As different candidates for the presidency begin to show
their stuff in debates on the national stage and radio ads and signs surface
around our community for local candidates for public office, I cannot help but
begin to consider whom I support and why for different positions. Certainly, my
level of commitment for some far outweighs my commitment to others for various
reasons. However, as I go to the poles this November and next November, I’m
sure that I’ll be motivated to cast my vote in ways that are in keeping with my
deep-rooted convictions in another candidate on a far greater campaign—Jesus Christ
and the kingdom of God. As in any party, Republican and Democrat, conservative
or liberal, there are purists and there are capitulators/moderates that are
given names like “rinos” (republican in name only) and “dinos” (democrat in
name only--I made that last on up myself!). These capitulators reveal that
their labels may not match up with their actions which are a window into their
heart’s convictions. The same is true in the church and its supporters. There
are real believers and there are “chrinos” (Christians in name only). However,
the implications of this distinction are far greater than political points
earned or lost. This is why the preacher in Hebrews is careful to expose the
chrinos and point the way to authentic faith in Hebrews 3:12-19. Today we are
going to witness three parts of an important passage dealing with the result of
inauthentic Christianity.
THE CALL TO REMAIN IN
REST-3:12-13
The sharp warning of this passage takes place immediately
after the preacher reminds the congregation of what happened to the Israelites in
the wilderness when they provoked God. As a result of their behavior and lack
of faith, many were not able to “enter [God’s] rest” in the Promised Land. However, as the case was made last week, if
Jesus is greater than Moses, how much more severe will the consequence be for
those who lack faith in Christ (as Christ is superior to Moses)? The preacher
answers this question in 3:12-19.
Applying the situation in Moses’ day to his contemporary
situation, the preacher says, “Take care, brethren, that there not be any of
you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God…” (3:12). In
other words, in light of the pervasive faithlessness in Moses’ day, the
preacher encourages those listening to him to make sure that none of the people
in their churches are “chrinos” (Christians in name only). Although these they look
like believers, chrinos are those whose outward association does not reflect the
inward condition of their hearts.
The result of an “unbelieving heart” is falling away from
the living God. To “fall away” means to rebel against or reject the authority
of. This is that larger consequence for faithlessness that the preacher
compares to the Israelites who were not able to enter the rest of the Promised
Land. While unbelief and railing against
Moses kept people from the Promised Land in the Old Testament, unbelief and
railing against Jesus keeps you from the living God Himself!
Ultimately, the people of God in the first century, and in
this century, are called to be watchful for those who are in the church who may
not be a part of the body of Christ. The preacher says, “be watchful that you
and those around you are not out of God’s rest—i.e. relationship with Jesus.”
Not only do we have to be concerned about the souls of those who are home on
Sunday mornings, we must also be on the lookout for those souls who need saving
in the pew. No matter how many small groups someone has attended, no matter how
much someone gives, no matter how involved someone has been, if they have an
unbelieving heart, they will fall away from God. “Take care, brethren, that there not be any
one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (3:12).
In addition to being on the lookout for unbelief, the
congregation to which the preacher is writing, is commanded to “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” (3:13). The people of the
church need not only be watchful, but even more than watchful they are to be
encouraging. The persistent and ongoing nature of command is made clear in the
verb used and is reiterated by “day after day, as long as it is still called ‘today.’”
In other words, encouragement should always be on the lips of believers in the
church. Why? Because “today” is the present opportunity for a right relationship
with God.
Therefore, people ought to be vigilant in the encouragements they
give to others that directs them to the power and salvation of Jesus Christ. This
is what the preacher suggests will prevent those in the believing community
from “being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” This hardening or
stubbornness comes ultimately in the form of being obstinate toward the person
and work of Christ.
In our political season today, we cannot help but be
inundated with messages from all kinds of candidates that are repeated time and
time again on the TV and radio. These messages are reiterated by the signs that
people have in their lawns and at their places of business. Truly, during a
campaign season, there is an all ought media blitzkrieg that is intended to
encourage people to make a specific decision at the poles. It would appear as
though these candidates and their teams have no problem whatsoever
understanding what it means to “encourage one another day after day, as long as
it is still called today” (i.e. as long as there is still time before the
election is held). However, we have been given the greatest campaign of all—the
kingdom of God—that is presently being built! Not only that, we have the
greatest of all leaders to look forward to in Jesus Christ who will one day
rule the world! He will one day get rid of our need for elections and in His
power will one day rule perfectly. Why should we not match the urgency
politicians demonstrate in our vastly superior cause for Christ?
The call to remain in
rest is accomplished in two ways: watching for unbelief in the community, and saturating
that community with the encouraging message of the gospel.
THE ABILITY TO REMAIN
IN REST-3:14-15
The Ability on has to remain in rest is explained by the
preacher when he says, “for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast
the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” In other words, the ability
to remain in Christ is made possible by being “in Christ” through faith, and
this results in perseverance. Real Christian experience contains the quality of
durability, lasting till the end (Guthrie, 130). Perseverance to the end is a
guarantee for those who are truly in Christ. Remaining in his rest, therefore,
is an indicator of whether or not the individual is really a partaker of Christ.
Those who do not hold fast firm to the end reveal in their falling away that
they are not really in Christ—
they are Christians in name only.
Building off of this idea, the author makes reference to
what has been said in Psalm 95:7, “today if you hear His voice, do not harden
your hearts, as when they provoked Me.” (3:15). Here, the preacher reiterates
the message he has been in the process of giving since the beginning of chapter
3—“listen to God’s voice carefully lest you harden yourselves like the
Israelites of old and fall away.” Given what was mentioned in verse 14, one
must hear God’s voice, listen carefully to it, respond appropriately, and hold
fast its message. How is one able to accomplish this? By becoming a partaker of
Christ through saving faith in His person and work. Only then will one be able
to live in consistent belief and persevere to the end.
Like a consistently presented campaign message that we hear
time and time again on the radio or on TV, the preacher gives another nuanced
statement of the same ideas he has been presenting for some time now in his
sermon. One might being to apprehend a sense of how important he believed it
was for his original audience to here this message. In a world of pressure and persecution,
believers were tempted left and right to dilute the message or settle for
appearances rather than firm convictions. This would not do and would certainly
not lead anyone to persevere in Christ. This is why the preacher sets out on
this campaign of encouragement, a campaign he encourages his listeners to join
him on, that calls for real faith, assurance, and perseverance under pressure
and all of this in Christ!
THE EXAMPLE OF THOSE
WHO FELL OUT OF REST-3:16-19
Unfortunately, while one might expect that a campaign like
this to be more suitable for those outside the faith who do not claim to
believe in Jesus at all, the preacher is very clear who his target is in this
passage—those who claim Jesus outwardly, but reject Him inwardly. This is made
clear in the story the preacher gives in verses 16-18 of a group that fell out
of rest, “For who provoked Him when
they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would
not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?...” (3:16-18). In this
story, who provoked God in unbelief? Those who were supposed to be the people
of God! This is the preacher’s point, God is greatly displeased with those who
pretend to be believers, pretend to listen to Him, pretend to follow Him, and
yet when tested in the wilderness of life, fall away, betraying the unbelief
that was there all along. These will not enter the rest of God and will not
persevere to the end.
This might be comparable to someone who seems to endorse a
certain candidate, placing the bumper sticker on their car, and erecting a sign
in their yard, etc., but doesn’t commit enough to vote for him or her. Sounds
outrageous right? And it would be! However, this is exactly what many presumed
believers do with God. They champion Him before a friendly crowd at church and
even look like they have every intention to follow Him. Maybe they even give to
His causes! However, succumbing to the pressures around them, they do not
commit, fall away, and vote for someone else in the end (themselves, money,
family, etc.). This is what is truly outrageous—some are more committed to political
candidates than they are to Jesus. Some are more open about who they would vote
for than who they are following to eternity. Some hold fast to their political
convictions more tightly than biblical truth!
Jesus is more than just a candidate, He is God Himself!
Therefore, the church is encouraged here to buy into Him hook, line, and
sinker, and encourage others to do the same in light of His amazing power, salvation,
love, and glory. It is not enough to be a Chrino!
What is ultimately at issue here is unbelief, “so we see
that they were not able to enter because of unbelief” (3:19). It is not enough
to be close, look the part, or seem right with God. One must really believe in
Him, that is trust in Him in faith. These are those who enter a real
relationship with Christ, persevere to the end in spite of everything they face,
encourage others to do the same, and ultimately enter the rest of God in
heaven.
So What?
While campaigns for various positions and offices come and
go with some regularity in our world today that are largely limited to different
governing bodies over various jurisdictions, there has been one singular
campaign that has spanned the millennia in all cultures, in all times, and in
all nations—God’s campaign of redemption through Jesus Christ. Commitment to
Him and His message of grace through faith is far more important than any other
agenda out there. Those who support the mission of God and look forward to His
kingdom demonstrate the authenticity of their position through their perseverance
under pressure and the encouragement they give to others in an effort to add to
His party. However, as this passage reveals, there are Chrino’s hurting the campaign
who will inevitably fall away and demonstrate in their fickle support that they
were never the real deal to begin with. This passage compels us, much as it did
for those in the first century, to do two things. First, we are to check our hearts
to see whether or not we are just pretenders (Christians in name only) or real
participants in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Second,
we are to become encouragers of authentic faith in the greatest leader ever—Jesus
Christ—in the way that we live, speak, and love, so that in our perseverance,
others may join the ongoing campaign for the kingdom of God.
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