A Call To Continuance

"A Call to Continuance"

Hebrews 10:32-39

We are living in difficult times. They are difficult economically. For the first time ever Americans have been paying over $4 per gallon for gasoline, foods prices have shot through the roof and the dream of home ownership has become a nightmare for thousands of families. It is difficult socially. What we believe is being attacked on every hand. We've lived to see the day when faith, family, marriage, life, and Biblical values are being attacked and eroded and in times like these there is the temptation to give up and return to a lifestyle that seems "easier" than the Christian life. Paul writes to these believers and challenges them to patient continue in the faith. He makes this appeal based on three very important truths.

I. An appeal to the past.

a. Recall your conversion -- v. 32 enlightened is the same as chapter 6:4 and refers to the time of their salvation, probably about 15 years earlier in Rome during the reign of Nero who was especially cruel in his persecution of these Jewish believers.

b. Recall your conflict -- v. 32b-33a Endured (GK- "to stay under") speaks of a successful completion of a time of persecution. Fight is a GK word from which we get our athlete and describes a fight or a struggle. Great speaks of the intensity of the struggle. Afflictions are sufferings. They suffered in two different ways. First, there was public exposure. They were like the apostles in that they were "made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" 1 Cor. 4:9. This experience occurred over a long period of time (present tense). This public exposure was "by reproaches and afflictions." The former speaks of "verbal abuse, mocking, reviling whereas the latter speaks of abuse of the physical sort like beatings and imprisonment. Second, they were companions with others who had suffered. The language indicates an instantaneous decision to become not just sympathetic with them but to participate with them in suffering.

d. Recall your courage -- v. 33b-34 It takes great courage to publically identify with those who were awaiting execution. They had come to the aid of those who were in prison, they had suffered the "spoiling" of their possessions and the amazing thing was that they had done so "joyfully." They could do this with joy knowing that there was something better waiting on them in heaven, ("a better and enduring substance." Dr. Stanley Outlaw writes in the FWB Commentary on Hebrews, "The best of what we have on this earth wears out, but what we have in heaven will last forever." These believers could take comfort from our Lord's Beatitude:

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." Mt. 5:10-11

II. An appeal for perseverance.

a. Be positive about the promises of Christ. ("Cast not away," means to abandon like a garment considered worthless, no longer useful.") Don't abandon the assurance that you already manifested in the promises of Christ.

b. Be patient like you have been in the past. (GK -- "stay under" the difficult circumstances you are facing, like you did before. Have the same attitude that you did before (as in the verb form in v. 32)

c. Be purposeful in doing the "will of God," for those who remain faithful throughout their lives, seeking to grow in grace and consistently obeying His teachings will one day "receive" the promise which in this case is eternal life.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him." James 1:12

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. "Isaiah 40: 28-31

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:3

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. " James 1:4

"... Having done all, to stand." Eph. 6:13