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Response
In Hebrews 10:19–39, the author focuses on the concept of spiritual perseverance and maintaining endurance in the Christian journey. Instead of retreating or turning away from Christ during difficult times, believers are encouraged to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” «Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) », (Hebrews 10:23).
The phrase “hold unswervingly” in the original text implies “to firmly grasp” or “cling to.” We are called to seize onto Jesus Christ and never release our grip. Similarly, the apostle Paul advised the Corinthians to stand firm and cling tightly to the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
Even in the face of persecution for our faith, we must remain steadfast in our dedication to Christ because the faithful God will uphold His promises. “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled,” as stated in Joshua 21:45. By drawing close to God, we tap into Christ’s strength to endure (Ephesians 1:19-23;2 Corinthians 12:9).
Our capacity to cling to Christ while awaiting the fulfillment of His promises is reliant on God’s faithfulness to provide the necessary strength and endurance (1 Corinthians 1:18-25;2 Corinthians 13:4). The surpassing power of God is “perfected” in our human frailty (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Peter assures us that God’s power equips us with “everything” needed.Having everything necessary for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these, He has given us exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4;CSB).
We firmly grasp the hope we declare, and we are securely held by a Savior who is a great high priest. He understands our weaknesses: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we declare. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16). We can rely on God’s mercy and grace to provide us with whatever we may need whenever we may need it.
Walking closely with the Lord involves a life of faith, holding onto God’s promises. It has been this way since the days of Abraham, the patriarch of our family of faith: “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this, he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises” (Romans 4:20-21;NLT). In Hebrews 11:1, the author describes faith as trust in the unseen promises of God. He then presents a multitude of faithful believers who held onto the hope they professed. Ultimately, these heroes of faith will inherit the fullness of God’s promises (Hebrews 6:12-15;11:32-33).
Spiritual endurance and consistent obedience to God yield rich rewards: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be riChly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).
God’s promises, by their nature, are for the future. But if we hold steadfastly to Christ and the hope we profess in Him, “He who promised is faithful” to bring those assurances into our present-day experiences. In Colossians 1:27, Paul taught that, because Christ is alive in us, we already have the hope of eternal life with Him. His indwelling Spirit provides the guarantee of sharing in the riches of His glory. Romans 5:2 says, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (NLT).
“He who promised is faithful” means we can count on God and His Word. “For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does,” declares Psalm 33:4 (NLT). The Lord’s promises for our future infuse us with hope for today. We can stand, walk, sleep, and wake secure in this truth: God is trustworthy to keep His Word.
