Hebrews 3:12-4:13 -The Second Warning

Falling away and if we what?

In Heb 3:12 we are warned that some of the author’s audience are in danger of “falling away.” What does that phrase mean? Is it apostasy, renouncing salvation and loosing salvation as some say? Or does it, as others teach, refer to unsaved people who might walk away from the message of salvation? If we interpret this phrase in light of all that is said in this unit of thought, Heb 3:12-19 I think we can see that the phrase describes a Christian who does not live in God’s rest because they are not trusting God in their daily lives. They are a child of God, but to some degree living as if they were not. Their lack of trust in God  is betrayed by living to a great degree like the unsaved worldly people around them. It helps to look ahead to the opening of the next division of the book, Heb 4:14-16 where we are exhorted to draw close to God in every circumstance of life. That theme is repeated in Hebrews. We are called to draw near to find help in the time of need, but how can we rest easy if we won’t draw near, if we seek our own ways and pleasures at any cost?

Hebrews 3:14, Another Controversy

Here is yet another verse that has been interpreted in many contradictory ways. It literally says something like “partakers/participants we have become of Christ if indeed the beginning assurance until the end steadfastly we held.” “We have become” is in a Greek tense that clearly tells us not only that “we” became partakers at some point in the past but continue to be. It is addressing Christians. In addition the Greek word order places an emphasis on the participation the author and readers have already entered into.

Careful attention to the wording shows that these lines do not cite what will be true if they hold on, but what is already true of them, and which is to be evidenced by their endurance through temptation. The writer asserted that their continuance in faith will demonstrate that they are (present tense in Gk.) members of God’s household, not that it will make it so in the future. Holding on to their confidence will reveal the reality they already have come to share (perfect tense) in Christ, not what they will share.… The warnings about falling away and exhortations to endure are designed to make this point. ^[1]David L. Allen, Hebrews, The New American Commentary, (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2010), 266.

Like Heb 3:6, this verse is emphasizing the authors appeal to Christians to hold fast the same level of assurance they had at the beginning of their journey with God rather than letting the deceitfulness of sin ruin their inner rest as they walk through each day.

So what’s it to me?

• Belief is a daily exercise
• Lack of believe prevents you from entering God’s rest
• We often take lack of belief as something passive, something we will eventually get right, but God sees us as passive aggressive because He describes unbelief as evil, falling away, hardening your heart, provoking God, and sinning.