Hebrews 3:12-15

Christ demands that we hold on to our faith -- Hebrews 3:12-15: Christians must be careful that they do not sin. Sin is a departure from God. Unbelief, in particular, is the root of all such departures. Unbelief makes the soul negligent and careless in opposing sin. We must be extremely careful that an "evil heart of unbelief" does not give birth to the sin of backsliding.

While it is called "Today" much encouragement to faithfulness should be given. Close friends in the church should admonish and encourage one another. Parents should daily encourage their children to faithful service to God. Bible School teachers should encourage those in their class to more dedication to God. Older Christians could do much for the growth of Christianity by exhorting young Christians to faithful service to God. Fellow Christians must encourage all those that you sit down at the same Supper of the Lord with to serve God faithfully.

The need for this encouragement is seen in that, "we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3:14) We have been spiritually united with Jesus the Saviour. Our goal now should be to become like Him and one with Him. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest." (Psalms 95:7-11)