Partakers of Christ by Obedient Trust

Hebrews 3:14-19 

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”  16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

If we are truly of Christ, we hold that confidence of our confession and conversion till we die, knowing in whom we have believed and who has us as His precious possession now.  We remain steadfast, firm in conviction and trust in our trustworthy Savior who promised.  Therefore we do not turn against God as the unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness who doubted even after miracles such as the deliverance from slavery to sin as Egypt symbolized.  No, we hear and believe as the eyes of our hearts are opened, and choose to live by that grace of faith given undeservedly to us.  We do not disbelieve and rebel as following the Law of Moses to earn salvation; we have not turned away after hearing, but have turned to God through Christ after turning from our sin to Him as repentance.  Those relying on keeping the Law by their own works fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23, James 2:10, Romans 3:19-20), and earn only death apart from trust in Christ (Romans 6:23).  The only way, truth, and life are found by belief in Christ and His work, not our works or any other door from any other belief.  These examples from long ago show us that unbelief and disobedience to God’s gospel never lead anyone to eternal life with God; they remain under God’s just anger (John 3:18-19).  We who are His are no longer under that wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9).