Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised).
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast our faith in the one who offered himself by which we are all sanctified. Our confession is in a person [the body of Christ]. In the book of Hebrews, we find the explanation for the new Covenant as being superior to the many sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sacrifices of the blood of bulls and of goats in reality could not take away humanities sins [see Hebrews 10:4]. It could not clear the conscience of man. Furthermore, the burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, God did not take any pleasure in it {see Hebrews 10:6-8]. If we can understand that the Old Testament sacrifices was a shadow to what was yet to come. That in Christ all things are fulfilled, and this includes sin and healing for our bodies. How can man deal with their own personal sins? How can man alleviate the guilt and pain associated with sin? Only through Christ are we given relieve from the burden of sin. Today, no one has faith in the burnt offerings of a bull or goat. It simply is not done anymore.
We have the body of Jesus Christ who offered up one sacrifice for sins forever, and then sat down on the right hand of God [Hebrews 10:12]. One sacrifice for sins forever means for all eternity. Because of this one sacrifice everything hinges on being perfected through the body of Christ to sanctify those who believe and have faith in this sacrifice. It was the apostle Paul who stated, “we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish,” [see 2nd Corinthians 2:15]. God accepted Christ who is His son as the perfect sacrifice for all humanities sins.
Ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
Numbers 29:36
Christ was that sweet savor unto the Father and the Holy Spirit was a witness to all who are in Christ in that it projected the power of God to witness and confirm the New Covenant. We have the partial promise of what is written in Ezekiel 11:19 and Jeremiah 31:33 about man having the law of the Lord written in their hearts and minds [see Hebrews 10:16]. And we also have God’s promise not to remember the sins of man. There is to be no more offering for sin since Christ is the fulfillment of the perfect lamb that was sacrificed. The purpose of Christ was to reconcile man unto God, but Christ sacrifice also destroyed the works of the devil. Thus in 1st John 3:8 it is written, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” In the next verse it goes on to say that whoever is born of God, does not commit sin. There is a clear separation from the works of sin in those who believe. A person who is born of God is separated unto God and this is sanctification.
The believer becomes aware of the work of devil who is also known as Satan. The root of sin is selfishness. The issue with Satan is following his own will and not the will of God. We know from John chapter 10 verse 8, Jesus exclaims that only “thieves and robbers” came before him. Then he stated what the thief’s purpose is and that was to steal, kill, and destroy. This is the opposite of what Jesus’ purpose is, and that is to give abundant life. We should think twice when it comes to being deceived by Satan. We should not be ignorant of his devices. We can learn from examples given in the Bible how Satan works in the following scriptures.
- Luke 22:31 – “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”
- Luke 13:16 – “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?”
- Acts 5:3 – “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”
- Mark 4:15 – And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:14 – “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
The conflict with Satan is in doing something wrong. Satan’s desire is to have us and put us under bondage. This is done through slandering another person’s character, lying to keep or get something from someone, taking away God’s word from someone and denying it, and deceiving someone by becoming an angel of light. These are the works of Satan. In Job 1:7, the Lord God asked Satan, “From where do you come from?” Satan replied, “from going to and from in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Simon Peter understood later after his own experience with his own self-confidence in denying the Lord the importance of being steadfast in faith in the person of Jesus in times of suffering no matter what happens.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
1 Peter 5:8
Peter is telling believers to cast all their cares upon the Lord before he makes the above statement about be vigilant. Peter then tells believers to resist the devil steadfast in the faith. In Hebrews, being steadfast in our faith is to hold onto our profession of our faith without wavering. Wavering between belief and unbelief is like having two minds that is being tossed back and forth. It is as James stated in 1:6, “let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavered is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Are you being tossed back and forth on the wave of the sea? We should remember that being tossed upon the wave means we have no faith. There is no assurance of faith because one has indecision. The just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him, [see Hebrews 10:38]. I am always reminded of what Hebrews chapter 12 states in the latter part of verse 1 and in verse 2.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
Hebrews 12:1-2
So, if Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, then we have a living faith, and our faith is not in vain or dead. He is faithful in the promise he has given us. Our walk is in faith because we believe in who He is. When we know the will of God, we can stand with assurance that what we ask for we will receive. There is no indecision because it becomes a fact afterwards. Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen. It is not evident now, but it will bring the substance and it will become a fact. This is especially true when praying for healing of any kind of sickness. Like the crippled woman who was bound for 18 years with a spirit of infirmity. Should she not be loosed from the infirmity that Satan had bound her with? Oh, yes Lord! Help our unbelief and cause us not to waver in our faith when it comes to healing. Let us hold fast our faith and confession in you. Let us keep our efficacy always in Christ the one and only sacrifice. Let us see the works of God in our own life so that we may rejoice in the glory of God’s promises. Let us give thanks that as believers we are now unto God a sweet savor of Christ. Hold fast your faith in Christ and don’t let go of it for any reason. He is our life for all eternity.
