December 6, 2013
CONFIDENT TRUST
Hebrews 10:19-39
Nika Spaulding
Central Truth
In light of Christ's faithfulness, we can have full confidence in our salvation.
Key Verse | Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Hebrews 10:19-39
The Full Assurance of Faith
19 Therefore, brothers, 1 10:19 Or brothers and sisters 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 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.
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.
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 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, 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.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 10:19-39
With a name like Nika Spaulding, I was destined to play sports as a kid. I competed in anything that allowed me to bounce, throw, hit, or kick: volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, discus, football, and even rugby in college. When I was in high school, I made a conscious decision to focus on volleyball and basketball despite the fact that these two sports favor taller players. My profile picture fails to reveal something that you should probably know -- I stopped growing at an exceptionally unimpressive five feet, six inches. However, for what I lacked in stature, I made up for in confidence.
My goal when I stepped onto the court was to intimidate my opponents, hoping to produce self-doubt in them. If their first few shots missed the mark, I would "politely" inform them that the rest would most likely follow suit. You would be amazed at how often I was right! I know what you are thinking, and, yes, I probably should have been in counseling. Yet, I was simply taking advantage of a principle I learned early in life -- when you doubt, you shrink away from glory.
Perhaps this is why our enemy constantly sows seeds of unbelief. Sensing humanity's tendency to doubt, the author of Hebrews wrote a powerful message in the latter half of chapter 10. He encourages believers to cling confidently to the assurance of our salvation. Unlike my days of playing sports, our confidence stems from Christ's character rather than our own abilities. Since Christ faithfully went to the cross and washed us clean by the sprinkling of His blood, we can boldly enter into the most holy of places with God. We will "miss the mark" with our disobedience at times. But we need not doubt because our salvation depends on the work of Christ on the cross and not on our ability to perform. Believers are headed for glory; instead of shrinking away, run confidently in that direction knowing that the victory is complete.
Discussion Questions
1. What makes you doubt your salvation?
2. How can you remind yourself of the assurance of your salvation? What do you learn from John 5:24, Romans 8:1, and 1 John 5:13?
3. What person from the Bible confidently trusted in God's promises? What can you learn from his or her life?