Hebrews 10:39 - 11:1 (ESV)
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The entire book of Hebrews is written to assure the above text is true for the readers of the book. The early church (like the church of today) had many people who believed and then began to doubt, drift and or shrink (as the above text states). There are six warning passages in the book to alert the readers to the dangers of drifting from there faith. They are severe warning passages. They might be some of the toughest passages in God’s Word to interpret. The above verses (10:39 and 11:1) give us some guidance as to how to handle the warning passage in chapter ten and how to embrace the message of the author. We really can’t read 10:39 without the context of 11:1. Even though the thoughts are separated by a chapter heading, the two of them should be seen together. It is by faith (11:1) that we accomplish the perseverance of the soul (10:39). Our faith in Christ’s finish work is what motivates us, sustains us, and allows us to have the assurances we need to persevere. We are to persevere by faith. The “assurance of our hope” is that we know that Jesus has gone before us and established an anchor for our souls:
Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV)
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Because Jesus has set us an anchor in heaven, we know we have assurance and will not shrink back into unbelief. It is only those who continue to believe and have faith in Christ’s finished work that can have full assurance of faith. Our flesh would like to give up. But, it is in the power of the Holy Spirit we believe in the finished work of Christ to endure and sustain in faith.
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