Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14).
Those who are truly the Lord’s do not fall away (apostatize) forever, but there is no assurance that we are truly the Lord’s if we live contrary to him (cf. 10:14; Rom. 8:29–30; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1–3). So, these strong words call all professing Christians to a self-examination that would keep us from living in fear or rebellion (see also 2 Cor. 13:5). One evidence of truly knowing Christ is perseverance in faith. We must be on guard, therefore, that we do not develop “an evil, unbelieving heart.” What is the antidote to the poison of unbelief? It is mutual accountability and daily encouragement of one another. Sin is deceitful and can harden our hearts.
Let us be watchful, then, and “hold our original confidence firm to the end” (Heb. 3:14). We thank God for faithful spouses and other friends who help us walk with Christ. And we should be on the lookout for those who name Christ’s name yet do not continue with him. They need our prayers and maybe our help.
Gospel Transformation Bible
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