Endure in Faith: Trusting Jesus Through Life's Trials

Introduction

There are times in the Christian life when the path forward feels uncertain, when the pressure to retreat is real, and when you wonder if holding on is worth it. That was the situation facing the original readers of the book of Hebrews. These were Jewish believers who had confessed Christ and experienced both joy and hardship for His name. But now, under pressure—social, political, even religious—they were tempted to go back to the old ways: the Levitical system, the temple rituals, the life they left behind.

This passage—Hebrews 10:19–39—is a pastoral plea. It is both encouragement and warning, both theology and exhortation. It reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice gives us confidence, that community is essential, that rejection of truth is dangerous, and that our past victories and future hope are meant to anchor us today.

This message is not just for them. It’s for anyone who has ever felt tired, tempted to drift, or unsure if they have what it takes to finish strong. The answer is—you don’t. But Christ does. And He’s the One holding you.

1. Confidence through Christ's Sacrifice (vv. 19-22)

The author begins this section by saying:

“Therefore, brothers since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…” (v.19)

He is building on everything he has said from chapter 1 to now, chapter 10. Jesus is superior to everything that came before: angels, Moses, Aaron, the Levitical System with all of its rituals and sacrifices. So here the author addresses his brothers, his Jewish brothers with an invitation to leave behind the Levitical System with all of its types and shadows and appropriate the benefits of the New Covenant in Christ.

And He uses the word “confidence” an important emphasis in this book.

Hebrews 4:16 LSB

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is what faith is, which the author will describe in more detail in the following chapter. But unwavering confidence and dependance in what God has done is imperative. Hesitation gets you killed. I have run over more squirrels I care to admit despite my best efforts to avoid them because they could not make up their minds if they were going to cross the street or not. This lack of confidence caused them their lives.

Jesus issues a strong reminder in Luke

Luke 17:32 LSB

32 “Remember Lot’s wife.

According to the record in Genesis, God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family were not moving fast enough. The angels took them by the hand hauled them out of the city and told them to keep going without looking back which demonstrate absolute resolve in trusting God. But Lot’s wife wavered in her trust. She trusted in what she was leaving behind rather than in what God was offering forward.

And so the author says that in Christ we have confidence–parrēsia bold, unreserved freedom to enter the presence of God, he says,

Hebrews 10:22 LSB

22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

To draw near in this context means to come into fellowship with God, to engage Him in worship, prayer, trust—no longer from a distance, but as sons and daughters.

Not only was the veil of separation torn from top to bottom giving us access, but we also have a great for ever–living High Priest over the house of God.

So the command is simple, come. Do not stand far away come boldly to the throne of grace. Spurgeon once said:

The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.

Charles Spurgeon

Ephesians 2:13 LSB

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:18 LSB

18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

So the author says come let us draw near. Why us and not just you draw near? Because the faith journey was not meant to be taken alone, lived in isolation. So now that we’ve been given this access, how do we endure in the long haul? The author tells us: don’t let go of your hope, and don’t let go of your people. Which leads us to the next movement

2. The Purpose of Holy Community and Persistent Hope (vv. 23-25)

In these verses the author stresses the importance of holding unswervingly to the hope we profess; the prioritizing of gathering together to encourage and motivate each other towards love and good deeds because mutual encouragement is crucial in strengthening one’s faith, especially during challenging times. The anticipation of Christ's return should spur us to greater commitment to community life. Part of being a believer is positioning oneself to be both a source and a recipient of encouragement. Let’s look at it:

Hebrews 10:23 LSB

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

This “confession of our hope” refers to the shared declaration of faith in Christ—His lordship, His sacrifice, His return. In the early church, confession (Greek: ὁμολογία – homologia) wasn’t just private—it was public and costly. And this word “confession” means “same word” or “same saying”. It literally means to speak in agreement with God about who Christ is. It is an outward, verbal affirmation that reflects inward faith.

To confess Jesus as Lord in the first century was to risk property, relationships, safety, and even life. Remember this is the reason for the writing. Many of the Jewish believers were tempted to go back to Judaism because it proved easier than all of the difficulties they were currently facing.

Here they are told to hold fast without wavering even in the face of persecution or emotional fatigue. Think of a commander, in the thicket of war who tells his soldiers, “hold the line” or “stand your ground.

It reminds me of when Martin Luther was contending for the authority of Scripture before the diet of worms in 1521. He said

“I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything…here I stand, I can do no other. God help me”

Martin Luther

“…For He who promised is faithful.” (v. 23)

God’s faithfulness is the anchor of our endurance. We hold on not because we’re strong, but because He is trustworthy.

additionally, we are not called to persevere alone, we are called to help each other persevere.

“Consider how to stimulate…” – The word “stimulate” (Greek: παροξυσμός – paroxysmos) is strong—it means to provoke, stir up, agitate in a good way. In Acts 15:39, it’s even used of a sharp disagreement. The idea here is intentional focus: How can I actively push my brothers and sisters toward love and action?

“Not forsaking assembling…” – This is about more than just attending church. It’s about intentionally showing up for one another in the context of the gathered community. Some had made a habit of neglecting the gathering, likely out of fear or weariness.

“All the more as you see the day drawing near.” – “The day” refers to the Day of the Lord—Christ’s return (cf. 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). As persecution increases and hardship deepens, so should our commitment to one another.

This is Christianity 101:

Romans 12:4-5: all of us are members of one body

Galatians 6:2: we are called to bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ

1 Thessalonians 5:11: we are to encourage one another and build up one another

None of these things are possible in isolation.

“But what happens when someone knows the truth, professes the truth, and still walks away from Christ and His people? That’s not a small matter. In fact, it’s one of the most sobering realities in Scripture. And the author deals with it next.”

3. A Serious Warning About Willful Rejection (vv.26-31)

This section contains one of the most sobering warnings in the New Testament—and it must be handled with both truth and pastoral sensitivity.

Hebrews 10:26 LSB

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

First of all the author here is speaking rhetorically, he excludes himself and genuine believers from this category, which he makes abundantly clear on verse 39. At any rate, sinning willfully hekousiōs carries the idea of deliberate intentional and habitual, persistent rejection of Christ after being exposed to the truth. This is the kind of apostasy that the author had warned about earlier.

Hebrews 6:4–6 LSB

4 For in the case of those once having been enlightened [intellectual exposure to the truth–understanding not necessarily believing] and having tasted of the heavenly gift [sampled, not consumed] and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit,[external influence not indwelling]

Remember the illustration of the pool party—some came close, dipped their toes, maybe even sat by the edge, but never jumped in. That’s the person described here: exposed to truth, but never immersed in saving faith. These are those people. Judas is a prime example of someone who falls into this category. He did not have a lack of knowledge, evidence, or experience. He was a partaker and even cast out demons in the name of Jesus was he lacked saving faith. He never had it.

This isn’t about struggling Christians who fall into sin and repent. This is about those who claim to know the truth, and then walk away from it with hardened hearts. What makes this so dangerous is that, having rejected Christ, there’s nowhere else to go.

Think about standing a the edge of a canyon that has a single bridge designed to take you to safety. If someone decides that the bridge is not for them and leap into the canyon anyway, they will die not because the bridge failed but because they rejected it. That is the warning here.

Hebrews 10:27 LSB

27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

The person who rejects Christ is not just passively disinterested; they become an adversary and the outcome of such rebellion is fire and judgement.

The way God provided for us to escape sin and destruction was costly. So, willful rejection will also be costly:

“Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy… How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant… and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (vv.28-29)

The author uses three escalating charges:

1. “Trampled underfoot the Son of God” – treated Jesus with contempt.

2. “Regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant” – considered Christ’s sacrifice unholy, common.

3. “Insulted the Spirit of grace” – blasphemed the Spirit who offers life.

This is not someone who just backslides—this is someone who becomes hard, indifferent, and defiant toward the only hope they once professed.

The reminder of past victories appears immediately after the three charges (trample, regard as defiled, insult the Spirit), so the reader doesn’t mistakenly apply those to struggling believers. Rather, it shows that persistent, willful rejection of Christ reveals a heart that was never truly converted. True faith perseveres.

We know this because there are several passages that teach this.

Jesus says that no one can snatch anyone out his hands (Jn 10:28-29). In fact several places in John Jesus talks about not loosing anything or anyone that the Father has given Him

Phil 1:6 assures us that the work that he begins he does complete. This is the reason why when Jesus says I never knew you depart from me, it does not mean I use to know you but you left me.

1 John 2:19 LSB

19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be manifested that they all are not of us.

So this warning is not meant to terrify the faithful, but to awaken the drifting. If you are convicted by this, that’s evidence that your heart is still tender. The person this passage warns about is no longer bothered at all.

If you are hearing this and thinking, “I don’t ever want to become that person,”—that’s good. That means your heart is still sensitive to the Spirit. Let this warning do what it’s meant to do: drive you back to Jesus, not into despair.

This passage doesn’t exist to rob believers of assurance—it exists to remind us that assurance is only found in Christ, not in ritual, not in religion, and certainly not in rebellion.

The author lays out this severe warning not to stir anxiety in the faithful, but to urge his readers: “”Don’t look back—there’s nothing for you in the old system. You’ve come too far to turn around now.

Now the author turns the page again. He now reminds them of their track record of endurance—and encourages them not to throw it all away. You’ve come this far. Don’t quit now.

4. Courage Remembered – The Power of Past Faithfulness (vv. 32–36)

After such a sobering warning the author turns their attention their past track record of faithfulness. This is reassurance that nothing is new. They have endured before:

“But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings…” (v. 32)

He calls them to rehearse their history with God—to reflect on past seasons of endurance and recognize His sustaining grace. Specifically, he highlights:

• Public shaming — perhaps being mocked or ridiculed for their faith.

• Affliction — likely persecution or economic pressure.

• Solidarity with imprisoned believers — risking guilt by association.

• Loss of personal property — and somehow, they did it with joy!

God had kept them through all of it. They endured it and accepted it with joy. Paul wrote about the reason for joy in the midst of suffering:

Romans 8:18 LSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

SO the author says, what are you going to do now? through away all of that confidence, all of that boldness? come on

So what about you?

• Can you remember times you were stronger than you thought you could be?

• Can you recall times when you trusted God even while afraid?

• Can you look back and see that He held you? What, He had the power then but not now? Remember the fact that He started this, so He will finish it.

Besides this is not forever, it is for a season which is how he points to the next point

5. The Certainty of Christ’s Return (vv. 37–39)

Hebrews 10:37–39 LSB

37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. 38 But My righteous one shall live by faith, And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Jesus will return so let us keep the faith. Our ultimate confidence lies in God’s promises, we must not shrinking back in times of adversity. Let us live by faith, trusting that genuine confidence is a forward-looking trust in Christ.

Conclusion

The Christian life is not a sprint—it’s a long, rugged race. And some seasons of that race are marked by pain, fear, and questions. But Hebrews 10 reminds us that we don’t run alone, and we’re not running blind. We have access to God through Christ, we have each other, we have the warning not to turn back, the memory of how far we’ve come, and the certainty of where we’re going.

Jesus is coming. The righteous live by faith. And we are not of those who shrink back.So, hold the line. Draw near. Stir one another up. Remember your history. And keep your eyes on the future glory that awaits you.Because the same God who called you is the God who will carry you. All the way home.