Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

.... without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25). The author is relentless in his warnings about the eternal consequences of drifting away, neglecting our salvation,  drawing back etc., etc.  (2:1-3; 6:6; 10;39). The next verse  gives one of his sterner warnings.  If we  continuing to sin wilfully after we have received a knowledge of the truth,  there remains no more sacrifice for sin, only fearful looking for of  judgement (verses 26, 27). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (verse 31).   On the other hand,  he's all about the assurance of those who hold fast to the confession of our hope. It's an anchor for the soul (10:23; 6:19).

I hasten to ad, he nowhere suggest this is about earning our salvation, rather it's about  assurance! True assurance, as opposed to the false assurance of presumption, is based on holding fast to hope without wavering. Jesus puts it this way “the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12, 13).  This  morning's chapter is largely about the importance of fellowship to continuing and to assurance. I am reminded of the story of the young man who asked the pastor why he needed fellowship. At the time they were in the living room and a fire of coals was burning in the fireplace. The pastor told the young man to use the tongs lying there and take a coal out of the fire and lay it on the hearth. Presently when to coal had grown cold the pastor asked him why the coal had died. The point is,  that in the fire the coals kept each other burning. In the same way,  that those who are on fire for the Lord stir one another up to love and good works. Otherwise our love too easily grows cold.

I run a small midweek fellowship, and it has always been small.  But I would rather have two people who are on fire for the Lord, than thirty two who are not.  Just being in their presence is encouraging, and exhortation and admonition comes easily in it, and without offence.  It's not just one way, it's to one another.  This kind of fellowship is about giving each other permission to hold each other accountable. It's about confessing our faults one to another (James 5:16).  It's about being open and vulnerable and praying for one another.  It's about family under the blood of Jesus. And this family is “thicker than water.”  

Father, the final part of this morning's exhortation speaks about the soon coming of the Lord Jesus. Scoffers, who walk according to their own lusts often taunt us saying, “Where is the promise of His  coming?”  But they are willing ignorant of the fact that with You a thousand years is as a day. And that You are not slack concerning Your promise, but are longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish,  but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3). Give us grace Lord to continue without wavering, and so  not be among those who draw back to perdition, but rather believe to the saving of the soul (verse 39) in Jesus Name Amen