Falling from grace | Bob's boy's Christianity blog

The Hebrew writer continues in chapter 4 with the comparisons he began in the previous chapter between Christians and those who rebelled against God and wandered in the desert for 40 years. They were not allowed to enter God’s rest, he says. And he says in verse 11: “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Before he died, Moses looked from Mount Nebo across the Promised Land. Because he had sinned, the Lord would not permit him to enter the land (Joshua 1).

The writer then repeats the reference to Jesus as high priest, but as one who knows what we face each day:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

/Bob’s boy

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click links below to read or listen to audio of one of this week’s chapters in Hebrews

Heb. 4, Heb. 5, Heb. 6, Heb. 7, Heb. 8

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

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All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Hebrews 3 is one of a few places that the theory that “once someone is saved, they are always saved” falls apart. It is possible to fall from grace, and indeed here the writer warns us to take care and guard against it. In fact, that is the entire point of this chapter. Consider verses 12-14:

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Let that sink in. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. How do we guard against that which we do not even think possible for ourselves? We will not guard against it as we should, unless we realize that each of us is capable of falling away. It is another way that Satan can gain power over us.

/Bob’s boy

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click links below to read or listen to audio of one of this week’s chapters in Philippians and Hebrews

Phil. 3, Phil. 4, Heb. 1, Heb. 2, Heb. 3

___________________

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.