November 11, 2023
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT). Christian hope is confident hope. For Christian hope is based on the promises of God. Since this hope is anchored to God’s promises we can be assured that our hope will not
November 11, 2022
DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH After a season of suffering we are tempted to timidity and cowardice. We fear persecution and pain, so we hide from the fight. We lose a battle, so we retreat from the war. Yet, the Word teaches us not to “throw away” our “confident trust,” which is the
August 21, 2022
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Hebrews 10:19-25
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salvation
What’s your level of confidence that you have been forgiven of your sins and born again as a new creation in Christ Jesus? “I hope so?” Or “I’ve tried to live a good life, so I hope so?”
But wouldn’t you like to change “I hope so” to “I know so”? Is that possible? Yes, according to God’s Word, you can be assured, you can be confident that you belong to God’s family through faith in Christ Jesus. In the book of Hebrews, believers were told that they could have confidence that they belonged to God’s family through faith in Christ Jesus. We can be confident that we belong to God’s family through faith in Christ Jesus.
November 11, 2021
HOLDING ON WITH UNWAVERING HOPE Christian hope is confident hope. For Christian hope is based on the promises of God. Since this hope is anchored to God’s promises we can be assured that our hope will not be disappointed. For God is faithful. So rather than hanging on to the temporal things we can see,
November 11, 2020
WHERE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE? The year 2020 has been a year that has shaken the confidence of many. Yet, we must not “cast away” ours. For though we might lose everything in this world, we have a great reward awaiting us in heaven. And it is a “better and an enduring possession” than any that
June 28, 2020
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Hebrews 10:19-25
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church
Why does gathering together as a local church even matter? In the epistle of Hebrews, believers were instructed that the glorious privilege of access to God through Christ Jesus came with certain important responsibilities as members of His body that make the Church really matter. We can recognize these important responsibilities that make the Church really matter.
November 11, 2019
HOLDING TIGHTLY WITH UNWAVERING HOPE Christian hope is confident hope. For Christian hope is based on the promises of God. Since this hope is anchored to God’s promises we can be assured that our hope will not be disappointed. So rather than hanging on to the temporal things we can see, let us hold tightly
November 11, 2018
DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH
After a season of suffering we are tempted to timidity and cowardice. We fear persecution and pain, so we hide from the fight. We lose a battle, so we retreat from the war. Yet, the Word teaches us not to “throw away” our “confident trust,” which is the boldness of faith.
There is a metaphoric reference here that compares losing one’s boldness to a soldier who throws away his shield. It is said that certain Greek mothers, when they gave shields to their sons, would say, “Either bring this back, or be brought back upon it.” Thus urging their sons to be bold in battle and in protecting their family and tribe. The captains of armies often urged their soldiers to beat their swords against their shields and shout in preparation for an assault. Thus building up their own confidence, while striking fear in the enemy.
Faithful soldiers do not throw away their shields. Nor do faithful believers cast aside their boldness. Faithful believers persevere, remembering the great reward that the Captain of our faith brings with Him at His coming.
November 10, 2017
When we have received Christ’s “offering,” we are already “perfected forever.” We are already made whole and complete in Christ, so that we are fully accepted by the Father for eternity. Positionally, we are already at the right hand of the Father in Christ. We are already holy. We are saints.
Yet, we are still “being sanctified. We still experience the battle between the flesh and the Spirit, and sometimes give into the flesh. But all our sins are already forgiven. The Spirit empowers us to repent and walk in His power, growing in maturity. This is our experience. This tension between our position and our experience has been called the “already/not yet” of the Christian life. In Christ, we are already perfected, but not yet perfect.
But on that Day, our position and our experience will be the same, for we “shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Those that are in Christ, will become like Christ. This is God’s purpose for those who believe.
November 11, 2016
Since Jesus has become our Great High Priest and has accomplished all that is necessary for those who trust in Him to approach the Father, “let us draw near.” Christ has removed the barrier of separation between us and God. Why stand off afar? Draw near. And let your approach be with “full assurance,” not doubting. Knowing that your hearts have been cleansed by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus and your bodies are being washed, sanctified by the work of the Spirit, come near to God with full confidence. Jesus has done this for you, so… draw near.