Lectionary for 3/18/08

Today's readings are Exodus 9.29-10.20 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+9.29-10.20 ), Hebrews 3.1-19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+3.1-19 ), and Lamentations 2.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lam.+2.1-22 ).

 

Our Exodus reading continues to unfold God's deliverance of his people from Egypt.  Observe that he delivers his entire nation, though that nation consists of those who believe on him.  Those who reject God's deliverance and side with Egypt will not be delivered.  Likewise, some Egyptians certainly were among the Israelites.  They always accepted proselytes.

 

As we look at Lamentations, we see continued mourning for the people God has rejected and cast out due to their unbelieving disobedience.

 

Hebrews gives us a tremendous caution.  This passage in Hebrews 3 is one I personally would love any Calvinist who reads this post to discuss, as it addresses people who are clearly Christians (v. 1 "you share in a heavenly calling") yet warns them, us, rather, starting in verse 6, about departing from the faith due to a growing heart of unbelief.  This is, of course, one of the passages that causes the Calvinist view of the perseverance of the saints to be problematic, as it clearly depicts genuine believers who can genuinely lose their faith and depart from the living God, to their destruction.

 

Yet, now that I have said that, lest anyone become concerned, I want to remind us all, myself included, that the Bible is a book of GOOD news and that we do have confidence in Christ.  Let's look at some of the good news in Hebrews 3.

1)  Christ is the son over his house, and we are his house.  He cares for us.

2)  We are given every expectation that we can hold onto our boasting in Christ, who is the good master of his house.

3)  Christ's voice can be heard by his people, encouraging, exhorting, and proclaiming forgiveness and restoration.

4)  We are warned against an unbelieving heart so that we will strive to trust in Christ.

5)  We are given one another as means of grace to encourage each other.

6)  We are given every expectation that we have a share, an inheritance, in Christ, not by our righteousness by by clinging to his righteousness.

 

Thanks be to God, who has provided atonement for our sins through Christ, our righteousness.