Q2. Hardened by Sin

[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

[Commissioned]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ?

With our faith firmly grounded in Christ we remain part of the Messiah's household.

How does sin trick us? How does it harden us?

If one gives in continually to sin, soon they ignore the Holy Spirit and they become hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

When we keep fellowship with other believers our faith is strengthened, as we place ourselves to be accountable to them and to receive admonishment, exhortation and encouragement to live for Christ.

[Ms CJ]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ?

Staying in relationship with Christ keeps us in our faith, that's the key to also staying in the household of the of God where our strength comes from in times of trials and where our blessings flow. Our faith is increased each time we go to the house of God and hear of His goodness or told how to win a battle with wisdom through a message. Let no one be fooled that all they need is a relationship to Christ, they also need to get into the right local church where the saints of God are, where we have fellowship with one another. Where wells of faith pour out when we need it.

Just like the woman at the well when she met Jesus, she came into a relationship with Christ and drank from the well of faith that she needed to see how to change her life and move from a place of sin to a place of victory. satan's household is where she was living and now she has moved into the house of God. If she had not went to the well ( a place of faith) she would never of meet Christ, nor would she have known that she would be an open door for salvation of many. For in the household of God there are all types of people from all over the world and just like the woman at the well whom Jews were not allowed to talk to for she was consider a dog because of the place she lived and the race she was.

The disciples thought Jesus was wrong to talk with her, so they turned there hearts from her and when they turned from her they turned from Jesus without understanding that at that moment of time they risk their relationship with Him and their hearts still had hard places within them. A lesson for us all to learn here and I am just seeing this come to light as I type this. A fresh word from God and a warning to us all.

If you break relationship with the household of God, in time you will break relationship to Christ for you risk hardening you heart towards Him and towards the people of God. If you can't live with the people of God here on earth, then you can't live with them in heaven.

This is what Paul states below:

Eph 2:19-22

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

How does sin trick us?

First we must understand that sin is

1.) Actually a contradiction to the holiness of God, whose image mankind bears.

2.) Violation of the law of God in thought, word, and deed shows the sinfulness of the human heart.

3.) The moral depravity of mankind is total in that "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be"

So, in understanding these things we see that we are born with a sin nature and that coming in to relationship with Christ, that nature can be changed, our hearts can be changed, and we can overcome sin.

Look above to the #2 and it will tell us how a sin is first introduced; in a thought, and at that thought the heart will cause us to say the right thing or the wrong thing ( for out of the heart flows the issues of life and that's because the heart is the central part of man). If we put that thought into words then those words produce life to the thought ( there is power in the tongue) and then the words become action words that produce the deeds (sin)

Pride is the root to sin and the Proverbs states: "that pride comes before a fall" and so in not capturing every thought that is wrong, not setting a watch over our mouth, putting our feet to sin, once again we have gotten into a snare and then evil comes in and sin is occurred.

Remember alway: " IT'S NOT THE devil THAT TRICKS US INTO SIN IT'S OUR THOUGHT PATTERN, THE WORDS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN OUR LIFE AND THE QUICK WORKS OF OUR HANDS AND FEET (DEEDS)

How does it harden us?

Our hearts are harden in sin and if we have not a repentive heart and our hearts are not towards pleasing God at all times then one sin will lead to another sin and before you know it we are back to the old man which in that old man dwells rebellion and in that rebellion that brings enmity towards God and we break fellowship with Him.

Ps 95:8

"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness"

What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

In the word value is the word time and in looking at the word time you can see the importance of this word and why it should be to us.

VALUE

time NT:5092 denotes "a valuing, a price, honor";

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words,

What I am seeing here is that;

1) Christ paid a price so we could be in fellowship with one another

2) That honor should always be shown to one another, for if we honor Him then we must honor one another

3) In that honor, respect comes and out of respect comes love and produces the faith we need for each other when times come that are hard or evil.

NT:5092

time (tee-may'); from NT:5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself:

KJV - honour, precious, price, some.

We must take the time to place value on what not only has Christ done for us eternally, but what He does for us everyday and to take the time to minister one to another, love one another, and show that in all things be our brothers keeper.

In the lesson we have a new look at the household of God and that is:

CHRIST PAID A PRICE SO WE COULD BE IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD AND THAT WE SHOULD HONOR ONE ANOTHER FOR THE TIME IS PRECIOUS AND THERE ARE SOME STILL OUT THERE THAT NEED TO BROUGHT IN OR BROUGHT BACK!

[Tabatha]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

The author of This chapter gives the Hebrews a proper caution; the word is, Take heed, ( blepete )-- look to it. "Look about you; be upon your guard against enemies both within and without; He was telling them to see what kept many of their forefathers out of Canaan, and made their carcasses fall in the wilderness; take heed lest you fall into the same sin and snare and dreadful sentence. For Christ is Head of the church, a much greater person than Moses. ( 1 Cor. 10:11 )Today"s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of the past. But Paul, cautions us to remember the lessons the Israelites learned about God so we can avoid repeating their errors. The key to remembering is to study the Word regularly so that these lessons remind us of how God wants us to live. We need not repeat their mistakes should be rembered by us. Take heed , brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. A heart of unbelief is an evil heart. Unbelief ia a great sin, it is at the bottom of all our sinful departures from God; it is a leading step to apostasy; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert Him. Christian brothers and sisters must stay in fellowship. It puts an umbrella of protection over them.They should exhort one another daily, while it is called today.

We should be doing all the good we can to one another while we are together, which will be a short and uncertain time. If Christians do not exhort one another daily, they will be in danger of being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. God will have a remnant that shall be obedient to His voice, and He will take care of such and make mention of them with honour. We don' know the day or hour of the coming of Jesus. Be ready, for that day fast approches.

[Patricia A]

[/color]Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

[charisbarak]

Faith in our relationship to Christ is crucial. It was crucial in our conversion & remains so to this day. Our faith in Jesus motivates us to be more like Him each day.

There is a part of sin that is attractive & seductive and by the grace of God, we can recognize it for what it is & flee!

Sin hardens us when we continue to live in sin. The fine tuning of the H.S. within us gets less sharp & we could eventually not feel or sense anything wrong with what we're doing--and have no desire to change.

Christian fellowship is a necessary part of the Christian life. We need to be accountable to each other & help each & share with each other through joys, trials or suffering we may be going through.

[Helenmm]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

Faith is the evidence of things not seen, the reality that is behind creation. It is the antithesis of unbelief. It is supernatural knowledge! As He did in the wilderness, God today gives us plenty of supernatural knowledge to feed our faith - answers to prayer, instructions, compassion and constant love, insight into biblical truth, revelation at a personal level. Armed with this supernatural knowledge we are able to fight in a supernatural battle, but if we choose to ignore what is given to us then how can relationship flourish? Faith

is our knowledge of Christ.

Sin is initially seductive - attractive with a "No, no," feel to it! It appears harmless at first, but once the habit is established it grows stronger, entrenches deeper, and gets nastier by the minute, but you are hooked and it's difficult to break such a habit.

If the habit is one we like for some reason, we can not wish to be disturbed, and even call those who suggest such a thing "judgemental". We are now preferring sin to holiness and truth ie we are gaining and feeding hardness of heart. Our own knowledgeable choice to move away from God has become involved

One of the major values of Christian fellowship (having close Christian friends) is that they point out things that indicate you are on the wrong track, as well as offering encouragement. They keep you accountable so that you don't go too far wrong and get into big trouble. Christian fellowship loves to discuss the Word and extricate its Truth. This helps all participants keep on track, motivated, and encouraged.

[zam]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

Faith is a connecting link between Jesus Christ and ourselves. It is because of His importance to our life that we uphold strongly our belief. It we lost this link then our life is at a lost. Right from the beginning, Satan tempts human beings trough different tricks with a motive to cut off the link which we have with our God. Human nature itself is full of weaknesses and easily fall to the temptation of pleasure. That's why when human wants to have much pleasure in their way of life, they sinned and by the time they realize that there is something wrong, then its already late. take as for example the Drug addicts. To live alone and think that we can do everything without any help and encouragements from others will be too difficult. Christian life is a life living in fellowship. It is just like a burning charcoal amidst unburn charcoals which through its presence is able to warm and burn others as well.

[Stan]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

Scripture says that without faith we can not see God, that just about says it all. We can only hope to see God it is our faith that tells us Scripture is true and that some day we will stand in the presence of a just and Holy God to live and reign with Him for ever and ever.

Sin tricks us by continully telling us that our faith is fruitless and that we as most people should go the way of the world and do what ever feels good. The lies that come from the father of lies is never ending and tries to destroy our faith in Jesus at every turn.

It hardens us by causing us to sin and the more we give in to sin the easier it is to give in and the harder it becomes to resist. Only through the grace and strength of a loving God can we truly resist the arrows of the devil.

If our faith is strong it will be harder for the devil to harm us or tempt us into sin and we will be more able to show our faith to others who may not believe and need to be led to know Christ and Him crucified. We must stay strong in the faith to be able to say like Paul I have finshed my race I have kept the course. We all want to recieve that crown laid up for those chosen to serve like Christ the Most High God.

[JustJeff]

How important is faith in our relationship to Christ? Without faith we do not have a relationship with Christ.

Sins tricks us by catering to the lusts of our flesh. The pleasure of the moment convinces us that it is good and therefore, it cannot be evil. As we continue in sin we become dependent upon the pleasure and our hearts become hardened even to the point of turning against God for denying us of our pleasures.

Fellowship with Christians keeps us focused on things above, not on the earthly and, when we seem to go astray, our fellows can admonish us and help us to get back on track.

[masika]

The impotance of having faith in Christ is that, God will give us new heart, new desires, and new Spirits.

Sins make our hearts to turn away from the Living God, and if we persist in our unbelief, God will eventually leave us alone in our sin.

The value of Christian Fellowship to keep us strong, is we must stay in felloship with other believeres, talk daily about our mutual faith, and we must be aware of the deceitfulness of sin, it attracts and also destroys. We must also encourage each other with love and concern.

[PATJOE]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

We are so deceived by the "luring" element of sin, that if our focus is not firmly on Christ and the Cross, many times we may not even be aware that we are sinning and will be so subtly drawn into the pattern of sin. Each time we sin, and continue in this way, our hearts gradually become hardened to God. As we were referred to Proverbs in this lesson "there is a way that SEEMS right to man, but in the end it leads to death". While we enjoy Christian fellowship, we remind each other of the simple beauty of Christ and how much easier it is to let go, and let Him. He's already done the hard part for us. Christians need each other in their lives to stay in touch with God and form a strong union against the temptation of sin.

[Umberto]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ?

Faith is all. There are so many examples of faith mentioned in the Bible that tell us how important it is in our walk. Romans 1:17 says, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." That is how we are to live, because that is what was shown to us. That Jesus was and is faithful, even unto death.

How does sin trick us?

Sin is any rebellion against God, either in thinking or in deed. The Hebrews in the desert believed that they could do something about their situation. We believe that we can do something about our situation. The reality for them and for us is that we can do nothing apart from Christ. It is scary to me that the Hebrews in the desert followed Moses, who by example was pointing to Christ, as He leads us out of sin and bondage, stepped out in faith and then turned their backs. Those people were not given the privilege of entering into God's rest, because they turned away from their faith. I pray that I never again turn from the faith that God has given me in Jesus. I am no different from those in the desert. I am weak. I am sinful. Yet I know that I have been given grace.

How does it harden us?

Sin in this case, maybe in all cases, gives us the incorrect belief that we have some power and control over our situation. We as humans have a tendency to want that.

What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

In Romans 1:11,12, Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome that, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong

[sahala p.s.]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

The importance of faith in our relationship to Christ is that our relationship to Christ exist because we have faith in him. That without faith we are no longer

[lamountain]

The importance of faith is to keep us strong. Christ will keep us strong and fulfilled as long as we gold on to him and our faith in him.Sin tricks us by looking pleasurable, it looks fun. Sin hardens us by being so much fun that it slowly weighs our hearts down and hides us from Christs loving glory, a spiritual death. nBy surrounding ourselves with believers we are able to constantly give each other a helping hand, prayer,guidance and fellowship which will help keep our faith strong.

[Lisa Rupert]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

It is important to hold firmly onto Christ with faith and confidence.

If we don't hold firmly with faith and confidence we can be deceived by sin, or by or sinful nature. It turns us away from Gods loving mercy. Sin is deceitful and deadly.

It hardens our hearts and blinds us from God, it deceives us because it is deceptive.

That is why we should value our Christian fellowship with one another which binds us and strengthens us with encouragement because without it we become weak and naive in the tricks that we allow sin to lead us into.

[Andree]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christin fellowship to keep our faith strong?

The writer of Hebrews shows the recipients of this letter (and to us for that matter) the importance of faith by quoting Psalm 95:7-11. He points out what happened to "their forefathers" when they lost faith in Moses and in God. They never got to enter God's rest. Similar to us: If we loose faith in Christ we will no longer be part of his household.

Sin is a sneaky thing because it is .....fun. It gives us pleasure, it is the road that is well lit, the path that never seems to go uphill and tire us out. The wide gate that is easy to enter, the place that never charges admission. In short: it is very attractive. it is much easier to live a sinful life (just continue in your way) than to live a rightious life (you have to try very hard every single day and resist temptation to fall back into your old ways). But living a sinful live means automatically you have chosen a path that leads away from God. And that's where fellowship comes in. We are always stronger when we are encouraged by others. We give up a lot easier if we know that nobody is watching. In times of doubt when we no longer see a clear path in front of us or start to question the validity of God's ways we need the help of others.

[STEPHEN ROSS]

Faith is the essential ingredient in our walk with God. We must remain faithful to Christ so that we do not allow our Hearts to be entangled by the world and its ways.Fellowship with other Christians is essential if we are to remain in Christ . Fellowship brings Encouragement in times of difficulty ,helps build our character and brings correction when required. Without fellowship we can become weak and ineffective instruments for God. I would be interested in some feedback so far.

Stephen.

[Craig]

Faith entails believing that what Jesus taught was the truth. That what Jesus said He meant. Our relationship with Jesus is based on what Jesus proclaimed. If I am not exercising my faith I have no relationship with Jesus.

Sin tricks or deceives us in that we can convince ourselves that the sin we are committing is okay -- it's somehow justified.

Before we know it, our hearts are hardened and their is no conviction of that sin. No activitiy of the Holy Spirit because we have hardened our hearts.

Daily Christian fellowship encourages us and keeps us focused on the Lord and our Christian walk.

[godsanointed523]

What is the importance of faith in our relationship with Christ?How does sin trick us?How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

Faith in our relationship with the Lord helps us to hold on and be strong in the Lord,to have courage to overcome the enemy in various circumstances that we can encounter.Sin tricks us because it has that seduction and it makes us think that God does not see us so we still have a place with the Lord and that is not always the case.The value of Christian fellowship is that it helps us and encourages us in the walk with the Lord daily and we can go to them for spirtual advice in the Lord

[PCHRIS]

As the Israelites had fallen prey to unbelief, so their successors, the Christians, must watch out that they don't fall into the same trap.

The writer is showing us that unbelief invariably leads to evil cosequences. Unbelief leads people to 'fall away from the Living God'.

Sin uses the cloak of deceit with devastating effect on those inclined to fall under its spell. In the parable of the sower, it's the deceitfulness of riches (thorny ground) which choked the seed out. An important aspect of the warning here is that it's addressed to the individual - 'that none of you are hardened'.

It is impossible to 'exhort one another' unless one is part of a fellowship. 'We share in Christ' we are established in Christ and need to exhort, edify each other as a 'body' in Christ. This keeps us focused on Christ and our faith strengthened.

[Helen Williams]

This is a very serious matter because our lives are at stake. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God. We are to keep the faith in fear that we might lose focus, go astray and fall away. To have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ we have to keep the faith. Sin will trick us in that sin never paints a true picture. Sin never gives you the whole story and sin will cause our heart to be harden. We do not want the fellowship of sisters and brothers. We start and will pull away and isolate ourselves. One reason for this is I think at this point we don't want to be accountable. Christain fellowship is very impotant in this christian walk. It helps keep us encouraged and built up.

[June]

We need to keep our faith with Christ so as not to fall away from our beliefs. Sin is deceitful and if continued will harden ones heart. We need fellowship to encourage each other and each others exhortations to live for Christ. We need to share our beliefs with fellow Christians and keep each other lifted up.

[bobbirich]

Because "it's so easy to get our eyes elsewhere and lose our focus", we are susceptible to influences and distractions that draw our attention away from Jesus and therefore interfere with our relationship

We become parched and dry and do not accomplish the work we are to do- we need to be reminded to "hold on" to have "courage" and to keep going forward with confidence - these things are accomplished through maintaining our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with Jesus is encouraged and strengthened by our fellowship with other Christians

[Esther Donald]

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?

The importance of our faith in Chirst is to trust God and to be partners in Christ.

Sin trick us when we isolate our selves from our brothers and sisters

Sin hardens us and is very deceptive

It hardens us by blinding our eyes

So one will not fall in sin - must daily encourage one another so as no to be hardened

So one will not fall in sin - must daily encourage one another so as not to be hardened by sin