paul gives us another title.

Hebrews 3:1

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Such a nice use of “our profession.” What is our profession? Our profession is to know Christ. In the Intercessory Prayer we learn:

John 27:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Isaiah referred to Christ as “The Servant of the Lord” which certainly elevates the word servant. As in all things, Christ is the perfect model of all that is good.

Hebrews 3:2-4

Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

We learn from the above that Christ is creator of all things. There is an additional image that is beautiful to consider, and that is the idea that we are the house that Christ is building if we allow it. First look at the above images of house.

· he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

· every house is builded by some man;

· he that built all things is God.

That fits well with the image of Jesus as a carpenter, but what Christ builds, he builds for eternity. I suppose that we should all ask: ‘When referring to us, what kind of house is he building?’ Immediately the temple image comes to mind.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

One purpose of the temple God builds is to house the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell in unclean temples. In Isaiah 52:11we read, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” There is a grave penalty if we are not worthy of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Considering what Paul said in verse one, speaking of Christ, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” the following expands the importance of that statement,

Ephesians 2:19–22

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The implications of the analogy go beyond the scope of this moment for it would take pages to explore its full import; therefore, let me conclude with the following image of another temple. In effect, the following is what Christ is really striving to do in building our temple.

Revelation 21:22-27

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Christ teaches,

Matthew 13:43

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

This is what Christ meant when he said,

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Such perfection cannot be reached in this life. That can occur only after the resurrection and final judgment where Christ purifies all those who inherit the Kingdom of God.

However, that is the temple Christ is building, the one where we shall “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father.” In another place we read,

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We can never see him as he is until he perfects us. It is so easy to underestimate the scale of what Christ has done for us and is wanting to do for us if we let him. Keep in mind that the building does not end until after the resurrection. We can only do that which is allotted us on this earth. One thing we can do is to strive to keep the commandments. Because of agency, as with all miracles, Christ cannot and will not build us to become like him without our faith. What does he expect of us? Paul clearly answers that question.

Hebrews 3:5-6

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

But we must listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 3:7-11

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

As we must all learn the hard way, the Holy Ghost speaks in a whisper.

1 Kings 19:11–13

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Paul warms us of the cunning of Satan.

Hebrews 3:12-13

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Peter also cautions us,

1 Peter 5:8–9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Paul emphasizes that we must endure to the end.

Hebrews 3:14

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

It is common for the apostles and prophets to refer to Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. They often refer not only to the spectacular miracles but also to the stubbornness of the House of Israel in not enduring to the end.

Hebrews 3: 15-17

While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Paul compares those who did not enter into the Promised Land to those who shall not enter into the Kingdom of God.

Hebrews 3:18-19

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.