Christian Perseverance (Heb. 10:23–2. (119)
“In vv. 22–24 the duties and responsibilities of Christians are briefly epitomized. There is a threefold responsibility resting upon the saint, set forth thus: “let us draw near” (v. 22), “let us hold fast the profession of our faith” (v. 23), “let us consider one another to provoke unto love” (v. 24). The first, because the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ has made a perfect and effectual atonement for all the sins of His people, (thereby removing the one great legal barrier which excluded them from the presence of the thrice Holy One), let them freely draw near unto their reconciled God, without fear or doubting. The second, since Christ has “consecrated for us” a new and living way in which to walk, having left us an example that we should follow His steps, “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.” The third. since we have a great Priest over the house of God, “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works” Pink Arthur W.
- “Let us hold fast the profession of faith without wavering.” Three questions here call for consideration, namely: First, what is meant by “the confession of our faith?” Second, what is signified by “holding it fast?” Third, what is denoted by holding it fast “without wavering?” a) The “confession of our faith” is that solemn acknowledgment which is made by a person when he publicly claims to be a Christian. b) It is the avowal that he has renounced the world, the flesh, and the devil, for Christ. c) It is the declaration that he disowns his own wisdom, righteousness and will, and receives the Lord Jesus as his Prophet to instruct him in the will of God, his Priest to meet for him the claims of God, his King to administer in and over him the government of God. d) It is the owning that he hates sin and desires to be delivered from its power and penalty; that he loves holiness and longs to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. e) It is the claiming that he has thrown down the weapons of his warfare against God and has now completely surrendered to His just demands upon him. f) It is the testification that he is prepared to deny self, take up his cross daily, and follow that example which Christ has left him as to how to live for God in this world. g) In a word, it is the publishing abroad that he has from his very heart “received Christ Jesus the Lord” Col. 2:6.
- To “hold fast the confession of our faith” ch. 3:6, 14, Rev. 3:11means to continue in and press forward along the path we have entered; and that, notwithstanding all the threats of persecutors, sophistical reasonings of false teachers, and allurements of the world. If you deny the faith, you are “worse than an infidel.” “If after we have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord…Jesus Christ, we are again entangled therein and overcome, then, “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning: For it had been better for them not to have known the way… than, after they have known it to turn from the holy…delivered unto them” 2Pet. 2:20, 21. It is one thing to make “confession of faith,” it is quite another to “hold fast” the same… It is easy to avow myself a Christian, but it is most difficult indeed to live the life of one. John Owen has this to say, “First, a supposition of great difficulty, with danger and opposition against this holding the profession of our faith. Second, putting forth the utmost of our strength and endeavors in the defense of it. Third, a constant perseverance in it, denoted by its being termed ‘keep’ in 1Cor. 15:2: possess it with constancy. Sin within is ever seeking to vanquish the Christian. The world without, is constantly endeavoring to draw him away. Our adversary, the Devil, is roaring like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. God’s Word says, we are His house, if we hold fast the confidence… firm unto the end” Heb. 3:6, Rom. 8:13 “…live after the flesh and die”; that is, die eternally, suffer the “second death,”
