A Patient, Persevering Faith

August 15, 2021 Background Scripture: Hebrews 10:19 – 39 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 10:23 – 36 The notion of religious persecution is strange for Christians living in America today. The right to religious freedom, or to be free from religion, is protected by the highest authorities in the nation. For the most part, Americans are free to believe in whomever or whatever they choose. We are also free to not believe in anything religious. We can communicate our belief by publicly declaring it, displaying it on our clothing, tattooing it on our body, or posting it on a billboard for all to see. This is not the case for some Christians living in other places around the world. This was certainly not the case for Christians living in the Middle East in the first century. In the first century, Christians faced an enormous amount of persecution from the religious and non-religious alike. They were ridiculed, beaten, incarcerated, tortured, and some were even killed. All this was because they made it known that they chose to put their faith in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation. The Christian church was under attack in the first century. How do you console a Christian who is suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ? The writer of the letter to the Hebrew Christians in the first century addressed this issue in the passage of scripture in our lesson today. Again, many Christians of the first century were persecuted because of their religious faith. Many of them suffered and some even died at the hands of their persecutors. Some of them went into hiding and others considered renouncing their faith publicly. The writer suggested three things for the recipients of the letter to consider. First, Christians should not forget to depend on each other. Such dependence is reinforced through the local assembly of Christians. It is within the local assembly that Christians encourage each other to walk in love and continue to do good works that exemplify Christianity. Missing out on the gathering of the local church was only making the situation worse for them. The local church could strengthen them spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. There is much to be said, and appreciated, about the benefits of Christian fellowship. Secondly, the writer reminded the recipients of the letter that God is not pleased with those who are fickle in their faith. God expects Christians to always hold in high esteem the blood of Jesus Christ. This should have been especially true for the first century Christians who expected Jesus to return for the church in their lifetime. If Jesus were to return while they lived, it was worth holding on for that reason despite the persecution they were experiencing. The thought of imminent vindication and rescue by the Lord Jesus should have encouraged them. Thirdly, the writer encouraged the recipients to remember their personal testimony. When God’s revelation of Jesus Christ first became real to them, they rejoiced in their conversion experience while being treated as a public spectacle; at the same time, they experienced the true fellowship of other believers for the first time. The realness of heaven and the expectation of living there made earthly living less desirable as a thing to be grasped. They readily demonstrated this new life in Christ to other believers—including the writer of this letter. Their faith at that time was a great reward in and of itself. They started out in the right direction and were being encouraged to continue pressing on to receive the promise God made for those who do His will. A person of faith should develop patience. With patience, we can persevere. Robert C. Hudson July 29, 2021