Hold Fast: Just Live by Faith

Hebrews 10 New King James Version (NKJV)

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”[a]

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offeringsfor sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”[b] He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”[c] 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”[d] 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 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 one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 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.

The Just Live by Faith

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[e] says the Lord.[f]And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”[g] 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me[h] in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.[i] 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while,
And He[j] who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the[k] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”[l]

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6–8
2. Hebrews 10:9 NU-Text and M-Text omit O God.
3. Hebrews 10:16 Jeremiah 31:33
4. Hebrews 10:17 Jeremiah 31:34
5. Hebrews 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:35
6. Hebrews 10:30 NU-Text omits says the Lord.
7. Hebrews 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:36
8. Hebrews 10:34 NU-Text reads the prisoners instead of me in my chains.
9. Hebrews 10:34 NU-Text omits in heaven.
10. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
11. Hebrews 10:38 NU-Text reads My just one.
12. Hebrews 10:38 Habakkuk 2:3, 4

Journey to see God: a servant's journey of faith

Not many would notice the record of an unnamed servant who worked for Abraham. However, the record spanned practically the whole chapter 24 ( in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, all 67 verses except for the first and last verse of the chapter, the longest in the book). Why did the Holy Spirit find it important to keep such detailed record of this episode of a humble servant? The watchman asked.
Then he opened the Bible and was led to read the account of Jesus in John 13, in which Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus was fully aware of Who He was, the Son of God, and yet He chose to obey His Father in heaven to take a most humble position. 

 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:3-5)

Jesus knew His superior position as their Teacher and Lord (13:13). He also made sure they knew that they were His servants ( Matt.10:24-25; 18:23; 25:14) and He their Master and that they were not greater than Him (13:16; 15:20). Yet He washed the disciples' feet. He set them an example that they should do as He had done to them (13:15). “If you know theses things blessed are you if you do them” (13:17), He promised. Jesus specifically declared to the twelve disciples that “if anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table or he who serves? Is he not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:25-27)
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;” “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master...” “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” (Luke 12:35, 36, 37)
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)
In summary, Jesus expects His disciples to wait for His return, taking the faithful position of a servant, vigilant, waiting and ready at all hours, serving.
Where in the Bible is an example of a faithful selfless servant? In Abraham's time there was a record of one such person.
______Genesis 24 (the longest chapter in the book of Genesis)
This chapter recorded one main character, the servant whom Abraham entrusted to go to get a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. The facts are summarized below:

1. This servant is not named here but it is believed that he is the same as mentioned in Gen.15:2, Eliezer of Damascus, whom Abraham thought would be his heir as he was childless then.
   
2. He is described as the oldest servant of Abraham's house, who ruled over all that he had. (v2) “All his master's goods were in his hands.” (v 10)
   
3. Abraham's instruction and mission for this servant was: go to Abraham's former country and his father's family to take a wife for his son. (v4,7)
   

What the Scripture revealed the servant's characteristics:

1. He believed and obeyed every word of his master, Abraham.
   
2. He was totally focused on his mission. He did not waste one minute like taking his dinner before first telling Abraham's cousin his mission (v33), and he did not even want to stay one day longer than necessary despite the long journey of 800km using camels to travel. (v 56)
   
3. He knew his master very well. He repeated his master's instructions accurately. He knew Abraham's words would come to pass. He believed when Abraham told him that God would send His angels to lead him and prosper his way.
   
4. He even knew of the qualities of the daughter-in-law to be for his master. (There was no record of what Abraham had told him on this subject, but his action showed that he knew what the master required.)
   
5. He shared his master's belief in God and his godly values in the kind of wife suitable and just right for his master's son. (Note his prayer that specified the conditions/attributes of the right person to be confirmed)
   
6. He feared, honored, and trusted God. He prayed, worshiped and testified for God at anytime the Spirit led him. He gave glory to God.
   
7. He spoke of himself as a servant of Abraham. His action confirmed his word.
   
8. He spoke only of Abraham's instruction, God's promises to Abraham, and how God had led him, answered his prayers, given success to the whole mission just as God has promised Abraham. (Not the number of times he spoke of the 'Lord God', 'the Lord', 'my master Abraham', 'my master'.)
   
9. He acknowledged and testified openly the success of his mission depended entirely on God, who would show His kindness to Abraham.
   
10. He was not even concerned with his own possible personal needs, feeling, rights or comforts. He did not simply get someone for Isaac. He could have been the heir if not for Isaac. Not only he was not jealous he even made sure Isaac got the best woman as a wife, exactly the one appointed by God for his wife! (Note he spoke twice of the word 'appointed' v14 and v 44).
    
11. He knew God and feared God. Note his prayers. How he prayed. The words he used. Here is a brief summary of the most 'unusual' way to get the right girl for his master's son:
    

• He went and stood by the well of water (instead of going straight to Abraham's brother's house) where the daughters of the men of the city were coming out to draw water. (v 13)
  
• He believed and expected that God would bring the appointed girl to him. (v 14)
  
• He set the conditions of the right girl's character, knowing his master's requirements and values. (v 14)
  
• His faith in God was so steadfast that he did not realize that he was setting very difficult terms to meet all at once: 1. the girl must come out at the right time, as he was waiting there with all his men and precious loads of gifts; 2. the right girl must come out (Abraham's close relative); 3. the right girl must also fit all the other characteristics of his master's requirements, hardworking, hospitable, well-mannered, kindhearted even to animals, obedient, humble, young, a virgin, and very beautiful to behold; 4. the right girl must be willing to go back to his master's house with the servant (who is a total stranger) even though she has never met the bride-groom to be or even been to the place where she will live for the rest of her life!
  In all these what did he gain for himself, this faithful servant?
  

Note the way the servant described what he considered as his fulfillment:

“And he said, 'Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.” (v 27)

“and I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take my master brother's daughter for his son.” (v 48)

“And he said to them, 'Do not hinder me, since the Lord God has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.” (v 56)

 This servant was indeed greatly rewarded. He saw the hand of God in his faith journey!