Those Who Have Faith to the Preserving of the Soul: Profiling the Elect God
The early Christian church was primarily comprised of Jewish adherents to the faith. These believers in Jesus Messiah were persecuted in Israel from A.D. 33–70, when Roman General Titus invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple and the city. The scattering of the people was called “diaspora.” Later, Christians were persecuted by the Gentiles.
The writer of Hebrews introduces us to the experience of two groups within the context of both Jews and Gentiles. We sometimes refer to these two groups as: believers and unbelievers; regenerated and unregenerated; redeemed and unredeemed; elect and reprobate. The author closes chapter 10 with a focus on the sufferings of the believers, obviously at the hands of the unbelievers. He will go on to make his case that the people he is writing to will not shrink back from faith in Christ; but he believes that they will persevere in faith to the end (10:39).
It is reasonable that doubts crept in because of the early Christian experience. After coming to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4), as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21), suffering began. Being mistreated by their own people, the Jews, these Jewish believers in Messiah had their faith in Him tested through the fiery trials of various persecutions (Jas 1:2; 1 Pet 1:6).
The hypothetical scenario of one who enjoyed the many blessings and benefits of being in the midst of the Spirit-filled people of God, but who fell away, means that sufferings have at least one purpose of separating those who do not have it in them to press on.
What is in the true believer that causes them to endure much that they would not otherwise be subject to is the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11). The Christian continues in faith because God does not leave the saint (Heb 13:5).
Man’s hatred for God (Rom 1:30) becomes hatred for Christians because God dwells in them by His Spirit. When Islamists surround a group of Christians in a church building and set the building on fire, then, you understand their hatred is for Christ. The early Christians like our African brethren, today, were greatly persecuted; but Jesus’ assessment of this was that these disciples were blessed (Mt 5:10–12).
To share in the sufferings of Christ means that we must share in the sufferings of other Christians (1 Cor 1:24), by gladly bearing the same reproaches, sharing materially and financially what we can with them, praying for them, etc. Sufferings should never be an agency for passivity, however. We must remember who we are as victorious believers, children of God (1 Jn 3:1, 10; 5:4). We must also remember our mission as ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom promoters (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:20).
Knowing that the kingdom of Christ is an affront to the kingdom of this world and its evil ruler, Satan (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), we must expect that there will be conflict (Jn 16:33), as when a child of the devil assassinates a child of God in a public debate venue (1 Jn 3:10). The wicked rejoice and are motivated, increase violence, bloodshed, and terror — being inspired by their father, who has been a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44).
For the faithful, Spirit-filled, child of God, this world is not his home (Jn 17:14–16); therefore, he does not love the world, nor the things of the world (1 Jn 2:15–17) because he knows he came into the world with nothing and he will leave the world with nothing (1 Tim 6:7), after a very brief time here under the sun (Jas 4:14).
The Christian life is a strategy derived from a believer’s understanding of the Scriptures, along with his observation and experience of the world. The promise of God is in direct contrast with the empty promises of the world. Because the promise of God is true (2 Cor 1:20), and the promise of the world is a lie, the reprobate unbeliever is enraged with Christian doctrine and practice. Hence, he will create trouble for the Christian in whatever way seems most destructive.
The Christian endures material loss (Heb 10:34) because the children of the devil steal, kill, and destroy in the manner of their father (Jn 10:10). What the reprobate sinner will never understand about the Christian is that the heir of God and co-heir with Christ is valuing heaven to such a degree that the loss of things in the world is a mere removal of a distraction (Rom 8:17). The true substance of life is in heaven where Christ, who is our life, resides (Col 2:17), even reigns (Ps 47:8; Rev 19:6). Hence, the Christian fixes his eyes on Jesus and sets his mind on things above (Col 3:2; Heb 12:2). With food and clothing here, he is content (1 Tim 6:8). Everything else is a bonus.
Faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9), a product of the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22), who presents us with someone to believe in, Jesus Christ (Jn 15:26). It is not faith that preserves the Christian; it is the indwelling Spirit who does so through every season and storm (Heb 13:5). Faith is the evidence of the Spirit keeping the Word of promise (Jn 10:28–29).
Faith is positional (1 Cor 1:30). We are “in Christ” who alone has right standing before God by merit. His righteousness becomes ours when we are brought into Him (2 Cor 5:21; Col 1:13; 1 Jn 2:1). Thus, faith is a product of the knowledge of Christ (2 Tim 1:12), afforded to those who were predestined to adoption as sons (Eph 1:5), whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life (Phil 4:3; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27), who were given by the Father to the Son (Jn 17:2, 6, 24, 18:9), who were redeemed at the cross (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:15), and who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and new life (Acts 2:38; 10:45; Rom 6:4).
If the Son of God gives you life, then you have life, indeed (Jn 5:21; 1 Jn 5:11, 20). This is the mark of the born again. The life of God is in their souls. It is Christ in them, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Christ came to give us this life (Jn 6:33); and He has promised not to leave nor forsake those whom the Father gave to Him. He Himself is our confidence; and He who began this good work in us will finish His work to perfection.
In summary, it is a course of suffering for the genuine believer in Jesus. Still, nothing can separate the elect, redeemed, regenerated, believer in Jesus from God’s preserving love. Losses in this world are not to be compared to the gain of heaven (Rom 8:18); therefore, in conclusion, let us live vibrant Christian lives of faith, by the wisdom and power of the Spirit of Christ, who causes us to walk in God’s statutes, while not letting us shrink back to destruction (Heb 10:39).
David Norczyk
Lakewood, California
September 18, 2025
Hebrews 10:32–39
