If...!

If…!
Monday, November 10, 2008: Hebrews 3:6

But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Does this mean we need to do something to assure our being part of the house of God? No, it is a question of confidence and faith, NOT actions and deeds like good works.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008: Hebrews 3:14

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end
What does beginning and end refer to? Your life as a believer in Christ: it is our confidence in Him and NOT in our own works.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Hebrews 3:18-19

And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who did not believe? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Background: This refers to the journey of Israel from Egypt to the promised land.
How many believed that God, not their own accomplishments, would get them into the promised land? Aside from Moses, only two: Caleb and Joshua! The rest did not believe in spite of the unmistakable signs and plagues.

Thursday, November 13, 2008: 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

And, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received, and in which you stand; by which you also are being kept safe, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
Does your eternal safety depend on what you do? No, it depends on being faithful to the words of the gospel preached to you.

Friday, November 14, 2008: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
Is this the Gospel? Yes, this is probably the earliest expression of the gospel as a brief statement. Continued belief in this is what commends us to God, never the things we do.