Now we shall finish chapter 3 with a look at the warning given within, again the perils of unbelief. Because this can be applied to all who call the name of the LORD their own. Our writer repeats Psalm 95:7-8 here.
Hebrews 3:12-19 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort[1] one another daily, while it is called "Today"; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers[2] of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, "Today 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? And to whom swore 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."(KJV)
Hebrews 3:12-19 "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[1] 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[2] in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked 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? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."(ESV)
Hebrews 3:12-19 "Make sure that none of you tolerate the poison of unbelief in your hearts, allowing callousness to distort and distance you from the living GOD. (Unbelief, believing a lie about yourself and your salvation [Numbers 13:33, Joshua 2:11]; unbelief exchanges the living GOD for a dead god of your (our) own imagination. A calloused heart is a mind dominated by the senses.) Instead, [1]remind one another daily of our true identity; make today count! Do not allow callousness of heart to cheat any of you for even a single day out of your allotted portion. ("To encourage one another daily," is from the word, [1, G3870 from G3844 and G2564] parakaleo, is from (G3844) para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of influence, with a suggestion of strong union of place of residence, to have srung from its author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimate connection, and (G2564) kaleo, to identify by name, to surname. Jesus (Yeshua-Salvation) introduces the Holy Spirit in the same capacity, (G3875) parakletos [John 14:16] Greek (G266 from G264), hamartia, sin, is to be without form, or proper allotted portion. Sin would be anything that distracts from the awareness of our original likeness.) Who we are in our [2]union with Christ must be taken to its ultimate conclusion. Do not cancel our your confident start, by making a poor finish. (Starting in faith, then going back to the Law of works. Again the word, [2, G3353 from G3348, from G3326 and G2192] metoish, to participate, share, and (G3348 from G3326 and G2192) metechō, to share, is used, from (G3326) meta, meaning together with, and (G2192) echo, to hold, to embrace, we co-echo Christ in our union or being conjoined with him.) Every day is an extension of GOD's today; hear his voice, do not harden your heart. The stubborn rebellion of Israel brought them (any profit) nowhere. The same people who experienced GOD's mighty act of deliverance out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses were the very ones who rebelled. They grieved him for forty years in the wilderness and died there. GOD's invitation does not exclude anyone from possessing the promise of his [3]rest; their unbelief does. Persuasion cannot be compromised by unbelief. (Our believing a lie about ourselves cannot compromise what GOD knows to be true about us. Futile striving to become cannot match the bliss of discovering and celebrating who we already are by his design and redemption or exoneration. [3]His rest declares his perfect likeness revealed and redeemed in human form (the distortion put in order, alignment again). [Genesis 1:26, 31, 2:1-2]) The point is this; even though they survived by supernatural means in the wilderness for forty years, they failed (and continue to) grasp what GOD had in mind for them. Their own unbelief disqualified and disqualifies them. (They did not die because of an inferior salvation from Egypt; Pharaoh was taken out of the equation. They died because of unbelief, they believed a lie about themselves! [Numbers 13:33, Joshua 2:11] Don't blame Pharaoh or the Devil for your own unbelief! You can experience GOD's supernatural provision and protection and yet remain outside his rest. The ultimate proof of faith is not experience of the supernatural, but entering into his rest. His rest celebrates his perfect work; it finds its definition and reference in Genesis 1:31, 1Kings 6:7 and Colossians 2:9-10. He longs for us to discover our own completeness and perfection as seen from his point of view. His rest is sustained in us by what he sees, knows, and says about us inference to the finished work of Christ. Jesus is what GOD believes about us.) (The Mirror, with editing.)
Now we need to allow this to sink deep within us. May the LORD bring his perfection and the gravity of it, to have his perfect work in us all.
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