The Preservation of the Saints: An Exhortation

The writer of Hebrews exhorted the Jewish Christians to press on with their upward call in Christ Jesus. The temptation to return to Judaism was ongoing. The author affirmed this by acknowledging his audience’s past struggles resulting from their opponents working against them (Heb 10:32). In Hebrews 10:32–35, the preacher encourages his readers/listeners to consider what they have already endured. By implication, God’s grace had been sufficient for them (2 Cor 12:9).

It is good for Christians to remember what God has done for them (1 Thess 5:16–18). The Apostle Paul, in sharing His testimony with different churches, boasted in the Lord Jesus Christ — not himself (Rom 15:17; 1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 12:9; Gal 6:14). God has done great things; we have not (Ps 71:19; 126:2–3; Mk 5:19–20; Lk 1:49; 8:39).

In saving His people from their sins (Mt 1:21), God has set a course of suffering uniquely tailored to each saint. In this, Christ Jesus set the pace and the apostles followed the suffering path of the one Leader of His church (Mt 16:18; 23:10). Jesus promised that in the world His disciples will have trouble (Jn 16:33); and all those who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12).

Jesus insisted that if the world hates the Christian, it first hated Him (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; Rom 1:30). Jesus Christ overcame the world by securing victory at the cross (Jn 16:33). He defeated rulers and authorities, principalities and powers, putting them to open shame and triumphing over them (Rom 8:38; Eph 6:12; Col 2:15). The victorious believer, following in Christ’s triumph parade (2 Cor 2:14), lives by faith in the Son of God, who loved him and gave up His life for him (Gal 2:20; 1 Jn 5:4).

The change from unbelief to faith occurs when the Holy Spirit is sent to one of God’s elect, redeemed people (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Thess 2:13). The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17); nor can the natural man accept the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14). The unregenerate unbeliever considers all things pertaining to Christ to be foolishness; hence, the Christian is a fool in the skeptic’s view. This invites insults, reproaches, persecutions — including abuses, imprisonment, confiscation of possessions, and even a martyr’s death in some cases (10:33–34).

Jesus Himself assures His followers in this matter, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt 5:10–12).”

Opposition is a means by which God disciplines His children, in love (Heb 12:5–11). We must not lose heart nor become melancholy (Lk 18:1; 2 Cor 4:1, 16). Great conflicts of suffering have their place in God’s gracious providence toward His own; and the child of God will persevere to the end. We have the guarantee of a guarded inheritance in a better place where Christ is seated (Rom 4:16; Eph 2:6; Heb 7:22).

To be regenerated by the Holy Spirit goes by many terms and phrases in the Bible. When God causes one to be born again by the Spirit (1 Pet 1:3), that one is made alive in Christ (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). He has been transferred (Col 1:13); or baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13); or given a new heart (Ezek 36:26). The writer of Hebrews refers to this past event as one being enlightened (10:32). Jesus is the Light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5). He has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor 4:6). Simply put, persecution follows enlightenment. Darkness hates the light.

Hebrews 10:32–35 was a past reality; but in Hebrews 10:36–39, there is a future prospect of more to come. The exhortation continues.

Until the Lord comes in vengeance against His enemies (Rev 19:11–21), the saint’s requirement is to endure (10:36). Patiently waiting on the Lord (Phil 3:20), with one’s mind set on the things above (Col 3:2), we become witnesses to the gracious working of God’s Spirit who sanctifies us (1 Pet 1:2). Sanctification is the will of God for every Christian (1 Thess 4:3).

Throughout the Scriptures, two groups of people live in opposition to one another. One group has the Son of God; the other group does not have the Son (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12). Life and destiny differ immensely for the people in each group. One group operates without God and without hope in the world (Eph 2:12). The terrifying expectation of judgment (Heb 10:27), of eternal punishment (Mt 25:46; Jude 1:7), and the lake of fire belongs to the reprobate unbeliever (Rom 9:22; Rev 20:14–15).

The other group has a great reward, a better possession that has been promised by God for them to receive at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (10:34–35, 37; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11). This is the blessed hope of the Christian (Titus 2:13), who is to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58; c/f 1 Thess 1:3).

Not one of God’s people in Christ will perish in the second death (Jn 3:16; 10:28). The reason is that these people have been sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13). The Spirit is the token of God’s love (2 Cor 5:5); but He is also the pledge of the saints’ inheritance (Eph 1:14; 1 Pet 1:4). The one with God’s indwelling Spirit, who will never leave him nor forsake him (Heb 13:5), does not shrink back to destruction (10:38–39; Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).

The permanent presence of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the manifestation of faith in the adopted child of God (Acts 2:38; 10:45; Rom 8:15, 23; 1 Jn 3:1). Faith is the gift of God (Eph 2:8–9), granted to whomever God wills to reveal Christ (Mt 11:27; Lk 10:22), and to whomever God wills to be the recipient of Christ (Jn 1:12–13). That revelation is the Word of Christ implanted in the heart by the Spirit (Jas 1:21), through the preaching of Christ and Him crucified (Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4; 2 Tim 4:2). The righteous live by faith in the Son of God with whom God is well-pleased (Hab 2:4; Mt 3:17; 17:5; Rom 4:5, 9; Gal 3:11).

God is not pleased with those who have been exposed to the good things of God, but who fall away in unbelief (Heb 6:4–6), who shrink back into the world (Hab 2:4; Heb 10:38–39), and who are doomed for destruction as vessels of wrath being prepared for destruction (Rom 9:22). These will be gathered together to be burned with unquenchable fire (Zeph 3:8; Mt 3:12; 13:30, 40; Lk 3:17; Jn 15:6).

True and false faith must be tested to show which person is of God and which one is of the devil (1 Jn 3:10). On the day of judgment (Mt 24–25; Mk 13; Lk 21), at the resurrection of all people from the dead (Jn 5:28–29), the test results will be revealed by the One who is to come (Hab 2:3; Rev 19:11–21). Even so, come Lord Jesus.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 19, 2024

Hebrews 10:32–39