Hold On to the Confession
21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:21-23 CSB)
In these three verses, the author challenges the believers to live out their faith, for it is anchored in the truth that they have “a great High Priest over the house of God,” Jesus Christ, the perfect mediator between His followers and the Father. Upon this foundational truth, the author exhorts believers to first “draw near with a true heart,” meaning a sincere heart without hypocrisy. Second, they are to have “full assurance of faith,” confidently believing that God provided full access to Him through Christ alone. Third, they are to have their “hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,” meaning a life of confession and relationship with God. We saw this previously in our series in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Fourth and finally, they are to present their “bodies washed in pure water,” which can mean two things: to be obedient to Christ through water baptism or to live righteously, as the heart is clean, so too should the outward actions through the body be as well. With all of this in mind, believers are to also “hold on to the confession of our hope,” clinging to this belief “without wavering,” or bending or compromise, because Christ promised to be “faithful,” in keeping His believers. We see this promise in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” With all the challenges of life, the author urges fellow believers to be faithful in their walk with Christ, knowing that the great High Priest is forever faithful to them, as He mediates between the Father and His faithful followers.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
