Jesus: the confession of our hope…

The writer of Hebrews continued these encouraging words – “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)

What is the ‘confession of our hope’? It is the confession of the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection is our hope for eternal life. Our physical lives will all come to an end. What about our spiritual lives? Only if we are spiritually born of God through faith in what Jesus has done for us can we partake of eternal life.

Jesus, praying to the Father, said about eternal life – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17: 3)  

Jesus taught Nicodemus – “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3: 5-6)

God is faithful. Paul taught Timothy – “This is a faithful saying: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2: 11-13)  

Paul encouraged the Romans – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5: 1-4)

The Hebrew believers were being encouraged to go forward in their faith in Christ, rather than their faith in the law of the old covenant. Throughout the letter to the Hebrews, they were being shown that Old Testament Judaism had come to an end through Jesus Christ fulfilling the whole purpose of the law. They were also being warned about falling back into trusting their ability to keep the law of Moses, rather than trusting in what Christ had done for them.

They were to consider one another so that that their love and good works for each other could be manifested. They were also to meet together and exhort or teach each other, especially as they saw the Day approaching.

What Day was the writer of Hebrews referring to? The Day of the Lord. The Day the Lord returns to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.