February 20, 2005
When we profess faith, we recognize that one of the great tests of our confession is found in our endurance. The author of Hebrews, however, warns us that some professing Christians will not be steadfast in their faith. So how do we know we won’t cease from believing? By continuing to believe today! Alistair Begg offers comfort by reminding us of God’s keeping power and that these warning passages are meant not to induce doubt but to inspire faith.
26For dif we go on sinning deliberately eafter receiving the knowledge of the truth, fthere no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27gbut a fearful expectation of judgment, and ha fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28iAnyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy jon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one kwho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned lthe blood of the covenant mby which he was sanctified, and has noutraged the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, o“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, p“The Lord will judge his people.” 31qIt is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But recall the former days when, after ryou were enlightened, you endured sa hard struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes being tpublicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For uyou had compassion on those in prison, and vyou joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had wa better possession and an abiding one. 35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has xa great reward. 36For yyou have need of endurance, so that zwhen you have done the will of God you may areceive what is promised. 37For,
b“Yet a little while,
and cthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38dbut my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.