Heb. 3:1 See section 2 of "Truth in Action" at the end of Hebrews.

Heb. 3:1 Therefore...consider all that Christ has done, as is described in the second chapter. As apostle, Christ is GOD's representative before his people; as high priest, He is their representative before GOD.

Heb. 3:1-19 The Superiority of Christ over Moses (HBH) Christ was GOD's Son who reigned over the household of GOD's people (3:6). He was superior to Moses, who was merely a servant within GOD's household (3:5). Jesus' superiority to Moses made it a more serious matter to reject Jesus than to reject Moses (3:12-19). Our writer referred to the experience of Israel in Numbers 14:1-35 as an illustration of the seriousness of unbelief. Heb. 3:2-6 Christ is esteemed with greater glory than Moses because Moses was a mere servant, a member of GOD's house. In contrast, like GOD, Christ is the builder as well as the LORD of the house; he is the consummation of all that Moses anticipated.

Heb. 3:6 See section 1 of "Truth in Action" at the end of Hebrews.

Heb. 3:7-11The author testifies of the inspiration of the Old Testament, attributing the citation of Psalm 95 to the Holy Spirit. Invoking the tragic example of the Israelites' error in the desert, he solemnly warns his readers of the dangers of unbelief (see I Cor. 10:11). Their spirit of disobedience gave place to the wrath of GOD, who kept them from entering the promised rest in Canaan (v.11).

Heb. 3:12,13 Unbelief is caused by a heart hardened due to the deception of sin. The result is apostasy, separating oneself from the living GOD. The author sees the abandonment of the Christian faith as separating oneself from GOD. Constant encouragement, within a relationship of brotherly concern, will help the believer stay faithful.

Heb. 3:12-19 APOSTASY: (HBH) Defection; rebellion. The classical Greek term apostasia brought to mind a military or political context and referred to rebellion against established authority. In the major English translations the actual word apostasy occurs seldom (NASB 6; RSV 3; NEB 2; NIV 0; KJV 0), but as a reference to rebellion against the LORD, the idea is widespread. In the OT it is Israel's greatest national sin, that is idolatry, or forsaking the worship of the LORD (Exod. 20:3; Deut. 6:5,14; 29:14-28).

The Greek term apostasia occurs twice in the NT. In Acts 21:21 it refers to an accusation against Paul that he had encouraged Jews to "forsake" Moses. In II Thessalonians 2:3 it refers to the great defection or falling away from the faith that will precede the return of Christ.

Various other NT contexts point to religious defection, the causes of which vary: affliction or persecution (Matt. 13:21; 24:9-13), false teachers (Matt. 24:11; II Tim. 4:30), erroneous views of Christ (I John 2:18-23; II John 7-9), and unbelief (Heb. 3:12-14).

The theological issue raised by the question of apostasy is of paramount importance. The historic doctrines of Christian assurance and the security of the believer are not, however, nullified by the fact that there are those who make Christian professions and/or attend Christian worship who later forsake, either by word or deed, their earlier confession.

The Pauline doctrine of the Spirit is an unequivocal scriptural affirmation of the security of the believer. Paul's references to the Spirit as "firstfruits" (Rom. 8:23) and "pledge" (II Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14) indicate that Christians have already begun to experience the gift of eternal life.

For Paul all who hear and believe the gospel receive the gift of the Spirit, which is GOD's pledge (promise, guarantee, earnest) of the resurrection (Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:11,23,38-39). In this connection the Pauline verb "to predestine" (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:5,11) is not so much a reference to what GOD decided before the world began (though Paul certainly affirmed Christ's death and the mystery of the gospel as part of GOD's eternally predestined purpose; see I Cor. 2:7-8; Acts 4:27-28). Rather it is a reference to GOD's unalterable promise to resurrect unto glory the one who believes in Jesus. Christians are predestined to be raised like Christ. Thus, "having been justified by faith" (Rom. 5:1), having received the Spirit as GOD's pledge of love (Rom. 5:5; 8:35,39), we may know that "we shall be saved from the wrath of GOD through him" (Rom. 5:9; compare 5:10).

Hebrews 6:1-8 (esp. v.6) is interpreted by some to refer to the realistic possibility of losing one's salvation, but the argument is hypothetical. Just as it is impossible for Christ to be crucified twice (see 9:25-10:18), so also is faith a once-for-all experience (see 6:4). Furthermore, Hebrews 6:13-20 is one of the strongest affirmations in the NT of the certainty of our future hope, which is grounded in the faithfulness of GOD.

Certainly the fact of sin is a Christian tragedy, but even extremes of sin cannot nullify the promise of GOD (note that even the incestuous man of I Cor. 5:1-5, who is to be "handed over to Satan", will "be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus"). As for those who make Christian confessions only later to renounce them and defect from the faith, we may perhaps say with John, "They went out from us, but they were not really of us" (I John 2:19).

Heb. 3:14,15Taking part with Christ requires remaining faithful in the faith, not merely a single experience with Him.

LITERARY RICHES
Heb. 3:14 participants, metochos; Strong #3553: Associate, participant, partner, companion. The word is a combination of meta, "with", and echo, "to have".