verse 14: "For we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we hold firm the original confidence steadfast until the end;"
One of the evidences of relationship is the unconditional commitment to stay by the stuff.
Here in this verse we have the statement of the reason why the previous admonition was given to be "encouraging one another daily as long as it is still called 'today': "For we have become partakers of Christ."
Notice the little word "we": "For we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we" - and the author identifies himself with the recipients of this letter -"hold firm the original confidence."
Let's walk for a moment with Job through his great valley of difficulty, loss and physical affliction.
Job 1:21-22: "and said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' In all this Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" (NIV).
Job 13:15: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him..." (NIV).
Job 19:23-27: "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God' I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart years within me!" (NIV).
Job 23:10: "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold" (NIV).
Job 42:2: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted" (NIV).
Ray Stedman said: "...one virtue proves decisive in whether on ever arrives at spiritual maturity: perseverance." (William D. Hendricks, Exit Interviews, 25)
Verse 15: "while it is being said, 'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.'"
We have seen this message earlier in chapter 3. We have a repetition of 2 words from verse 13: "Today" and "harden."
R. Kent Hughes said: "Brothers and sisters, if we hear his voice, we must do something now!" (Hebrews, 104)
John Phillips said: "Today! Again and again he rings out the word. God never promises us tomorrow. Now is the time to get eternal matters settled." (Exploring Hebrews, 72)
