Hebrews 3.1-6

This week we will be focusing on Hebrews 3.1-6.  Like you know we are focusing on the book of Hebrews during September, October, and November.  You can find out more information about that by following this link.  In Hebrews 3.1-6 we learn that Jesus is the great builder ----- and that we are God's house.  The writer says in v6: "Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house."  This is the congregation he is writing to, the faithful witnesses through the thousands of years, but also us ----- the church.  Jesus was faithful to build us ----- but now there has to be a response from us ----- now we are to be faithful to him.  At the end of v6 the writer says: "if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope."  This means that we have to hold firm to Christ Jesus ----- that we are to "pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it" [2.1] ------ that we are to hold fast to what "God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son" [1.1-2].  We are called to persevere till the very end ----- holding fast to the author and finisher of our faith. 

In this we learn the severe need that the world has for the church.  But also, the severe need the church has to be filled with God's grace so that we can truly be the church.  This church is the community that Christ offered up himself to die for.  This church is the community that God sent his Son to redeem so that it can participate in the reconciliation of all things to God.  This church is God's house.  But also, this church is in dire need to live into this commissioning.  We can see that the church being the church is of vital importance to God.  For the church is to be that "place" where Christ makes all things new.  Where the Holy Spirit will change the hearts and minds of people by bringing us through the death waters and giving us the mind of Christ.  My brothers and sisters ------ let us be the church that is God's house in the earth!