We are in an era in which people can no longer hold on to their faith in Christian religion. Believers have lost their Christian faith, norms, and values. Discouragement and weariness have caused people to waver from their faith. Some with strong faith gave up due to prolonged challenges.
The ministers of God are not left out. Some of them now filter messages to be preached in other not to grieve the worshippers so they can maintain their congregation size.
This verse of scripture is a call back to orderliness,
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Believers are to be persistent and confident in our walk with God. It is not one and for all affairs but once and again commitments. If you have prayed, keep praying. If you have studied the word of God as it relates to that matter, hold on to what the word says to you.
Isaiah 53 verse 11 says,
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Dr. David Oyedepo defines faith as a display of total confidence in God and His word until your desires are fully met. Hold on to His faithfulness, He is too faithful to fail.
Who wrote Hebrews 10:23 and when was it written?
The book of Hebrews 10:23 was traditionally attributed to Apostle Paul. Some traditions hold that the author may have been St. Barnabas or perhaps one of Paul’s other associates or later disciples. It was written during the latter half of the 1st century.
What is the context of Hebrews 10?
The context of Hebrews 10 talks about Jesus as the atoning sacrifice and also advises believers to be committed to our faith and service to God.
This writer aimed to compare the old covenant with the new covenant and a warning about the risks of apostasy. The Jewish people great priest offers daily sacrifices while the Great High priest which is Jesus, came with power and a great help for those that believe in Him.
The first part of the chapter clarifies the argument about the effectiveness of offering sacrifices. According to the writer, offering animal sacrifice continually year by year does not make worshippers perfect, but in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year as it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
It is only the death of one man that is used for the remissions of our sins. That is why when Jesus came to the world, He said, He has come in the volume of the book that is written of Him to do the will of His father.
The will is to be the permanent and eternal living sacrifice for believers by taking away the first sacrifice so that He may establish the second.
Reference was made to the old testament, in Psalm 40 verses 6 to 8 to validate this point,
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
Having said all the above, the writer buttresses the fact of the superiority of Jesus over the great high priest of the church that stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Hebrews 10 verse 14 says,
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
The second part of the chapter is a great exhortation to the people to live in hope because of God’s faithful promise, holding very firm to their faith without wavering during storms. The people were also warned against apostasy and advised to embrace perseverance.
The chapter ended with strong encouragement to the persecution Hebrews, reminding them of how they survived persecutions and trials in the past and that they can do so again.
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion me 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. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. ( Hebrews 10 verses 32 to 36)
There is a need of patience according to the new testament for everyone translation, (Hebrews 10 verse 36) after you have played your part. Continue to live by faith and never draw back.
What is the message of Hebrews 10:23?
The message of Hebrews 10:23 is to embrace the confidence we have in Christ without being weary.
Apostle Paul counsels the people to continue to confess their hope in Jesus Christ without shivering whom he referred to as the High Priest. Jesus was referred to as the High priest with great honour for after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, we became free forever from the bondage of sins.
This was confirmed earlier in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 and 15,
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
The hope we profess is Jesus. He is the reason for holding fast to our profession. The proof that we profess this hope is to be saved and live according to God’s will with good deeds and a sincere heart.
Hebrews 10 verses 21 to 22,
“and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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.”
If we hold fast to Jesus, we can depend on Him to keep His promises.
Paul admonished the people to hold fast to the profession of their faith without being mindful of their challenges. God is not a man that He should lie, He is not the son of man that should repent. Whatever He has said in His word, His hands can fulfill them.
1 Thessalonians 5 verse 24,
“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Look unto Him and Him alone. Our God is faithful so let us also continue in faith. He will not fail to accomplish his purposes. His everlasting love is ever available.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope” meaning
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope” means to persevere in the faith and hope that we have in Christ.
The phrase hold fast has been used in the previous chapters of the book of Hebrews.
But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
( Hebrews 3 verse 6)
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
( Hebrews 4 verse 14)
What are we to hold fast onto?
The two scriptures above confirm believers should hold fast to the confidence and hope that we have in Christ. The human nature sometimes may contain a shadow of the good things. I have good news for you, He who has started good works will surely perfect it.
The word hold fast should be the watchword of every Christian. The way we hold something determines the value we attach to it.
What you hold tight cannot be easily snatched away from you. Every true Christians must guide and guard their faith jealously to fence out every wile of the devil. God in His great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Trust in God’s promises at all times even in the midst of difficulties and discouragements, you will never be ashamed.
We live in such a changeful age, that we need all to be exhorted to be rooted and grounded, confirmed and established, in the truth.” (Spurgeon)
“Without wavering” meaning
“without wavering” means to be consistent.
The scripture likens someone that wavers to a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Such a man cannot receive anything from God.
Wavering is a display of a lack of confidence in God. Our God is a jealous God. If you lack confidence in Him, why would you expect something from Him?
He does not share His glory with anyone. Faith is a vital gate pass to access the presence of God.
Hebrews 11 verse 6 says,
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
You must not decline your trust in the word of God.
1 Corinthians 15 verse 58 says,
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Be steadfast in your walk with God. He will bring all your desires to pass.
“For He who promised is faithful” meaning
“for He who promised is faithful” means God will ever fulfill all His promises.
God is faithful. This is one of His richest character attributes and promises to believers.
The Hebrew word “Emuna” is translated as faithfulness in the old testament. It means steadiness, dependability, and trust.
No one else has this character except God. Man can promise but lack the capacity to bring the promises to pass.
He is faithful and just. Psalm 100 verse 5 says,
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”
God is true to His Word. He has never failed and he will never fail to keep His promises. He never changes His mind after He pledges something.
Numbers 23 verse 19 said it all,
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
Trust in Him, you can be assured that He will not let you down.
What is the difference in biblical translations of Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV, KJV, NIV & ESV)?
Hebrews 10:23 NKJV biblical translation “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 KJV biblical translation “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV biblical translation “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 ESV biblical translation “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
There is no difference between NKJV and ESV translations.
The difference is in KJV and NIV translations.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering in KJV is replaced by Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess in NIV.
Unswervingly in NIV means unwaveringly which is written as without wavering in KJV.
Hope in NIV is replaced with faith in KJV.
Faith is the complete confidence in someone or something while hope is a feeling of expectation for a particular thing to happen. Both of them give us a sense of assurance.
However, the four translations have the same meaning.
How do I apply Hebrews 10:23 to my life?
Applying Hebrews 10:23 to my life is to depend absolutely on God.
God is always 100% faithful to Himself and to us. He is ever reliable and trustworthy. He is unchanging, ever faithful, and never failing in His promises in time of need. Our faithful obedience is what connects us to God.
Where man’s faithfulness stops is where God’s faithfulness begins.
2 Timothy 2 verse 13,
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
Hold on fast to Him in His word. God is more than enough. The reason why some Christians lose grip of their faith is that they compare their problems with themselves.
You can only be stable as far as your strength can sustain you but in the long run when the storm is turbulent and more turbulent, fear will set in and you begin to waver.
We must understand in our Christian life that there is no problem that is greater than God.
God said specifically to us in Isaiah 43 verse 26,
“Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.”
This is an open ticket for all believers. God is so confident in His words.
Devote more time to studying the word.
Attend fellowships and church services and, pay attention to word sessions.
Remind Him of those words that you have heard.
Match the word to your situation.
Hold fast to those words until your desired result is achieved.
What is Hebrews 10:23 prayer?
Heavenly Father, help me to hold fast to the confidence and trust that I have in You. Let me not waver no matter what stares at my face. May I depend on You to the full and the end in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
Conclusion
Christianity today has lost its sense of values. We now have modern-day Christianity according to some believers. This is essentially why we need to “hold fast” to only the truth. There is no old truth or new truth. Truth is truth.
The scripture says in John 8 verse 32,
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
You need to first know the truth before you can be set free and it is your knowledge of the truth that determines your freedom.
When you know the truth, you cannot shake.
Fear is what causes the faith of believers to waver. The only way and the best way to overcome the spirit of fear is to build your faith. It is to you according to your faith. You cannot experience God more than your level of faith.
According to Apostle Paul in Romans 10 verse 17,
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
The faith that we keep building cannot waver.
