In the letter to the Hebrews the readers are being encouraged to return to their original faith and commitment and resume the spiritual growth and production.
In the phrase, “Do not throw away your confidence,” the word “throw away” is apobalete which
means to cast or fling away something you no longer need or something that is of no use. The promise that this “confidence…will be richly rewarded” is in the present tense which interestingly means that not only is there a great reward in the future, but that there is a present already active rewarding occurring if that confidence in the truth is maintained.
Confidence will produce “perseverance.” The perseverance is not a work or some attitude that
these readers need to manifest, instead it is the natural response to confidence. If you are
convinced an event is going to happen, it is possible to wait for it. If you know a technique is
working it is possible to continue to do it. The person that has confidence will have perseverance.
The person who has perseverance will be able to continue to God’s will.
So, doing the will of God comes from having perseverance, which comes from confidence, which is faith. This is why the writer of Hebrews then puts together Isaiah 26:20-21 and Habakkuk 2:3-4
to say Jesus is coming but in the meantime we must live by faith in order to do God’s will.
The Old Testament quotes also say that if God’s people shrink back Jesus will not be pleased.
It is good to remember that this faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17
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