Hebrews 3
Call to faithfulness in Christverses 1-6
WHEREFORE – holy brethren – partakers of the heavenly calling
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession
Christ Jesus
WHO was faithful to HIM that appointed HIM
as also Moses was faithful in all his house
FOR this MAN was counted worthy of MORE GLORY than Moses
insomuch as HE who has built the house has
MORE HONOR than the house
FOR every house is built by some man
but HE that built all things is God
AND Moses verily was faithful in all his house – as a servant
for a testimony of those thing which were to be spoken after
But Christ as a SON over HIS OWN house
WHOSE house are we – IF we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope
firm unto the end
Holy Spirit gives warning to believersverses 7-11
WHEREFORE (as the Holy Ghost says
Today if you will hear HIS voice harden not your hearts
as in the provocation in the day of temptation
in the wilderness
when your fathers – tempted ME proved ME
and saw MY works forty years
WHEREFORE I was grieved with that generation – and said
They do always err in their heart
and they have not known MY ways
SO I swore in MY wrath – They shall not enter into MY rest)
Believers are to encourage each otherverses 12-14
TAKE HEED – brethren – lest there be in any of you
an evil heart of unbelief
in departing from the living God
BUT EXHORT one another daily – while it is called Today
lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin
FOR we are made partakers of Christ
if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end
Example of Old Testament failure to trustverses 15-19
WHILE it is said – Today if you will hear HIS voice
harden not your hearts – as in the provocation
FOR some – when they had heard – did provoke
howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses
BUT with whom was HE grieved forty years?
was it not with them that had sinned
whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
AND to whom swore HE that they should not enter into HIS rest
but to them that believed not?
SO we see that they could not enter in BECAUSE of unbelief
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 But Christ as a son over HIS own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (3954 “confidence” [parrhesia] means boldness, freedom in speaking, cheerful courage, assurance, frankness, or outspokenness)
DEVOTION: We have to understand our relationship with Christ takes courage. We are to be individuals who stand fast in the faith no matter what is going on around us. We are to have confidence that Jesus Christ can get us through any situation the LORD allows in our life.
Too often we look at our circumstances and think that our situation is impossible. We think that God is not able to deliver us from our trials. We doubt the strength of the LORD that promises we can do “ALL” things through Christ who gives us strength.
An example of this problem is given in the Old Testament where the LORD was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt into a land that HE had promised them through Abraham.
Remember that God always keeps HIS promises. Well, these people looked at the “giants” in the land and doubted that God could conquer the giants. This doubt cause them not enter into the land God had promised.
We are challenged today with “giants” in our life that seem impossible to conquer. It is a challenge for us to either trust in the LORD or not trust in the LORD. What are we going to do?
CHALLENGE: “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.” Are we expressing our hope today? Do we trust in the LORD to conquer our giants?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. (4360 “grieved” [prosochthizo] means to be provoked, to be angry, to be irritated by, or to be offended)
DEVOTION: The Holy Spirit was active in the Old Testament. HE was the one who challenged the children of Israel to trust HIS ability to conquer the giants in the Promised Lane. HE wanted them to realize who HE was and what power was available to them.
HE saw the heart of the people. HE sees our heart today. HE wants our heart to be full of trust in HIM. HE wants us to have courage to face any enemy with the realization that with HIS help we can have victory.
HIS ways are always ways of victory. Trust is the main issue. Do we trust in a God we can’t see but know has helped others in the past? Do we have confidence even though we don’t know the whole Bible from cover to cover? Are we willing to walk on the water with Peter?
Remember that Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off the LORD and looked at the water. We are ones who have a tendency to take our eyes off the LORD and look at our circumstances with the thought that there is no way we can have a victory in this situation. That thought is coming for the enemy.
This type of thinking makes the Holy Spirit unhappy. In fact, we find that God is angry enough to skip a generation and let the children of the next generation conquer the giants their fathers were afraid to face.
CHALLENGE: We are the next generation. We need to look at what our fathers feared and stand strong in the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (3870 “exhort” [parakaleo] to call near, call together to, encourage, invite, comfort, pray, entreat, to call to one’s side, or to instruct)
The book of Hebrews is a problem book. Many commentaries differ in who they think this book is written to. Some think it is written to believers only. Some believe it is written to old believers, new believers and unsaved who have entered the church. Or it could be any combination of the above. There are passages in this book that have been used by both sides of the debate regarding eternal security or lost of salvation.
The rest of the Bible confirms that once someone is in the family of God, he is never taken out of that family. The question is whether someone is genuinely in the family of God. Some think they are but are not acting like it on a regular basis. If a person is a genuine believer the LORD will chasten him if he is moving away from the LORD. If that person does not listen to the chastening than I believe that the LORD will take his life. That seems to be the teaching of I Corinthians 11 and I John 5.
The author of Hebrews is contrasting the difference between being faithful and being unfaithful. He is telling all those who are followers of Christ to be faithful and not follow the example of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Moses was faithful.
However, Jesus Christ was more faithful. HE deserved more honor than Moses. Moses built a house of the children of Israel. They didn’t listen very well to him. They tempted God. They proved HIM. They saw HIS works for forty years but still didn’t believe in HIM. They didn’t enter into the Promised Land or HIS rest.
We are the house of Jesus Christ. God is building this house daily with those who are followers of Christ. The author of Hebrews warns those receiving the letter not to follow the example of the children of Israel. Those who received the letter of Hebrews could develop an evil heart of unbelief.
Temptations are coming and our response is important. We have a responsibility to each other. We have to realize that Jesus is our High Priest. I am trying to instruct those I write each day. It is not new to many but a reminder is always good. Some it is new too. We need to realize that there are tools available to dig deeper into the Bible. Every home should have a good study Bible, a Strong’s concordance, good notebook for recording lessons learned and time set aside to meditate on the Word of God. The more often we are in the presence of God, the stronger our faith will be.
These times should be individual, spouses and families. There should be time for each individual in the home to study the Word. There should be time for couples to study the Word. There should be time for families to get together to study the Word.
Our world is changing before our eyes. The days are evil. Our goal is to invite everyone we know to meditate on the Word of God as the days seem to be getting more challenging. Sin is real. Many are using the internet and websites in the wrong way. Some are looking at things they shouldn’t be looking at. Only as we are held accountable to each other can we grow in the LORD and not provoke the LORD to anger. The only place to find the answers is in the Bible. Are we encouraging our Christian friends on a daily basis? We should be. They need our comfort and encouragement, as well as, our confrontation.
CHALLENGE: We are our brother’s keeper!!!! We need to DAILY encourage those who are closest to us.
:18 And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (2663 “rest” [katapausis] means 1 a putting to rest. 1a calming of the winds. 2 a resting place. 2a metaph. the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: After a hard day’s work, don’t you just enjoy falling into bed? God could have made it otherwise, but created man with the natural need for rest. It is how the body and mind restore themselves to wholeness. God even had a plan so that man would not work seven days a week, but would rest on one of them (even as God had rested on the seventh day during the creation).
When God inaugurated the Mosaic covenant with the children of Israel after the exodus from Egypt, He planned on them resting in the promised land after conquering their enemies. However, when Moses sent the twelve spies into the promised land, only two of the brought back a good report, while ten of them said that the people could not enter the land. The children of Israel chose to believe that God would not be with them as they entered the promised land, and that it all depended on them to win the victory over the inhabitants of the land.
Consequently, the children of Israel were not allowed to enter the promised land for another forty years. They did not receive their final rest in the promised land, but their children entered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. A second Joshua (Yeshua/Jesus) came in order to give rest to the people of Israel (Matthew 11:28), and they too rejected Him and the rest that He offered them. As long as man thinks that he can find his own way through life, he is unwilling to surrender to the demands of God as a prerequisite to receiving God’s rest.
Have you reached the end of your own strength? If so, that is great news, because that is exactly where God wants to take over and give you His rest.
CHALLENGE: How have you failed to take advantage of God’s rest in the past, and are you failing to take advantage of it now? God never promised to reward workaholism. He wants you to allow Him to do His part in your life. Resolve now to rest at least once a week on Sunday.
: 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (570 “unbelief” [apistia] means unfaithfulness, faithless, want of faith, not trusting, refusing to trust, distrust, or mistrust)
DEVOTION: The Old Testament was written to help the Jewish believers understand what happened from the beginning of the nation regarding their relationship with God.
There are examples of great belief and examples of people who would not trust the LORD. The example given here is a statement of how the children of Israel listened to the ten witnesses regarding the Promised Land. They gave a report of giants in the land that they could not conquer. So the children of Israel decided not to enter the Promised Land and wandered in the wilderness until an entire generation died except for the two men who gave a good report or a trusting report: Joshua and Caleb.
There are many who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ but are afraid to fully commit to HIM. They seem to want to be on the sidelines when it comes to trusting Jesus Christ in all areas of the life. They like there somewhat secure life without rocking the boat by being a faithful witness for the LORD no matter what happens.
The author of Hebrews was warning those he was preaching to that they were acting like the ones who didn’t enter into the rest of God because of their distrust of God. They didn’t think God can give them victory in their present situation.
Many people who claim Christ don’t want to be a witness for HIM. They are afraid of rejection. They are rejecting the power of the Gospel through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to make their witness strong. They are not putting on the full armor of God and entering the fight.
Our world is turning further and further from the LORD. They are rejecting HIS strength to conquer evil. They are rejecting HIS message of salvation. They are thinking that evil is good and good is evil.
Christians are not standing up and informing them that only through a trust in Jesus Christ will there be ultimate victory here, and in the life to come. This life to come is the rest of God for those who are believers.
Courage is necessary to be someone who fully trusts Christ in every situation. We need those who doubt the power of the Gospel to stand up and be counted for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Be a faithful witness to the victory in Christ!! Are we acting like faithful believers in Jesus Christ?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Mosesverses 2, 3, 5, 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Him that appointed HIMverse 2
Godverses 4, 12
Builds all things (Creator)verse 4
Wrathverse 11
Living Godverse 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Apostleverse 1
High Priest verse 1
Apostle and High Priest of our professionverse 1
Christ verses 1, 6, 14
Jesus verses 1, 6
Christ Jesusverse 1
Faithfulverse 2
Counted worthyverse 3
Sonverse 6
HIS voiceverse 7
Partakers of Christ verse 14
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Ghostverse 7
Holy Ghost saidverse 7
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Houseverses 3, 4
Manverse 4
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Hardened heartverses 8, 15
Provocationverses 8, 15
Day of temptationverse 8
Tempt Godverse 9
Proved Godverse 9
Grieve Godverses 10, 17
Err in the heartverse 10
Not know God’s waysverse 10
Not enter God’s restverses 11, 18
Unbeliefverses 12, 19
Evil heart of unbeliefverse 12
Departing from the living Godverse 12
Hardenedverse 13
Deceitfulness of sinverse 13
Sinnedverse 17
Believed notverse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Holyverse 1
Partakers of heavenly callingverse 1
Faithfulverse 5
Servantverse 5
Hold fastverse 6
Confidenceverses 6, 14
Rejoicingverse 6
Hopeverse 6
Hear verse 7
Know God’s waysverse 10
Take heedverse 12
Exhort one another dailyverse 13
Partakers of Christverse 14
Confidence stedfastverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverses 3, 5, 16
Faithful
Servant
Fathersverses 9-11
Tempted God
Proved God
Saw God’s works
Forty years
Grieved God
Not enter God’s rest
Grieved with Israel forty yearsverse 17
Not enter the restverse 19
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverses 1, 12
We are Christ’s houseverse 6
Exhort one another dailyverse 13
Last Things (Future Events)
Firm unto the endverses 6, 14
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QUOTES regarding passage
Hebrews 3:14
For we are become partakers of Christ (μετοχοι γαρ του Χριστου γεγοναμεν [metochoi gar tou Christou gegonamen]). Second perfect active of γινομαι [ginomai], “we have become,” not the equivalent of ἐσμεν [esmen] (are). For μετοχοι [metochoi] see 1:9; 3:1 and 6:4. We have become partners with Christ and hence (γαρ [gar], for) should not be tricked into apostasy. If we hold fast (ἐαν περ κατασχωμεν [ean per kataschōmen]). The same condition as in verse 6 with περ [per] (indeed, forsooth) added to ἐαν [ean]. Jonathan Edwards once said that the sure proof of election is that one holds out to the end. The beginning of our confidence (την ἀρχην της ὑποστασεως [tēn archēn tēs hupostaseōs]). For ὑποστασις [hupostasis] see 1:3; 11:1. These faltering believers (some even apostates) began with loud confidence and profession of loyalty. And now? (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 3:14). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
3:14. The statement, we have come to share in Christ might be more literally rendered, “we are partners with the Christ.” The word “the” found in the original probably gives to “Christ” the sense of “the Messiah.” In the word “partners” the reader meets again the Greek metochoi, used in 1:9 and 3:1 of the “companions” of the messianic King. Once again, the writer reverted to the supreme privilege of being among the “many sons” whom God is bringing to the glory of shared dominion over the created order which Christ is destined to rule. But again too, like the privilege of serving in the priestly house (v. 6), this role is contingent on continuing fidelity: if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first. In this connection, Revelation 2:26–27 comes readily to mind: “To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—he will rule them with an iron scepter.” (Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 787). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
It is important that we take heed and recognize the spiritual dangers that exist. But it is also important that we encourage each other to be faithful to the Lord (Heb. 3:13). We get the impression that some of these believers addressed were careless about their fellowship in the local assembly (see Heb. 10:23–25). Christians belong to each other and need each other. Moses, Caleb, and Joshua did try to encourage Israel when the nation refused to enter Canaan, but the people would not listen.
It is clear from this section that God was grieved with Israel during the entire forty years they wandered in the wilderness. The Jews had not been out of Egypt long when they began to provoke God (Ex. 16:1ff). After He supplied bread for them, they complained about a lack of water (Ex. 17:1–7). Moses called that place “Massah and Meribah” which means “provocation and trial.” These same words are used in Hebrews 3:10.
The sin of Israel is stated in Hebrews 3:12—“departing from the living God.” The Greek word gives us our English word “apostasy.” This is the only place this word is used in Hebrews. Does “apostasy” mean abandoning one’s faith and therefore being condemned forever? That does not fit into this context. Israel departed from the living God by refusing God’s will for their lives and stubbornly wanting to go their own way back to Egypt. God did not permit them to return to Egypt. Rather, He disciplined them in the wilderness. God did not allow His people to return to bondage.
The emphasis in Hebrews is that true believers have an eternal salvation because they trust a living Saviour who constantly intercedes for them. But the writer is careful to point out that this confidence is no excuse for sin. God disciplines His children. Remember that Canaan is not a picture of heaven, but of the believer’s present spiritual inheritance in Christ. Believers who doubt God’s Word and rebel against Him do not miss heaven, but they do miss out on the blessings of their inheritance today, and they must suffer the chastening of God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 288–289). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
To these Hebrews the exhortation is given: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers (companions) of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (vers. 12–14). Faith is manifested by a godly walk. Where there is lack of faith, the outward life may for a time seem to be consistent with the Christian profession, but eventually the old carnal nature will assert itself and there will be a turning back to the world; or, as in this case, to that mere carnal religion from which Christ would deliver. This second “if” is linked with verse 6, and again we are reminded that continuance in the walk of faith is the proof of a genuine Christian confession. In the last five verses of this third chapter, the Spirit of God uses the case of Israel in the wilderness as a solemn warning to all who now have professedly gone on a pilgrimage. The people who fell in the desert of old were those who believed not. They never entered into God’s rest. Indeed, they could not do so because of their unbelief. That rest of course was Canaan, a type of the rest that remains for the people of God now.
The subject is continued in the first thirteen verses of chapter 4. “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” The rest here spoken of is not our present enjoyment of Christ, as many have imagined, but clearly refers to that rest which, as in Israel’s case, is at the end of the way. What a solemn thing for any who eventually come short of that! The glad tidings of a rest to come, we have heard as did they. Let us then see that we profit thereby in a way which they did not, proving the reality of our faith by our behavior. (Ironside, H. A. (1932). Studies in the Epistle to the Hebrews (pp. 57–58). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
Ver. 14. For we are made partakers of Christ, &c.] Being loved by him, given to him, and chosen in him before the foundation of the world; and so participate of all spiritual blessings in him; for this respects something past, and may be rendered, we have been made. The phrase is expressive of union to Christ, which is not by faith on man’s part, and by the spirit on Christ’s part, but by his everlasting love, taking his people into an oneness with himself; thereby becoming their head, surety, and representative, which is the ground and foundation of all the blessings of grace being imparted to them: hence arises communion; as this is a conjugal union, there is communion of names, of persons, of goods, of honour and dignity, and of everlasting glory; as it is a federal or representative union, hence a non-imputation of sin, justification, and freedom from condemnation; and as it is an union of head and members; hence a communication of life, and the security of it, and of all grace and strength; hence holiness, fruitfulness, and perseverance, and everlasting happiness both of soul and body: if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; by confidence is meant faith, which is an hypostasis, or subsistence, which is the word here used; and is so called, because it gives a kind of subsistence, substance, or being, to things it is concerned with, Heb. 11:1 and because it is a great support to believers, under their various exercises; and is that by which they have an open, spiritual, and comfortable subsistence, and abiding in Christ: the beginning of it, which is to be held fast, is either Christ himself, who is the αρχη, the beginning, the author, and finisher of faith; and so this shews from whom, and in what way, this grace is distributed; and is expressive of communion with Christ, and is an evidence of the participation of him: or else the Gospel, which is the means of implanting faith, and directs to that which is the ground and foundation of it; and this is to be held fast, and never to be departed from: or else the grace of faith itself, which is a grace but begun, not yet finished, but shall continue, and is to be held fast, and constantly exercised; and perseverance in believing on Christ is an evidence of union to him. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 392). London: Mathews and Leigh)
FROM MY READING:
GAINING THE WORLD
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36
What if you are the most handsome man or beautiful woman the world has ever known, and are always dressed in a most gorgeous manner, and what if you have the greatest palace to live in and have the greatest collection of motor cars and everything else? What if you have the whole world—but lose your own soul? That is what Christ says about the world, and He says it supremely upon the cross. “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37).
Why did He die? He died for the souls of men—not for our material welfare, not to reform this world, but to save our souls. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And it is the soul that is lost. The world knows nothing about the soul, but it is in you and in all of us—this imperishable thing in us that goes on beyond death and the end. Christ exposed the lie of this world for what it really is.
He spoke a parable about Dives and Lazarus. The rich man sat in his palace, dressed gorgeously, in wonderful robes, eating with all his companions until he had his fill, while the poor beggar sat at the gate with the dogs licking his sores. The Lord says in effect, “Do not judge superficially—that is not the end of the story.” He gives us a picture of Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom and Dives in the torment of hell. You can see the difference between the mind and outlook of the world and the mind and outlook of the Father and the Son of God. He exposes the world for what it is
A Thought to Ponder: You can see the difference between the outlook of the world and the outlook of the Father. (From The Cross, pp. 100-101, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
John 1 John traces the deity of Christ from “the beginning.”
INSIGHT
The Scriptures are such an intimate and personal revelation of the mind of God that there is no distance between the Word and God Himself. John writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This verse refers to Jesus, and yet, He is called “the Word.”
In Revelation 19:13, John writes of Jesus: “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” To know the Word is to know God; to uphold the Word is to uphold God; to believe the Word is to believe God; and to obey the Word is to obey God. (Quiet Walk)
Dark Calvary
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” (Matthew 27:45)
The second verse of the grand old hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” contains much truth, rich and deep.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
The world despises the cross and the One on the cross. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). But yet, even in His bloodied and broken form, there is a wondrous attraction, for “surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (vv. 4-5).
His death substituted for ours. He was the sacrificial “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This Lamb is none other than God the Son, who willingly “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:…and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). Remarkably, even God the Father “despised” Him as He hung on the cross, for God is holy, and for our sakes had “made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The apex of Christ’s suffering came, as we see in our text, when God the Father separated Himself from His beloved Son, “forsaking” (v. 46) Christ to suffer for three hours the awful pangs of hell that we deserved. So, I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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