Steadfastness (Biblestudy by Rudi van Zyl)

Hebrews 10:35-37 (KJV): “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”.

Topic: Steadfastness

Introduction:

Many years ago I was standing at the harbor watching the stormy sea. The waves were very high and the wind very strong. I was glad that I was standing on firm ground. Suddenly a boat appeared sailing out of the harbor into the deep ocean. I admired two things. Firstly I admired the crew’s braveness to face the deadly ocean. Secondly I admired the boat’s powerful engine which forced the boat forward despite all the powers against him. I stared at this boat as he faded over the horizon. The only way I could expressed my observation was through the word “steadfastness”. He was so determined to achieve his goal that he ‘wave-after-wave’ persevered moving forward.

Our text is about ‘steadfastness’ despite difficult circumstances. The unknown writer of this epistle wrote to a particular group of Hebrew people living somewhere we don’t know (Gemser and others, 1958, p.634). They were Jews who heard the wonderful message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and they converted to Christianity. At first, they were persecuted by other Jews as well as the Romans, but they were steadfast in their faith. Later on, some Jews (even believing Jews) came to them trying to convince them that faith in Jesus Christ is not sufficient, but that they also need to keep the Law of Moses regarding the sacrifices, circumcision, and Temple services. They considered Christianity only as an extension of Judaism. While some of the believers were tempt to betray their faith, others fallen under the pressure and turned away from their faith (Scholtz, n.d., p.1).

The writer of this epistle wrote to them this very important letter to encourage them to be steadfast in their faith, while he gives them proper teachings about Jesus’ position comparing to Moses, Angels, the Law, the High Priest, Sacrifices, etc. He gives them sound doctrine about the Person and work of Jesus Christ. But he also gives them several warnings against turning away or losing their faith (Scholtz, n.d., p.1).

In these three verses we read the writer focus on steadfastness.

There is also a timeless message in this book which is also relevant to us as believers today. It is about the importance of ‘steadfastness’ in our faith.

Three main things are addressed here: 

1.     The Exhortation to Steadfastness:

Hebrews 10:35 (KJV): “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward”.

After the author of this epistle reminded the Hebrews about the suffering they experience when they were saved, he finds it necessary to exhort them again, as he many times does in this epistle. The thing he exhorts them about this time, has several characteristics.

He exhorts them about something which is:

a.      Precious:

“Confidence” (Hebrews 10:35, KJV)

According to Renn’s dictionary (2005, p.130) the Greek word ‘parrēssia’ in this context refers to a bold state of mind towards Jesus Christ and one’s salvation. This ‘confidence’ is a very precious thing which the unsaved person doesn’t have.

This ‘confidence’ is precious, because it gives the child of God, as Adam Clarke (2014, p.1) says: “liberty of access to God”. 

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) says: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. We don’t need to go through a whole system like in the Old Testament rituals which the writer of ‘Hebrews’ mentions. No, we have the confidence to go any time directly to Him in prayer, whether it is a request, thanksgiving, or any other form of prayer. This confidence is indeed precious! 

This ‘confidence’ is also precious because it gives the child of God certainty about the answering of his prayer.

In 1John 5:14(KJV) we read: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”. When our will is synchronized with the will of God, the result will always be answering to our prayers. Prayer is then not something which feels like gambling, but it is effective and purposeful. This confidence is indeed precious! 

This ‘confidence’ is further precious because it gives the child of God readiness for Jesus’ second coming.

1John 4:17 (KJV) says: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world”. We who are born again don’t fear the second coming of our Lord because there is no condemnation anymore. We expect Him. It is the same ‘confidence’ a little child has when his/her daddy comes home from work and he/she stretches his/her arms towards his/her daddy shouting “Daddy!” It is this ‘confidence which makes us cry out “Come Lord Jesus, come!”   

This confidence is indeed precious!

The author of the Hebrews epistle exhorts them about something which is:

b.      Personal:

“Your” (Hebrews 10:35, KJV)

He is addressing the Hebrews who converted to the faith in Jesus Christ, but who were tempted to compromise their faith with Judaism with all the rituals which would deprive them from their personal experience of ‘confidence’. This ‘confidence’ was not a doctrine or something ‘abstract’ like their experience of Judaism, but every individual who was born again experienced this ‘confidence’ first handed.

Is this ‘confidence’ a personal reality in your life?   

The Hebrews were also exhorted about something which is:

c.       Profitable:

“great recompence” (Hebrews 10:35, KJV)

The ‘confidence’ a child of God has will be rewarded with eternal life in Heaven. Dr. Andrew Murray(1945, p.391) says that this “great reward” is not only something of the future in Heaven, but it is given already here on earth to the child of God who has this ‘confidence’ produced by holiness. On earth this ‘confidence’ is rewarded with inward peace despite the outward afflictions and troubles. It is indeed a “great reward”!

The writer of this epistle finds it necessary to remind the Hebrews that even Moses whom they emphasize recognized the “great reward”. In Hebrews 11:26 (KJV) he says: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward”.

The Hebrews suffered tribulation when they became believers, but they kept their confidence. When the writer reminds them about the great reward which they will receive if they keeps their confidence, he repeats what Jesus said to His disciples. In Matthew 5:12 (KJV) He said: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”.

We as Children of God must hold fast to our confidence knowing that it will greatly rewarded here on earth as well as in Heaven.

The author of this epistle exhorted the Hebrews about something which is:

d.      Precarious:

“Cast not away” (Hebrews 10:35, KJV)

This confidence is in danger, they may lose it! He already warned them to “hold fast the confidence” (Hebrews 3:6, KJV).

Now he says: “Cast not away”. There is no way another person, circumstances, and even the devil can take our confidence away from us, but we can lose it when we choose something else in exchange for what we have, as Dr. Andrew Murray (1945, 390) says. This fits exactly into the context of this epistle. The Hebrews received freedom when they converted from Judaism to Christianity, but now they are tempted to take the old customs of Judaism again, and by doing this they are in danger of losing their confidence (Scholtz, n.d., p1). They need to keep their confidence to “enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19, KJV) instead of entering the ‘holiest of the Judaist temple’.

The same can be said about us as believers. Choice to sin deprives a believer of his confidence. 1John 3:21 (KJV) says: “Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God”. But also legalism may deprive us from our confidence.

We must hold fast to our confidence, and not cast it away like “cowardly soldiers, who throw away their shields, and run away from the battle”, as Adam Clarke (2014, p.1) says.

2.     The Reason for Steadfastness:

Hebrews 10:36 (KJV): “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”.

Three reasons are given for steadfastness:

There is:

a.      A Shortage:

“For ye have need of patience” (Hebrews 10:36, KJV)

The Greek word for ‘patience’ is “hypomonē” which, according to Renn’s Dictionary (2005, p.718), could also be translated to “endurance”. The Cambridge Dictionary (McIntosh, 2013, p.501) defined this word “endurance” as “the ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time”. Some English translations actually use the word “endurance”, like the International Standard Version (2014, p.1): “For you need endurance”. This is exactly what the writer has in mind. The Hebrews were firstly persecuted for their faith, but now they are tempted to compromise their faith. What they need is to endure with patience although it is very difficult. Vernon McGee (1983, p.578) writes: “Patience and faith are wedded in Scripture”. 

We as believers also need “patient endurance” as Weymouth New Testament Translation (2014, p.1) says. The only way someone can get fit is to exercise. I try to exercise physically every day. I have to admit that sometimes I am too tired to complete, but I realize that the only way I can get fit and stay fit is to continue despite the difficulty. John Gill says that sometimes believers need to continue running the race set before them despite the feeling of God hiding His face. We are in need of patience in circumstances where everything seems to turn against us, so that faith can work. The only way to learn endurance is in practice. Some very impatient believer once prayed “God, please give me patience, but I want it now!” It doesn’t work like that. When we are lacking patience, we need to endure in difficult circumstances. James says in chapter 1:3-4 (KJV): “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”. Paul agrees to that saying: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4, KJV).  

   

The second reason for steadfastness is there is:

b.      The Standard:

“after ye have done the will of God” (Hebrews 10:36, KJV)

God’s standard for us is to steadfastly do His will.

The Bible teaches that God’s will is that “all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9, KJV), be grateful (1Thessalonians 5:18), and do good (1Peter 2:15). But God’s will is also our sanctification (1Thessalonians 4:3).

The Hebrews already repented to Jesus and got saved. They did many good and were grateful (Hebrews 10:34), but the writer addressed something else which is God’s standard for them: sanctification and holiness. In Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)he says: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”. Entire sanctification and the accompanied filling with the Holy Spirit bear the fruit of patience (Galatians 5:22). This would help them living in victory over the temptations they experienced, and it would help them discerning between the purposeful Gospel versus the meaningless Judaism.

We must make sure that we are not only saved, but also entirely sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit. This is God’s standard for us.

The third reason for steadfastness is:

c.       The Satisfaction:

“ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36, KJV)

According to John Gill (2014, p1), this doesn’t refer to the promise itself, because they already received the promise. It refers to the fulfillment of the promise which refers to eternal life in Heaven. It is the satisfaction which is waiting which must encourage the Hebrews to be steadfast in their faith. This is why the writer says in Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV): “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

This should also encourage us to be steadfast in our faith. The satisfaction we will experience in Heaven makes the steadfastness despite all the trials and afflictions worth it.   

3.     The Prospect in Steadfastness:

Hebrews 10:37 (KJV): “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”.

The Hebrews were in danger of becoming weary. In Hebrews 12:3 (KJV) the writes says: “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds”. He encourages them by saying that Jesus will return soon. He quotes from Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV): “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry”. The promise of Jesus’ return would give them new strength to be steadfast in their faith.

It is notable that the Apostle Paul, when he writes about Jesus’ second coming, commands: “comfort one another with these words” (1Thessalonians 4:18, KJV).  The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews enlightens two things.  The first thing he enlightens is that Jesus’ second coming is: 

   

a.      Sure:

“he that shall come will come” (Hebrews 10:37, KJV)

Just as Jesus came to fulfill the law which was only a shadow of Him (Hebrews 10:1), He will return as He promised. Vernon McGee (1983, p.578) puts it this way saying that somewhere on God’s calendar a particular date is marked for Jesus’ return, and nothing will stops Him. Although God is living in a timeless dimension, for our sake it is expressed this way also by the Apostle Paul: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:30-31, KJV). We cannot afford become weary in our faith, because Jesus will for sure return. He promised in John 14:3(KJV): “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”.

The second thing the writer enlightens is that Jesus’ return will be: 

b.      Soon:

“a little while” “and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37, KJV)

Many people object this by referring to the fact that this was written almost two millenniums ago, and Jesus didn’t return yet. The answer is very simple. Comparing to the eternity, it is “a little while”. We dare not to calculate the date of Jesus’ second coming, but when considering the signs of the times we have to acknowledge that it will be very soon. Jesus may come at any moment, and therefore we must be steadfast in our faith. We have this wonderful prospect to look out for.

Conclusion:

The writer of the epistle to the ‘Hebrews’ was afraid that these believers would not be able to stand firm against this new wave of heresy and that they will return to their previous belief. He exhorts them to stay within the faith in Christ Jesus alone. He reminded them about the return of Jesus and the reward they will receive. He encourages them by telling them about the purpose of their affliction.

This is also what God’s message is to us today. I don’t know what your troubles are and I don’t know your struggles and pain. I don’t know the level of temptations you experience currently. What I know is that Jesus will return soon, and in the mean time we have to be steadfast in our faith. The reward is waiting!

I cannot tell you if the crew on the boat I mentioned in the beginning succeeded in their mission, but can you imagine the expression on their faces if they returned with the largest catch of fish they ever brought back? There is a song we sang years ago:

“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.

Life trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase.

So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”  (Rusthoi, 2009, p.1)