Consider one’s confession of Christ!

The writer of Hebrews encourages the readers to truly know Jesus in whom they have placed their faith. These were Jewish converts facing extreme pressures, even persecution. Is Jesus really more important than Moses who was faithful in all of God’s house according to Numbers 12? As Jewish converts to Jesus Christ needed to have confirmation of their confession, so do we. Never forget that what Jesus Christ can do is based on Who He is.

Let’s take a few moments and consider the foundation of our Christian confession based on an observation of Hebrews 3:1-6. This passage gives a number of reasons why Jesus is worthy of confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Be encouraged to dig deep as noted by Charles Spurgeon, He is supremely worthy of our perpetual consideration from all points of view. . . If you think little of your Leader you will live but poor lives. Consider Him, often think of Him, try to copy Him. With such a Leader what manner of people ought we to be?

Jesus is an apostle, one sent by another for a purpose. Thomas Constable, . . . He is the One God sent to reveal the Father to humankind. . . It is amazing to think that God the Father sent God the Son to reveal Himself to His creation. I am reminded of the thought that God does not need us - He wants us. Our triune God has always had relationship and fellowship within the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Just as amazing, if not more, so is that Jesus came to be our High Priest. R. Kent Hughes, Because he was perfectly human and perfectly divine, he knows both man and God. Thus he is able to speak to men for God and to intercede to God for men. It is a wonderful thing to have one represent mankind before a holy God but it is beyond compare to think our confession is based on Jesus, the High Priest who not only represents us to God by offering Himself as our once-for-all sacrifice!

The writer of Hebrews next focuses on a comparison of Jesus to Moses. The writer confirms the faithfulness of Jesus and Moses in God’s house. Raymond Brown, Moses was a faithful steward in the house, but Christ is its owner. As noted in Hebrews 1, Jesus was assigned responsibility by the Father to create all things. He created the house in which Moses was a faithful servant. William Barclay, . . . Moses was the servant; but Jesus was the Son. Moses knew a little about God; Jesus was God. Therein lies the secret of his superiority. And William L. Lane, Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses in the same measure as God has more honor than the universe he created.

A comparison of Jesus to Moses must consider Moses as a type whereas Jesus is the reality. The tabernacle in the desert only pictured the permanent residence in heaven where Jesus now sits in authority at the right hand of the Father. Donald Hagner, In Moses we have promise; in the Son we have fulfillment, for in him God has accomplished his saving purposes.

Such consideration of one’s confession must lead to a proper evaluation of personal commitment. The writer to the Hebrews declared verse 6, And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. As noted earlier in this study of Hebrews, the warning passages can’t speak of loss of salvation since salvation is a gift. The warning must deal with false profession and/or loss of reward. Ray Stedman, It tells us that courage or boldness, and the demonstration of hope in word and deed is the continuing mark of those who belong to Christ. It does not rule out periods of weak faith and struggle. Also note the position of Zane Hodges, . . . just as one who was a true Levite by birth could withdraw from participation in the tabernacle of Moses’ day, so too one who is truly a Christian by new birth may withdraw from his priestly role within the functioning household. It was precisely this danger which concerned the writer, in the present warning passage as well as in later ones.

I have no interest in weakening the warning passages in Hebrews but to reconcile them to Scripture. One must affirm that salvation is a gift and rewards are for faithful service. Therefore, I believe this passage is meant to confirm the value of our confession which is secured by faith in Christ alone. Also, we are called to carefully, by God’s grace, build on that one foundation that which is worthy of that confession. Please take time to consider 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

Learn more about why it is so important that our confession is tied to obedience. Join the study of Hebrews 3:1-6 under the Books of the Bible tab. There is no greater confession that to declare that Jesus is my Savior and Lord!