Sermon #18 Hebrews Notes

Title: THE ISSUE IS UNBELIEF

Text: Hebrews 3:7-19

Subject: The Evil of Unbelief

Date: Tuesday Evening – May 2, 2000

Tape # V-81b

Introduction:
God calls us to faith in Christ. Salvation is to be had only by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not having trusted Christ that is saving faith, but trusting him. Believers are sinners who trust Christ alone as their Lord and Savior; and trusting him, we continue to trust him to the end. It is he who endures to the end who shall be saved. The prize goes not to those who begin the race, but to those who finish, "Looking unto Jesus."


Hebrews 3:7-19 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (16) For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. (17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? (18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."


"Today" – Today is the only day we have. Yesterday is gone. There is no promise of tomorrow. Therefore, the Holy Spirit calls for us to hear his voice today, and urges us not to do what we are most naturally prone to do. He says, "Today, If ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts!" Then he gives us the glaring example of those thousands, multiplied thousands, who perished in the wilderness. They perished because they would not hear his voice. They hardened their hearts in unbelief. Therefore, they could not enter into the land of rest.

Turn back to 1 Corinthians 10. I want us to begin reading at verse 6. I want you to see that these things stand by divine appointment as examples to us, lest we follow those unbelieving Jews who perished in the wilderness to hell.

1 Corinthians 10:6-15 "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. (9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (15) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say."


I want to talk to you tonight about unbelief. I want you to see that the issue between God and man is always unbelief. The difference between those that perish and those who live is unbelief. It was unbelief which caused Israel to perish in the wilderness; and if any of us perish under the wrath of God, if any of us follow them to hell, it will be because of unbelief.

You will not lift your finger in hell, shake at God and say, "I am lost because you did not choose me. I am in hell because you did not predestinate me to salvation. I am damned because of your decrees." Oh, no! You will stick your finger like a burning dagger into your on heart and confess to your everlasting torment, "I am damned because I hardened my own heart, because I would not repent, because I would not hear God speak, because I refused to believe God!"

  1. In verses 7-11 the Holy Spirit holds a lost nation before us as an example of unbelief.


Hebrews 3:7-11 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)"


This is a direct quotation from Psalm 95:7-11.

Psalms 95:7-11 "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. (10) Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: (11) Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest."


These Israelites were professed to be God's people. Yet, they were a nation of rebels, murmuring unbelievers.

  1. They refused hear the voice of God as spoke to them by his servant Moses. How much greater shall the punishment of hell be for those who have refused to hear God speak by his Son! God speaks to us by his Son. He says, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him" (Heb 1:1-2).


  1. Those Jews who followed Moses out of Egypt hardened their hearts.


All our hearts are hardened by sin, hardened in spiritual death and blindness. But this speaks of an acquired, voluntary hardness of heart, a hardeness that comes through rejection of truth, light and warnings, a hardness which is the result of a deliberate continuance in sin (Matt. 11:20-24; Pro. 29:1).

Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Matthew 11:20-24 "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (21) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (23) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (24) But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."


  1. In stubborn, insulting unbelief, the sons and daughters of Abraham despised the goodness and mercy of God.


They tempted God to wrath, provoked him to anger, tried his patience, and spitefully trampled under their feet his longsuffering through their complaints, murmurings and rebellion, even though they had seen his goodness, provisions, protection and miracles for forty years. Horrible as their crimes were, how much greater is the guilt of sinners who despise the gospel and trample under their feet the blood of Christ!

Hebrews 10:26-31 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."


Proverbs 1:23-33 "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (24) Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (25) But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (27) When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. (28) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (29) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: (30) They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. (31) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. (32) For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (33) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."


Now, look at verse 10 …

Hebrews 3:10 "Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways."


 

  1. God was grieved with them.


What a revelation this is of God’s kindness, tenderness, and mercy. Judgment is his strange work. Mercy is his delight. Therefore we read, "I was grieved with them."

This is speaking after the manner of men, giving human qualities to God to tell us that God was weary of them, displeased with them and angry with them. Therefore, he firmly declared that they could not enter into the land of Canaan (called God's 'rest' because he promised it and gave it to Israel).

Now, read verses 12-13.

Hebrews 3:12-13 "Wherefore… -- Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."


  1. Here we are warned not to follow Israel’s example of unbelief.


"Take heed, brethren." This warning is written to us as a caution lest we follow the same path and miss the blessed rest of Christ and his salvation. Unbelief was the first sin of man and is the mother all sin.

  1. Unbelief makes the Word unprofitable (1 John 5:10-13).


1 John 5:10-13 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."


  1. Unbelief shuts sinners out from the mercies of Christ (Mark 16:16)


Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."


  1. Unbelief causes many finally to depart from Christ.


  1. Unbelief closes the door of prayer (Heb. 11:6; James 1:6).


Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

James 1:6 "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."


E.. Unbelief is the mother of idolatry and sets up other gods, such as reason, human wisdom and human philosophy (1 John 5:20-21).

1 John 5:20-21 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (21) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."


  1. Because we are so naturally inclined to unbelief, we are encouraged to encourage one another to steadfast faith in Christ (v. 13).


We are to encourage one another, exhort one another, instruct and teach one another while the time of life lasts and while the grace of God is available. How can we do this? It is to be done "daily".

  1. By worshipping, praying and praising God together (Heb. 10:24-25).


Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."


  1. By teaching, preaching and studying the Scriptures (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:14-17).


2 Timothy 3:14-17 "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

1 Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."


  1. By talking to one another about the things of God and less about foolish things.


  1. By warning one another when we see signs of indifference and worldliness.


  1. In verse 14 we are plainly told that only those who persevere and continue in the faith of the gospel are true believers.


Hebrews 3:14 "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."


We are truly partakers of Christ only if we continue in him, continue believing him. No one is saved, no one is in Christ by a temporary faith. All temporary faith is false faith.

There are many, many examples throughout the New Testament of false faith, a faith that is not saving faith (John 2:23-25; 6:26; Acts 8:13, 18-21).

Saving faith is a God-given faith. If my faith is genuine, it continues and grows in strength and confidence (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 10:38-39).

Colossians 1:21-23 "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister."

Hebrews 10:38-39 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."


Verse 15 is a deliberate, inspired repetition of verse 7 and 8. By this repetition, the Holy Spirit is pressing the urgency of this matter of perseverance.

Hebrews 3:15 "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."


We must never presume upon God’s goodness and grace, but ever continue seeking Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."


Now, read verses 16-19.

Hebrews 3:16-19 "For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. (17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? (18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."


In verses 16-18 we are given answers to three questions leading up to the nineteenth verse. These verses explain why the Jews were shut out of the land of promise and stand as a stern warning to us in this day of mercy and grace.

  1. Who were they that heard and yet were rebellious and provoked the Lord God? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? (v. 16)


Hebrews 3:16 "For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses."


  1. With whom was the Lord God irritated and provoked and grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, murmuring and rebelling against God’s goodness and providence, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? (v. 17)


Hebrews 3:17 "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?"


  1. To whom did God swear that they could not enter into his rest, but to those who heard to his Word and believed him not?


What a solemn warning to us who are favored with a clearer revelation of his grace in Christ! Though they had many evidences of God's goodness and much light and truth, they did not believe.

Hebrews 2:1-3 "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (2) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; (3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him."


  1. Verse 19 gives us the conclusion of the whole matter. Read it with care, and lay it to heart.


Hebrews 3:19 "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."


They were not able to enter into his rest because of unbelief. They were not willing to believe God, to trust God, to rely on God. Unbelief shut them out; and unbelief will shut us out as well, if we believe not the gospel. Salvation is to be had only by faith in Christ (Rom. 4:20-5:1).

Romans 4:20-25 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Don Fortner