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Hold Fast to your Faith in Jesus (10:19-13:25)As the author completes his proof of the supremacy of Jesus, it become readily obvious that returning to Judaism would be exchanging Christ for something inferior. Therefore, in chapters 10-13, he exhorts them to hold fast to their faith in Christ and endure the suffering to come. Exhortation: Hold fast to your faith (10:19 -39)Hold Fast to Your Faith (10:19 -25)The author begins by summarizing the last seven chapters, reminding us that we have the confidence to enter the holy of holies and draw near to God because the blood of the blood of Jesus and because Jesus is the superior high priest (vs. 19-21). In light of Jesus, the supreme high priest, we need to draw near to God (vs. 22), hold fast to our faith (vs. 23) and encourage one another (vs. 24-25). The author reminds us that to encourage one another to love and good deeds requires that we meet together. We cannot become mature believers in Christ without the encouragement of others. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. We need to meet regularly with one another in order to encourage each other. This is especially important as we see the “day drawing near.” This “day” is the return of Christ, and is a reference to persecution that will intensify as the time of Christ's return gets closer. Consequences of Rejecting the Faith (10:36 -31)The author addresses those who don't hold fast to their faith in God, and instead return to Judaism. If you give up on Christ's blood sacrifice (vs. 29) and return to the Law of Moses, where does that leave you and your sins? Without Christ there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins (vs. 26). All that is left for you is the expectation of judgment (vs. 27). The author has just demonstrated how the old covenant is unable to forgive sins, and only through the blood of Christ can we find forgiveness. If we fail to trust in Christ, then we face an all consuming fire, and it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (vs. 31). Keeping Faith in the Midst of Trials (10:32 -39)The author exhorts his reader to remember the days right after they were saved when they had encountered persecution for their faith (vs. 32). They had been publicly humiliated (vs. 33). Their possessions had been stolen from them. But this didn't bother them, for they knew that in Christ they had better, more lasting possessions (vs. 34). If they had survived this last persecution in light of the future inheritance they had in Christ, then the author implores them not to throw away this confidence by returning back to Judaism (vs. 35). It takes endurance to receive the promises of God (vs. 36). But don't worry, for Jesus will return soon (vs. 37-38). Because we have faith and confidence in the return of Christ and all he brings, we are not people who shrink back, but we are people who have a faith which preserves us until the end (vs. 39). [Next: Exhortation: Run the race of faith with endurance (11:1-12:3)]
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