I. Hebrews 10:35-39 (Message translation)

• "So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy. But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way."
• In Hebrews 10, Paul tells us five major areas Satan tries to wrestle out of our hands and get us to throw away.

II. Don't throw away your CLEAN CONSCIENCE (verses 2-4 ESV).

Sin-consciousness

• "Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
• Guilt, shame, and inferiority come from sin consciousness. It prevents us from approaching God's throne with confidence.
  • "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14 ESV).

III. Don't throw away your STRONG CONFIDENCE (verse 19 ESV).

• Confidence to enter the holy places
• Confidence by the blood of Jesus

IV. Don't throw away your GOOD CONFESSION (verse 23 ESV).

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

• "Confession" is a verbal statement of faith in a promise God has given. It can be either good or bad.
• Confession is personalizing a promise. It takes the neutral, generic promises of God and inserts your name, your faith, your identity.
  • "So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6 ESV, quoting Psalm 118:6).

V. Don't throw away your CLOSE COMPANIONS (verses 24-25 ESV).

• "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
• Love ... good works ... encouragement—all come from friends in the body of Christ.

VI. Don't throw away your HOLY COVENANT (verse 29 ESV).

• "How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"
• God's covenant requires our RESPONSIBILITY.