The Holy Spirit proceeds in this chapter to strengthen the counsel he had given these Hebrews to continue steadfast in the faith of Christ, to the end that they may receive their reward, the salvation of their souls, having mentioned the life of faith, and the end of faith.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

And so beginneth with a description of that faith, and proves it to be effectual to this end, by instances out of all ages of the world before them, wherein the Old Testament believers found it to be so. The description of it is laid down in Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The proof of it in both parts.

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. And saith that it is the substance or subsistence or basis and foundation of things hoped for. It is the same that our author had called confidence.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

Polybius, speaking of Horatius’ keeping the field against the enemy’s forces, saith, that the enemies more feared his confidence binding upon the victory, than his strength. Faith is the vital artery of the soul, Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. and by the eye of it, through the perspective glass of the promises, a Christian may see into heaven. Faith doth antedate glory; it doth substantiate things not seen. Faith altereth the tenses, and putteth the future into the present tense.

John 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Eph 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us–ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Personal sustenance and confidence of faith is illustrated here in Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; Here it is a real, present, confident assent of the soul of a believer to the promise of God, (which is the basis or foundation of it), by which the spiritual good things to come, and which fall not under sense, yet with a most vehement and intense desire urged for, are made to have a mental, intellectual existence and subsistence in the soul which exerciseth it.

Ro 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 17:6,8 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 8) For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Eph 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

In His Service,
Pastor Donald Pierce