Episode 127: Part 1 - God's Perspective on Steadfastness/Endurance - Hebrews 10, 11, 12, and 13

PART 1 – GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON STEADFASTNESS/ENDURANCE hupomoné (Gk) - steadfastness, constancy, endurance (Hebrews 10:36, 12:1)In the N. T., the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. Especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges in life. Hebrews 1:1-10:18 – The Superiority of Christ, the New Covenant, Only Salvation “His conclusion is clear: Christ is the ultimate and final plan of God for Salvation…There must be no retreat in the Christian life. Instead, believers must remain steadfast in faith, in perserverance, and in holness in order to inherit the promises of God…Faith is the entryway into Christ and all the spiritual promises embodied in Him.” Hebrews 10:19-22 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:23-31 23 Let us hold fast [*unswervingly] the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. *to be firm, stable, steadfast Faithful? 2 Tim. 2:13 – if we are faithless/not steadfast, He remains faithful/steadfast)  24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  New Covid Variant – “End Times-itis” – “The Day…”? A Day? (There are “Days”) 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (1 Pet. 4:17 – “…judgment BEGINS with the household of God”)Hebrews 10:32-39 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners (companions/associates) with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance (hupomoné - Gk), so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  37 For, “Yet a little while, and the Coming One will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 11 = The Hall of Faith – Old Testament Believers Hebrews 11:1-5 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.&nb(continued)