Blog

A Call to Persevere in Faith

by |Published

A CALL TO PERSEVERE IN FAITH

 

Heb 10: 19-25 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

INTRODUCTION

To this point in “The Epistle To The Hebrews”, several doctrinal arguments have been presented to encourage faithfulness and steadfastness by two things specifically.

  1. Demonstrating the superiority of the Son of God – He 1:1-8:6
  2. And by illustrating the superiority of the New Covenant – He 8:7-10:18

Now in He 10:19, the author begins by making an application based upon these premises which he does through a series of exhortations and warnings

In verses 19-25, we find a three-fold exhortation…

  1. To draw near to God
  2. To hold fast to our faith
  3. To stimulate one another in love and good works

I have titled this message ” A CALL TO PERSEVERE IN FAITH “.

  • Each aspect of the exhortation is based upon God’s wonderful grace bestowed upon us through Christ.
  • It also reflects the tone of the author as he makes his heartfelt appeal to them and us
  1. LET US DRAW NEAR IN FAITH (19-22)

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

  1. WE ARE EXHORTED TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD…
  2. To “enter the Holiest” – He 10:19
  3. That heavenly place where Christ has entered! – He 9:11-12
  4. Into the presence of God Himself! – He 9:24
  5. To enter:

 

  1. a. “having boldness” (with great confidence) – He 10:19
  2. “with a true heart” (with all sincerity) – He 10:22
  3. “in full assurance of faith” (without doubt) – He 10:22

In essence, this is a call to draw near to God in prayer, praise, worship, intercession, fasting and fellowship.

1 WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THIS EXHORTATION?

  1. We can “enter” God’s presence because:
  2. Jesus has consecrated “a new and living way, through the veil” – He 10:19-20

 

1) There is now a new way to approach God in heaven, through One who lives!

2) It is made possible by “the blood of Jesus…His flesh” (His death on the cross)

 

  1. Jesus now serves as “a High Priest over the house of God” – He 10:21

1) Who can come to our aid – He 2:17-18

2) Who sympathizes with our weakness – He 4:14-16

3) Who ever lives to intercede in our behalf – He 7:24-25

 

  1. But we are also able to “enter” God’s presence because:
  2. We have had “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience”

 

1) This is an allusion to the Old Testament practise of taking blood from the altar and consecrating the priests by sprinkling them with it – Exo 29:21

2) It is the blood of Christ that is truly efficacious in purging our conscience of sin – He 9:14

 

  1. We have had “our bodies washed with pure water”

 

1) Another allusion to the manner in which priests were consecrated – Exo 29:4

 

2) The author likely refers to water baptism…

  1. a) For baptism is referred to in Acts 22:16 as a “washing”
  2. b) However the emphasis is on the inner cleansing, not the outer.

 

With Christ as our “High Priest”, and our consecration as “priests” through the blood of Jesus, we should not hesitate to draw near to God.

 

Looking forward with great anticipation to that day when we shall enter into God’s wonderful presence in the better sanctuary!

 

  1. C. FIRSTLY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE”

 

  1. Let’s consider the “throne of grace”…

 

  1. This is simply another way of saying the “THRONE OF GOD”

 

  • I don’t know what your visual picture is of the throne of God, mine has developed over many years based on my interaction with God and the scripture.

 

  • I believe that the throne of God is occupied by more than just the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

 

  • Biblically, God lives in community.
    • The Father and Son and Holy Spirit
    • However, Holy Spirit is also known as the 7 Spirits of God
    • The 24 elders with whom God consults, fellowship and rule
    • The Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the world were laid
    • Innumerable Cherubim and Serafin
    • Mirriads of angels

 

That’s what I visualize when I pray. I’m talking with the triune God, But I’m entering into a fellowship that already exists in eternity.

 

I visualize Jesus, our High Priest representing me to the Father.

I also visualize Jesus, my advocate defending me before the accuser.

 

  1. To come boldly is a PRIESTLY EXPRESSION, used in the OT of priests in their approach to God

 

  1. E.g. Leviticus 21:21 (KJV) No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

 

Here we witness the extreme limitations created by the ceremonial laws of Moses in the approach of God.

 

  1. In the new covenant, drawing near denotes APPROACHING God for worship, prayer, fellowship and intimacy.

 

Rom 6: 13 NKJV And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

 

1 Peter 2:9 (MaceNT) ‘’but you are the chosen race, you are kings and priests, the holy nation, the peculiar people, that you might display his glory, who called you out

 

Revelation 1:6 (WesleyNT) To him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins with his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto his God and Father, to him be the glory and the might for ever.

 

In the new covenant, we witness the extreme liberality of the house of Christ through the new and living way made possible by the blood of Jesus.

 

  1. WE ARE COMMANDED TO COME “BOLDLY”…

 

  1. This word means “WITH CONFIDENCE” (Greek., parresia, meaning “full story”)

 

  • In ancient Greece…

 

  1. The word was used to describe the rights of a citizen to speak his mind on any subject in the town assembly (Lightfoot)

 

  1. Only “full citizens” had this right, slaves did not

 

  1. As sons of God we are to take the liberty to speak with our Father in Heaven about every possible subject…………….

 

  1. As used here in Hebrews, it stands for our freedom to approach God…

 

  1. Without hesitation or inhibition

 

  1. Made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ

 

It is important to utilize this privilege, and in our text, we find several REASONS for doing so…

 

  1. LET US HOLD FAST OUR HOPE (23)

 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

 

When we allow hope to dissipate and slip away, we make room for resentment and bitterness.

 

  1. WE ARE EXHORTED TO HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE…

 

  1. In Christ we have a much “better hope” – He 6:19; 7:19
  2. But there is the danger of apostasy – He 3:12-13; 4:11
  3. For which reason we must “hold fast” the hope which we confess – He 3:6,14; 4:14
  4. We need to “hold fast…without wavering” – He 10:23

 

  1. A GOOD REASON TO HEED THIS EXHORTATION IS THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
  2. “for He who promised is faithful – He 10:23

 

  1. God will not fail us (He 13:5); therefore we need to emulate the faith of the Patriarchs, who “judged Him faithful who had promised” – He 11:11

 

  • We can depend upon God to keep His promise.
  • However, we need to receive grace to develop faith in His unswerving integrity.

 

III. LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER (24-25)

 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

  1. IN ORDER TO STIR UP LOVE AND GOOD WORKS…

 

  1. As we “draw near” to God and “hold fast” our hope, we are not to do so alone

 

  1. We are to be mindful of each other and how we are doing (“consider one another”)

 

  1. To incite or spur on (“stir up”) both “love and good works”

 

This is reminiscent of the exhortation in He 3:12-14

 

Hebrews 3:12-14 (KJV) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

 

  1. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FREQUENT ASSEMBLING OURSELVES

 

  1. Let us consider one another:

Discouragement made them avoid community at the very time they needed it most.

It is a part of the Adamic nature to withdraw ourselves from each other during trials and tribulations.

Jesus meets us in one another to stir up love and good works.

The Christian faith is personal, but not private.

Let’s unpack the phrase:

  1. One another: “This is the only place where the author uses the expression ‘one another’ (Greek: allelous), though it is frequently found in the NT.

He is speaking of mutual activity, one in which believers encourage one another, not one where leaders direct, teach or preach.

  1. The wording of stir upis strong. “A striking term meaning ‘incitement’ and is either used, as here, in a good sense or, as in Acts 15:39, in a bad sense (i.e.contention).

It seems to suggest that loving one another will not just happen by itself.

iii. Love here is the ancient Greek word agape, the God kind of love that should rule in the house of God.

  • Loveneeds stimulation.
  • You can practice Faithand hope by yourself on a deserted island.
  • But the exercise oflove is possible only in a community.
  • This is the fundamental reason why God is a community.
  • The perfection of love requires community.
  1. Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together:

Forsaking fellowship is a sure way to give place to discouragement.

Discouragement festers where God’s people are not exhorting one another.

  1. Some people only attend church if they feel they “need it”.
  2. But our motivation for fellowshipping with God and the saints must be to obey God and to give of ourselves to others.
  • It is God’s purpose to teach us how to get along with each other.
  1. We are to be unselfish and concerned for the needs of others.
  2. God wants us to learn patience and forgiveness.
  3. Strive to be kind, affectionate, humble, and develop emotional intelligence in our dealings with one another.
  • We should be giving and hospitable to our brethren.
  • God views our interaction with one another as vital to our training to qualify for a position in His Church and Kingdom.
  1. He wants us to develop good interpersonal skills that equip us to deal with the occasional differences of opinion and offences.
  2. You cannot obtain the goal of God for fellowship if you withhold yourself from the brethren.

Furthermore:

  • We gather to receive something from God.
  • We also gather to give something to God.
  • We gather to encourage each other through our shared faith.
  • We gather to bless one another.
  • We gather to work together to advance God’s kingdom.
  • We gather to complete one another in Christ.
  1. So much the more as you see the Day approaching:

As the Day of Jesus’ return draws nearer, we should be more committed to the fellowship of God’s people, and the assembling of ourselves together.

This will help insulate us against the spirit of the world and fortify our faith.

  1. As you see the Day approaching:

The imminence of the day is considered to be clear throughout scripture.

Christians were to live as if the dawning of the day was so near that its arrival was only just beyond the horizon.

Each successive Christian generation is called upon to live as the generation of the end-time.

 

  1. Others suggest that the “Day” refers to the Judgment Day at the Second Coming

 

And while one might not know the “hour and day” of His coming, we were given some general signs of His coming throughout scripture.

 

Every true disciple of Christ should treasure the return of Christ in their hearts.

 

  • A day in which the world as we know it ends and the glorious kingdom of Christ are inaugurated.
  • A day on which our mortality ends and we are clothed upon with immortality.
  • A day on which the rule of God will be felt throughout the earth, across all the nations.

 

The main point is to appreciate the value and necessity of our assembling together and that forsaking them is indicative of growing cold and distant in our faith, followed by probable apostasy.

 

LET’S SUMMARISE

 

  1. With ” This Call to Persevere in Faith”, we are encouraged to take certain actions:

 

  1. Draw near to God in full assurance of faith

 

  1. Hold fast the confession of our hope

 

  1. Consider one another to stir up love and good works

 

  1. As motivation to heed this “exhortation”, we are reminded of 6 things:
  2. The “new and living way” is now open to God, made possible by Jesus’ sacrificial death

 

  1. The High Priest who now serves for us over the house of God

 

  1. How we have been “consecrated” through having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

 

  1. How He who has promised is faithful

 

  1. How we have each other to encourage us along the way

 

  1. The approaching Day, in particular, the Day of Judgment

 

If we truly appreciate the blessings we now have in Christ, we will do

everything that we can:

 

  1. to draw close to God,
  2. hold fast that hope which we confess,
  3. and utilize the opportunities we have to encourage one another in love and good works!

 

AUTHOR

Vincent Valentyn
Vincent and Arlene Valentyn have been married for 40 years and have 3 daughters, three sons in law, four grandsons and two granddaughters. They live in Cape Town, South Africa from where they exercise their ministry globally. Vincent leads EMI (Africa & North America), overseeing several churches, and ministering widely in the body of Christ. He is a pioneer in the apostolic reformation, serving the body of Christ in the reformation since 1987.

You may also like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *