The Epistle to the Hebrews:
An Appeal For Endurance

by Bryan Gibson

The Epistle to the Hebrews stresses the need for endurance, the need to hold fast, to persevere, to remain steadfast until the end (see 3:6, 14; 6:11-12; 10:23, 36, 39; 12:1-2).

Let’s notice some points made in this epistle to help us with our endurance.

In these last days God has spoken to us through Jesus Christ, the very One who died for us and purged us from our sins (1:1-4). Would we ever want to stop listening to someone who loved us enough to die for us?

When faced with difficulties, temptations, sufferings, etc., we can go boldly to the throne of grace and receive the help we need. We can do this because Jesus Christ is now at the right hand of God, serving as our High Priest, constantly making intercession for us. So let’s don’t quit when we have problems. Let’s get the help we need and go right on serving the Lord (2:16-18; 4:14-16; 7:25; 13:5-6).

Let’s make sure to spend time with other Christians, both in the assemblies (10:25), and outside the assemblies (3:13; 13:1). We can “stir up love and good works” in one another; we can keep one another from being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  In short, we can help one another to endure.

Let’s make sure that we advance in our Bible study—that we get to the point where we can eat the meat, as well as drink the milk (5:12-14).

Let’s be encouraged by the examples of others who have endured (6:9-12; ch. 11; 13:7), most notably the example of Jesus (12:1-3). If they can do it, we can too.

Let’s keep in mind what we’ve already endured, and the reasons we did. We’ve come too far to throw it all away now (10:32-35).

The suffering we endure for doing right—it may be painful now, but “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (12:11).

A great reward is waiting for us if we endure (6:10; 10:35-39; 11:6, 16, 26; 13:14).

A terrible punishment is waiting for us if we fall away (2:1-4; 6:4-8; 10:26-31).