Articles
Our Confession - Heb. 3:1
Our Confession - Heb. 3:1
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1). We that are ‘holy brethren’ have all been baptized into Christ and our together children of God (cp. Gal. 3:26-29). In becoming and being disciples, we make the great confession. Paul wrote “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).
Thus, Peter ended the first sermon: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36). The result was that “those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
Such was the beginning of their discipleship. We see the apostles were doing what Jesus commissioned: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20).
At this point in the story, they were being taught and continuing in the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42). Then, their trust in Jesus was severely tested. Many of them were arrested, persecuted, and even martyred. The Hebrew writer could remind his readers that they had “accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one” (Heb. 10:34). Would they stick? Would the continue following Jesus? Or would they turn away and walk no more with Jesus?
Thus, disciples MUST consider Jesus; to dwell upon Him, to remember Him. We are to contemplate who He is, what we have in Him; what He has done for us, and what He will do for us. Thus he writes: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14). And again: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Because of Jesus willing sacrifice of Himself for our sins, “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Do you firmly believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Lord of lords? Have you made the great confession before men? Are you holding fast to this confession?
Hugh DeLong
