Hebrews 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

As we begin this devotional, I want to acknowledge the passing of a dear saint who went home to be with the Lord last night. We came to know this man about 6 years ago. He was driving by the place where we were having church; and he noticed our sign outside he noticed the times of our services, and he came to the next service and was faithful ever since. He had been attending a different church but was not content with what they were teaching and he was happy that the Lord led him to our church. He was very faithful in taking notes at every service. He had many little sticky notes in different places in his Bible. Most importantly, he loved the Lord and desired to see others know Him as well. We will certainly miss him, but he had some health issues and is free from pain today and resting in glory. The Bible reminds us that one day soon all the saints will be called home!
The Bible gives us God’s Word on the importance of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and serving God with the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. In our text today, God directed the writer to continue to build on the past 2 chapters of the book of Hebrews. God has established the fact that Jesus Christ is better than the angels. In chapter 3:1 we begin with the word “wherefore”. Wherefore tells us that God is building on what has been spoken before.
Notice that God speaks of the recipients as “holy brethren”. The book of Hebrews has some words of challenge and encouragement to born again Christians. It also has some words of warning and challenge to those who are lost and need to be saved. Chapter 3 begins with words to true saints. Those who are saved are “holy brethren”. We are made holy by God. We have no righteousness in ourselves. However, the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life and shed His blood so that we could be forgiven and saved and be holy.
Holiness begins with the new birth, where God makes those who are saved new creatures. Holiness then is taught and followed as the true child of God separates unto God and thus turns away from the temptations of the world. We have been made partakers of the heavenly calling. On this earth communication signals sometimes fail. With the cell phone technology, if you are living in an area where there are a lack of towers, your reception will not be good. However, God can communicate with man without cell towers or satellite connections. God communicates to the heart of man through his conscience as well as through His Word. Those who are saved are those who have responded to the call of God and that call is a heavenly calling. It is a call that no one will want to miss and yet sadly, many are neglecting that call today.
As we were reminded yesterday, life is fragile. It can end at a moments notice. Whether it be short or longer, it is all very short in comparison to eternity. It is important to be ready now.
Those who are saved need to consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. The word translated as “consider” means to “observe fully”. God has already spoken of the difference between Jesus Christ and the angels. He has laid out several differences between them. No one needs to be confused about this matter. It is necessary to turn to God in repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation. There is no hope for man outside of knowing the forgiveness of sin provided by the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who have idols of angels around their house or hanging from their mirror, etc. are sinning and missing out on something very important.
The word “Apostle” means “a delegate” or an “ambassador”. In our text it is capitalized. Jesus Christ Is THE Apostle. He was sent from heaven by His Father to come to this earth, not just to communicate with man, but to die for man. He came to shed His blood on the cross of Calvary so that you and I could be saved.
Jesus Christ is also THE High Priest of our profession. Jesus Christ was not like Aaron. Aaron was weak and led the nation of Israel into idolatry. He later led in a rebellion against Moses. He was a man and he was not very strong in the faith. However, God chose him to be the first hight priest of the nation of Israel. The high priest was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the High Priest. He is the mediator between God and men. Unlike Aaron, Jesus did not need to offer a blood sacrifice for His sins before He could enter the holiest. In fact, when Jesus died on that cross, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top down. Jesus Christ made it possible for man to go directly to God through Him. There is no need for a priesthood anymore. The Catholics are wrong and many are deceived in believing they need to confess their sins to a priest in the hope of being forgiven. They will never find forgiveness that way.
Jesus Christ is the final Priest and there is no need for another because He is still alive. When Aaron died, his son Eleazar became the high priest. Jesus is not dead. He is the eternal mediator between God and men. Aaron could not take away the sins of the people. The Lord Jesus can and does take away the sin of any repentant sinner.
Those who are saved, profess the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. He is the only Saviour. Those who trust in Mary or in some other individual have no salvation. Those who are saved will profess the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
He is Christ Jesus. The name Christ speaks of Jesus as the Messiah. He is the anointed one. God directed Moses to anoint Aaron for the priesthood. Aaron was chosen by God to be the first high priest. Later, Eleazar would be anointed to replace Aaron, and so on.
Jesus Christ was publicly recognized by God the Father as His beloved Son when He was baptized by John the Baptist. He was always God’s beloved Son, but God declared Him publicly to be so at that time and He did it again at the mount of Transfiguration. Many of the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah, but that was to their shame. The Bible tells us that the nation of Israel will recognize Jesus Christ as their Messiah at the end of the Tribulation.
The name “Jesus” speaks of Jesus as the Saviour.

Matthew 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus is the only Saviour. There never was one before He came to this earth and there will never be another after He ascended back up to heaven.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God is speaking to saved people in Hebrews 3:1. Those that are saved need to stop and be reminded of Who saved them. We should never forget the greatness of our Saviour. We should be in awe of Him at all times. We should bless His name. It should bother us when we hear someone taking His name in vain. He is worthy of our worship and the Bible tells us that one day every knee will bow before Him and every person will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. For most it will be too late to benefit them. They will hear Him read out their works and then He will sentence them to an eternity in the lake of fire. The time to acknowledge Him as Christ Jesus is now. Let us consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession today and everyday!
Pastor Bartel